Goose4t

I totally agree with the last comment - especially now that the slight vibration in astern is now a substantial vibration going ahead. All I wanted was the thing done properly so we can be on our way but we have now spent six weeks dragging our heels between Rugeley and Middlewich hoping for some rectification. The other thing is that we have been led to believe that this is a Crowther prop - the engineer told me he had picked up the prop from Crowthers but needed to take it to his workshop to do something that would allow the prop to be fitted a Vetus shaft. It has only been in the last few weeks to question why he would need to - surely the prop is ready to fit the shaft with no alterations to it at all??

This is the photograph - I hope - of the fitted prop. It does look a lot better in the photograph but believe me - the finish isn't as good as it looks http://s895.photobucket.com/user/goose4t/media/Crowther_zpsc347f40d.gif.html?filters[user]=137296974&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=0 This may be better:

The marks I referred to have been made by an angle grinder and are definitely not the marks of production finishing. The shape of the blades are also noticeably different where as the ones in you photograph are what I would consider to be oval - the prop I have has a more teardrop shape. What size is the prop in you photograph? We have an 18/12 fitted at present. (I have tried to include/insert a photograph but am unsure if it will show).

About two months ago we hit something under water when we left Marple on the Macclesfield canal heading South which bent one of the prop blades quite badly which caused a slight vibration when put in astern. As I was getting a 500 hour service on our Beta 43 at Higher Poynton I thought it could wait until then. I mentioned it to the guy (name excluded for reasons that will become obvious later) and when looked he said everything will have to be replaced - which was prop, shaft, seal, R&D coupling, the coupling between the gear box and the shaft and all four mounts plus the cost of getting the boat out of the water - all covered by insurance thank goodness. At the time I asked if it was possible to have Crowther prop fitted and emphasised I wanted to pay for the difference between the replacement Crowther prop and the now bent Vetus prop which was agreed - my main concern being that everything was done that needed to be done to get us back in the water and continuing our journey. A few days later the engineer phoned to say that he wasn't sure if a Crowther prop could be fitted to a Vetus shaft, I managed to get in touch with Crowther and after giving all my details regarding length, engine type and size agreed that there would be no problem. The work was carried out about two weeks later in Stone by another engineer who only fitted a new shaft, seal and what I took to be new Crowther prop. I managed to have a look at the prop prior to it being fitted and was surprised to note the marked tanning colour on the hub part and the grinder marks on the blades but was told that was quite normal. On leaving and continuing our journey South there was noticeable vibration when in ahead - but not astern - and only round about 10000 revs. By this time we were in Rugeley near Litchfield. I got in touch with the original engineer who said its probably the mounts and he would be down to change them in Rugeley. After they changed the mounts the engine vibration was worse which indicated to me that the engine needed required re-aligning but he insisted that the boat needed to be out the water so that the prop/shaft combination could be checked which meant he wanted us back up in - originally - Aquaduct marina - but was changed to Kings Lock at Middlewich. We have since received the invoice for the work carried out which does not tally with the actual work carried out. He also didn't replace the R&D coupling in Rugeley which I was very concerned about but he assured me there would be no problem. I also got back in touch with Crowther and asked if they had any distinguishing marks/stamping on there props which determined them as Crowther prop and was told of their six digit coding between two of the blades. I have felt all over and between the blades and no such stamping can be found. My concern now is that as soon as he is aware that we know it is not a Crowther prop he is going to walk away or fob us off. Do I get in touch with the insurance company; get an independent engineers report or what.

Anyone know of any problems fitting a Crowther 18/12 propellor to a 1.25 inch Vetus shaft?

Our 'Care of' address is currently with our daughter's address which is fine with the very little post we now receive, most of our correspondence is via the web, but having now sold our house - how/who do we register with so that we can vote. With the likelihood of us - hopefully - having a vote on our continued membership of the EU fiasco I want my/our vote to be counted. Can anyone throw any light on what to do?