We were very excited for our maiden voyage on the boat. Our plan was to motor/sail from Sunset Bay Marina to Port Salerno, where we were getting the bottom done. About 400 yards into our trip the trouble began, we lost control of the boat and ran aground. Thankfully we have a Tow Boat U.S. membership, and they quickly picked us up.
To our relief, and dismay, we discovered the shaft was misaligned, making steering difficult. Great news, it wasn't our inexperience, bad news we had to remove the shaft, remount the motor, than put it all back together with only .008 mill room for error. It wouldn't be an easy task. The shaft is welded to the motor, and the stuffing box, graphite wrapped around the shaft to keep water out, is under the bedroom floor. After that all 14 feet of steel rod has to come out a tiny hole in the back of the boat.
Lemon Joy use number 1,001, greasing a shaft. We sawed off the end than greased the whole thing with Lemon Joy, and, with the help of Harley Jack, pulled that sucker out. I thought getting it back in would be the hard part, but once the motor was properly remounted it was a breeze, despite only having a hairs width of error.
Even knowing it was more mechanical, than human, error I was nervous when she got back in the water. All that sweat and Lemon Joy paid off, she motors like a dream. At least most of the time, I wish I could say they were always mechanical, and not human, errors.
No comments:
Post a Comment