I have a three blade auto prop. Last weekend, I noticed that I had lost a significant amount of power when underway. After some troubleshooting and Finding nothing wrong, it occurred to me that the prop might be the issue. I dove in to find one of the three blades missing.
The question for you experts is: if I wait until the end of the season to replace the prop, will I cause any damage to the shaft or anything else? I have no long trips planned, just day sails so i don't need the power. I am trying to avoid pulling the boat twice.
Thoughts and comments appreciated.
Tim
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Tim Farrell
S.V. Kailua
C36 - 1986
Hull# CTY0678A886
With a missing blade, I'm surprised it doesn't vibrate you out of the cockpit. I hit an underwater object with my 3 blade fixed prop and but a very, very minor ding in the blade tip. I vibrated enough that I sailed back to my marina, and motored a low rpms into the slip. Had the boat hauled and the prop repaired.
I may have been overly cautious, but I didn't want to damage the cutless bearing and/or the strut with continued vibration.
Gary and Cathy Price
1997 C36 Mk II Tall Rig/Wing Keel Imagine...
Hull # 1617
Worton Creek, Md.
Northern Chesapeake Bay
So sorry to read that, Tim!
I am with Gary; you should have had an unbelievable amount of vibration with a missing blade. I am at a loss to explain how you couldn't have noticed that as the very first symptom.
I would certainly not use the boat with a missing blade. Good luck with the repair.
Duane Ising - Past Commodore (2011-2012)
s/v Diva Di
1999 Catalina 36 Hull #1777
Std rig; wing keel, M35B, Delta (45#)
Punta Gorda, FL
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/diva-di/
Funny, I have almost no additional vibration. I wonder if that is a byproduct of autoprop?
Tim Farrell
S.V. Kailua
C36 - 1986
Hull# CTY0678A886
I feel silly discussing it since you tell us you have little or no vibration, but I simply cannot fathom it. Any time you have a rotating component that is not balanced, it has to vibrate.
I guess I can't say more until the 'mystery' is solved.
Duane Ising - Past Commodore (2011-2012)
s/v Diva Di
1999 Catalina 36 Hull #1777
Std rig; wing keel, M35B, Delta (45#)
Punta Gorda, FL
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/diva-di/
Older Autoprops throwing blades has been a chronic issue for many years. There was a recall of certain models some time back to address it and newer versions have supposedly been redesigned to correct what I consider to be a serious design flaw.
Clean bottoms are FastBottoms!