It was sure to happen sooner or later

HoffaLives · #1 (**permalink**) 09-22-2007

And today was the day. We wrapped a loose mooring line around the prop shaft. After a day of excitement complete with tow and leaking dripless shaft seal, we have the rope off and the seal working properly, but the problem now is that the stern tube is leaking at the joint with the hull, about a drop a second. Can his be fixed with epoxy while in the water or does she have to be hauled? I'm not sure about the nature of this seal - should it all be dug out and resealed or just a wrap of epoxy and glass around the tube where it's leaking, which is just aft of the end of the stern tube? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Freesail99 · #2 (**permalink**) 09-22-2007

The only epoxy ( I believe ) that works under water is the putty type. So you would not be able to fiberglass while it is in the water. Sorry to hear about your problem.

Boasun · #3 (**permalink**) 09-22-2007

Been there done that!!

Have had lines, chains and a 8" water hose wrapped around a shaft. Could go into the reasons why, but that is neither here or there. But then I didn't have sails to get me into port either.
Not fun manuevering a 182' vessel along side a pier with one engine. And of course the diver wants the fouled propeller in board next to the pier. So that makes manuevering interesting. Fun, Fun, Fun. The companies here in the southland keeps divers busy.
When I worked in San Diego and was a member of the U.S. Naval Sailing Club we taught all of our members to make all of their landings under sail. Easy to do when you have someone mentoring you on how to do it. We had an excellent sailing program when I was there. They still do, even now. So who needs an engine!?
Back to the stuffing tube troubles: Haul out for a short time and do a visual inspection of the suspected area and the necessary repairs. Or do a dive yourself for the inspection. But the haul out will give you access to that troublesome area for repairs.

Valiente · #4 (**permalink**) 09-22-2007

Good point. I learned early how to "dead stick" up to the dock...if I've done it right, the engine is in neutral for the last three boat lengths.

I also agree that nothing beats a haul-out. Stern tube issues can go from messy to dangerous quickly. It's best to do it right, even if it means pulling the shaft and reglassing the stern tube.

HoffaLives · #5 (**permalink**) 09-22-2007

Worse than I first thought -the stern tube is cracked all the way around. I guess that means a new one. Probably not something to do while she is in the water. Is this kind of thing a DIY kind of job? I can only imagine what this will do to my insurance rates

fixxxer0 · #6 (**permalink**) 09-22-2007

Hoffa, you wouldn't happen to keep your boat on or around City Island in the Bronx would you? I heard someone over the radio just the other day that they got a line caught around the prop.

HoffaLives · #7 (**permalink**) 09-22-2007

Wrong side of the continent - BC, Gulf islands (Hawaii north as they say). Had yet another look at that stern tube. It seems to me that it could be glassed with epoxy all around; it's not like the tube is structural or anything. The inner length has the bellows to the dripless seal attached, but that's it.

I spoke with a surveyor on the phone and he suggests the whole tube should be ground out and replaced and that seems like a money making project for somebody.

Valiente · #8 (**permalink**) 09-22-2007

I'm afraid I agree with the surveyor. If the wrap was that bad, you'll want to pull the shaft anyway to make sure it's not bent. It's rotten luck, and a lot of work in a tight place, but you want that particular area super strong in case it ever happens again. If it cracked off or split seriously at its base, you could lose the boat.

The good news is that it's a job you could do yourself with some study and practice, because it doesn't have to be pretty, just solidly built.

Sabreman · #9 (**permalink**) 09-22-2007

I totally agree with the recommendation to haul. If the tube is cracked, then applying epoxy over the crack is only covering the problem. Most tubes that I've seen are comprised of multiple layers of glass; if a leak has occurred, then the tube is compromised. It's not really that bad of a repair except that the shaft needs to be pulled, etc. I agree with the "check the shaft" recommendation too - it's probably bent if this much damage was done. This is too important a job to skimp. Sorry to hear about your problem

Sucking up a line is more common that you think. When I was working in a yard, a powerboat came in with a crushed transom after the owner put the boat into full power after wrapping the line - sucked him right into a piling. I ended up rebuilding the starboard corner of the transom (pretty big job for a 20 yr old)

In another instance, the USS Pinckney (DDG 91) was transiting the Panama Canal during her maiden sailaway and was attempting to tie to a temporary mooring when the Captain observed to the pilot that a line/cable was in the water. The ship sucked an 8' diameter mooring buoy into one of her props before the captain could relieve the pilot. The new prop was destroyed and Pinckney ended up trail shafting all the way to San Diego. I wasn't aboard when this happened - I'd gotten off in Cartagena and met the ship again in Puerto Vallarta (I didn't feel like transiting the canal in the dark again, but this time would have been entertaining!).

HoffaLives · #10 (**permalink**) 09-23-2007

Well, the surveyor is coming to look tomorrow and he'll give me the bad news then. And the wife is adamant that I AM NOT FIXING IT THIS TIME. I always do my own work, but as she says, it's our holiday. Blah. Hauling the boat and get the shaft checked, no problem. Reglassing the cracked tube sounds like a good idea as well. Carving the butthole of the boat out to put in a new tube seems like overkill. it's just a friggin' fiberglas tube. Damned if some duct tape and a couple of hose clamps wouldn't take care of it; it's not like you see the repair or anything