HELP - Props gone wild!

[Jaymannyc]

I have 4 blade Easy by Max Prop. They feather and I have a 44 foot catamaran with two engines. While in the middle of a mooring field, I realized we no longer had forward gear in BOTH engines. After cashing is some karma I was able to thread the boat out of the mooring field.

We then anchored and called for help. I had to tell the Tow Boat US pilot how to steer since his view was blocked by my boat. Credit to Tow Boat pilot as we got the ball on the first try. No gel coat work is good news.

What has gone wrong with my boat?
1) I checked that the gear shift linkage is moving in the correct direction as I pass from reverse to forward.
2) While arriving at the mooring ball I gave it plenty of forward and the boat would just go faster in reverse.
3) After mooring I tried again and it seems forward had come back.

Is my prop getting stuck in reverse orientation due to barnacles or lack of greese? I just cleaned the props but clearly not that well. The props are 10 months old and have never been out of the water.

[Jaymannyc]

Help Please. Looking for any advice. Thanks

[MARINE ENGINNER]

Originally Posted by Jaymannyc

Help Please. Looking for any advice. Thanks

hi jaymannyc
What engines you have and what saildrives?

M.E

[Jaymannyc]

Volvos D2-40 with straight shafts.

[sammyo]

Sometimes with changeable props you need to goose them a bit with higher revs. Also, how old is your transmission? A rebuild did wonders.

[Neptune's Gear]

Both engines simultaneously is odd. I am presuming that you have confirmed the shafts are actually changing gear with the gearshift?

If so, it sounds like the props are fouled. Time for a swim....

[Jaymannyc]

Looks like I lost the grease in the props. Odd since they only need grease every two years. Added grease and we go back in the water in a week and we can see if that was the problem.

[Jaymannyc]

Props have been great ever since I re-greased them. Maxprops probably require grease every 6 months NOT 2 years (manual) if you use them a bunch (sailed 8,500 miles). When greasing make sure to work the props else an air bubble will form and freeze the props.

j

[MBWhite]

Just saw your post, glad you have it figured out and posted the answer.