HELP---rope caught in prop

B

bglosson

New Member
Mar 14, 2011
1
Lake Lanier Ga
Boat Info
2005 Sundancer 340
Engines
8.1L Mercruiser
2005 Sea Ray 340 inboards, dock rope caught in prop...any advice for removal?....water is too damn cold to get in...nearest lift is two miles away...brisk wind so I'm not real interested in braving with just one engine...will running the props with the rope wrapped in the shaft damage engine/bearings
 
Awwww c'mon ya big wussie. You're in GA for crying out loud. I spent 35 minutes under the boat one October evening in 53 degree water with a maglite between my thighs and a steak knife in my teeth to remove a line that was wrapped around both props. And did I mention I had no wet suit, goggles or mask or fins?

I'd either wait for the wind to die down, hire a diver to do it, or borrow someone's wet suit and get a steak knife.

I wouldn't risk doing any damage to the boat just to save the cost of a diver.
 
Well, it happened to me last season and I had to dive down 20 times in shorts and tshirt in 60 degree murky water for 45 mins and it sucked a lot!! But I truly believe it would have severely damaged it had i not removed it Get a diver in a wetsuit to do it for you. Probably cost u $150, but money well spent
 
I know this would cause damage, customer reported a bad vibration
 

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Welcome to the inboard club..........you have about 4 choices. Have the boat towed to the lift, run it on one engine, pay a diver, or get wet.

If you have towing coverage by any of the known tow companies, their plan covers your situation.
 
bglosson - welcome to CSR. And sorry to hear about your trouble. It is a pain in the arse to deal with, but I wouldn't run the boat now. A wetsuit / diver is your best option for sure. Get that rope off before you turn that prop again. The cost of the diver is way, way less than the cost of a shaft repair. You probably have a nice pair of Nibral props on that nice boat, and they are not cheap! Nor is the shaft, strut, cutlass bearing, shaft seal, and anything else you might bugger up if you run it as is.

Good luck.
 
I once wound one up while departing a dockside restaurant. Luckily I was able to "bump" the trans as a buddy pulled on the rope and it unwound itself. I thought I was SCREWED that time. If you just did it at the dock and didn't wind up too much it might be worth a try...CAREFULLY

On a related note I often wondered how fast our props actually turn at idle? I think actually seeing one turn would be better than reading how many rpm's it is.
 
Man, don't ever let me tell you about my story about a big ass line that I ran over (couldn't see it, right under the water line) when I was driving my boat back from Destin, FL. Meanwhile, 2 years later, 2 haulouts, 2 shafts, 2 props, (both re-worked), 2 new struts, 2 new cutlass bearings, and A BRAND NEW STARBOARD TRANSMISSION!!!!.

Get your arse down there and cut that sh!t out pronto!!!:smt021
 
Man I'd never put myself or another person down on the business end of a prop while running. Even if you run the prop in reverse it can cut seals and do damage. If the rope is nylon then the friction will melt it into a plastic ball making it even more difficult to remove.

Follow the advice of the other here. Get wet, pay someone to get wet or have it towed and hauled out.
Good Luck.
 
IMO, the cheapest and maybe safest solution is to hire a diver. $100-$150 is well worth it. You might be able to find some crappy brand 7mil wetsuit, but when you start diving you may realize that it takes too long and it's too hard to cut the line with no hood and just short breaths. Without proper equipment it'll take longer, you might be very tired and not to mantion a chance of getting sick. A diver has proper gear and can be done within 10-15min ones he's in water.
 
I went in less than 50 degree water to pull my boat off a sand bar... I also have cut rope off my props with a steak knife... I would put a wet suit on and a mask an go under... make sure you have some to watch you, don't do it alone... If I lived closer, I would come over an cut it off for you... The cold water is invigerating... Keeps you young...
 
Where are you on Lanier? Most of the Marinas have lifts, Bald Ridge, Holiday, Park, Aqualand. If I were you I would call Marine Max at Bald Ridge and get the number of a diver to cut out the rope. NO WAY I would try to run that engine wrapped up like that. Or like the guys said, you could try to cut it out yourself.

PS I did this last year and cut it out oursleves. I NEVER leave any dock without actually seeing all the lines myself cause I never want to get back under there again!
 
Get wet.
If it's due for a haul out you might try checking your insurance.
My policy covers 2 tows a season / no deductible.
 
And...guess who did this yesterday.
<===== Yup! Boat was launched Friday at the marina, was at the work/service dock, wind was blowing pretty hard and spring river current working pretty strong. Against my "should have known better" judgement, still fired up the boat and took her over to our slip. Had a hard time getting my 90* spin to back into the slip...tried a few times, but...I have a 33'6" LOA and the fairway for our slip it 35'....so spinning on her belly with the strong breeze from the west and southbound approx 8 knot current was just too much for me. Several people on the slips to help "catch"...one person on the boat with me, threw a long line out to someone on the slip but line fell short. I was idle in reverse on both engines....as our bow was held by someone on the other slip as I tried to pendulum in the stern. Starboard engine stalled. Looked over...yup, line under. Started up once and put in forward hoping that would spin it off...but stalled again. Cut both engines at that point, managed to get a line over and we did manage to manually spin it.

So...yup, spring time so cccccc c c coooold river water....time to dial a diver. Prob cheaper than a short haul at the yard.
 
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