Insane Engineering Question of the Day

[alan_fincher]

There are lots of boats for which removing the rudder in the water isn't practical.

Don't commit yourself too far down this road before checking whether yours can, also whether it needs deep water to do it.

 

Tim

This is absolutely true.

 

Although I've changed a prop in water on a previous boat, it was only because the rudder could easily be removed in water.

 

On this boat it's mind boggling how one would even get th rudder out on dry land. So the same kind of trick with the prop shaft would be out of the question.

 

Alan

 

(Currently just above Denham Deep)

[OptedOut]

No problem with a traditional set-up, remove the shaft between gearbox and rear coupling, remove split pin on prop nut and slacken a few turns, turn rudder hard one way and use the rear coupling/propshaft as a slide hammer to release the prop from the taper (use wood packing and hydraulic jacks inboard if required).

Once slack on taper, rope prop through weed hatch, remove nut and draw shaft inboard fitting plug/plastic bag or similar as the shaft disappears into the bearing.