Patching Around Strut

caberg · #1 10-14-2012

How best to fix this issue? The first photo is for orientation purposes, the second shows where I need to fix. From walking around the boat yard, I can see that quite a few other boats have had patch jobs around the strut.

My specific questions would be, do I remove the material that is "peeling" (for lack of a better word), and then patch, or just patch over it. And then, what do I patch/fill with?

Also, can and should the prop and strut (and shaft?) be painted?

Faster · #2 10-14-2012

All that cracked and separated fairing compound needs to be ground away, then refaired with new.. but I'd also be trying to figure out why there seems to be enough vibration/movement to cause that kind of separation so it doesn't happen again.

Engine alignment? Bent shaft? Seriously out of balance prop?

bradway5 · #3 10-14-2012

glad you posted this, i have the exact same issue, just slightly smaller. I'm repowering her before she goes in the water, so i'll take the time to pull the shaft and check for straightness...and whatever other advise this forum has

Gene T · #4 10-14-2012

Agree with Faster. Remove all damaged material. I would go at it with a putty knife, then grinder. Check out that rusty spot. I would layer some glass on there to strengthen it. Needs a zinc too.

Remove the shaft/prop to check it. Need to find out why it did that.

Paint or don't paint, that is always debatable. You could use "Zinc coat barnacle barrier" by Pettit. Haven't tried it yet myself, probably work for a while.

Gene

Hudsonian · #5 10-14-2012

Remove the material that is not firmly bonded to the surface below. Fair with putty made from epoxy and phenolic micro-balloons.

mikel1 · #6 10-14-2012

Prop and strut look pretty bad . . . yes what was original cause..also! I've read here NEVER to use ablative paint on prop/shaft can actually be harmful . . I'd consider replacing both strut and prop

MastUndSchotbruch · #7 10-14-2012

Hm, that's interesting. The strut on my boat (the only one I ever owned) is set in some kind of elastic material. Consistency of firm chewing gum, if I had to describe it. It is also pulling a bit from its surrounding. I am a couple thousand miles from the boat right now and it is in the water anways so I don't have pictures. But it has been like that for over 10 years.

Reason for concern? Do I need to do anything?

caberg · #8 10-15-2012

Thanks, folks. As to why this happened, my thinking had been that this is a 30 year old boat and stuff happens. Is it possible that this is just normal wear and tear after 30 years?

I was hoping I could just use one product to repair, sort of along the lines of what Hudsonian has advised, but some of these suggestions go beyond my skill set. Hmmm.... Holding on tight to my wallet right now...

tommays · #9 10-15-2012

To be honest with the bronze on the strut and prop look really bad and you should really clean it up and see if it is pink and pitted

You are NOT supposed to put normal bottom paint in direct contact as you should use a epoxy primer or and underwater metal safe paint

I am able to stay ahead of the prop growth with a quick wipe down about every 3 weeks

caberg · #10 10-16-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by tommays

To be honest with the bronze on the strut and prop look really bad and you should really clean it up and see if it is pink and pitted

You are NOT supposed to put normal bottom paint in direct contact as you should use a epoxy primer or and underwater metal safe paint

Thanks. Any tips on what to use to clean up the prop and strut, and the method for doing so?

This boat is new to me as of this past summer, so I don't know what the prior owner did. Looks like they had been painted at some point in time.