[sailcarole]

My 1986 Ericson 32 sailed in 2-3' seas on Sunday, docked with dry bilges at 1500. Tuesday 0900 found cabin 6" underwater. Bilge pumps running, but inundated. 45 minutes of 3 pumps running emptied the water and a search located the source of the flowing water: the stern tube for the prop shaft was cracked. Boat was hauled, rudder dropped in order to pull shaft. The interior of the boat will have to be sawed open to actually see the tube which is loose and turning below the visible platform for muffler, hot water heater,etc. Has anyone an easier less costly way to change out that tube or fix the leak? Has any other Ericson owner experienced this unviewable, uninspectable catastrophic phenomenon? (Assume some ocean trash wrapped on prop/shaft while motoring created original stressor. But no symptoms--vibration or unbalanced motoring issues--followed.)

 

[sailcarole]

My Ericson 32 (1986 hull 671) is now awaiting the hunt for the strut nuts and for access to the shaft log. I will attempt to post a picture here of the only 2 inches viewable before cutting into the interior section of the boat below the muffler and aft to the exit point (probably 14-18 inches). I know of no nut or threads. The tube is dark--like fiberglass and nylon/rubber/? and is apparently fiberglassed into the hull. Anyone have any ideas on the proper re-assembly?

My guess for reconstruction is: after the strut which also must be replaced and the shaft slid into both strut and coupling to transmission and engine aligned simultaneously, then the shaft log can be attached permanently. The labor is extraterrestrial. ($$$(#@!) The yard will have the shaft log built, as well as a new strut fabricated.

Any other Ericson owners faced this? Is it time to walk away from a 30-year-old boat???

As for the Endeavor with a screw-in log. If the placement of that nut is at all apparent after you sawed it out, replacing it precisely would save the above process. I'm no boat builder and welcome any ideas to cut back the labor . My yard is telling me $4-6k just for the shaft log.

I am holding my breath awaiting my insurance adjustor's decision. I am the sole owner of this boat and can't imagine life without.....but the engine has some blowby and is the original, too. I read the thread on hard starting engines and replaced the starter motor the day before my boat sank. The engine started instantly and performed in perfect running order. Was intending to cruise to the Keys this week.

Sorry, I can't figure out how to post a picture here.

 

[sailcarole]

Can anybody explain how to post a picture from my camera here? I just downloaded to computer, but a URL???????

 

[sailcarole]

That description of replacing the shaft log is what I can only hope my boatyard performs. My boat has been there 3 weeks, but the build of a new strut took 3 days and the yard has no known schedule for me. I am concerned that the fiberglass tube the yard bought for replacing the shaft log does not have standard 1/4" walls. They are speaking about building up one end with fiberglass in order to attach the stuffing box hose. (?)

Anyone know the exact dimensions of the original Ericson 32 shaft log? I assume with a 1" shaft, 1/4" clearance and 1/4" walls, the outer diameter should be 2".