One arm of folding prop missing - do I need to take out the boat to fix it?

[Dsanduril]

The Volvo blades are numbered for position, you may be able to see the numbering underwater (unfold the blades and look at the root) to see which blade is missing. This is mostly for balance, but may affect the cut of the gear teeth that align the blades.

The Pacific side of Panama has some big tides, I know of some flat, sandy places in Las Perlas on which you could go on the hard for a few hours if working out of the water is needed.

[FabioC]

The diver who serves my boat can do this sort of things with the boat in the water. So it is certainly possible, but you'll need to find a professional in your area who offers this service. Start by checking with the local diver companies, several of them offer prop services, you'll need to find who specializes in your brand of prop. I would certainly not recommend attempting such a thing on your own, it is a tricky job.

[MathiasW]

Originally Posted by Gaia

Sounds like a perfect job for Hookah. Is the water clean and clear? Might want to check the other pins. Maybe someone forgot the loctite.

Jim sv gaia

That is not unlikely. It is unbelievable what the shipyard forgot in other places...

Water is not very clean, but perhaps good enough.

[Emouchet]

This happened to me too!

The shipyard did a bad job installing a brand new prop. Long story short, they did not read properly the installation manual and did not add the needed loctite...

Lost the prop in the middle of an offshore crossing. Had to wait for some wind, then sailed close enough to shore, called for a towing, hauled out, spent days on the yard to get a new prop. $$$.

Talked to the original boatyard, mentioned social network and lawsuit and get all my money back!

[MathiasW]

Originally Posted by Emouchet

This happened to me too!

The shipyard did a bad job installing a brand new prop. Long story short, they did not read properly the installation manual and did not add the needed loctite...

Lost the prop in the middle of an offshore crossing. Had to wait for some wind, then sailed close enough to shore, called for a towing, hauled out, spent days on the yard to get a new prop. $$$.

Talked to the original boatyard, mentioned social network and lawsuit and get all my money back!

That looks like my line of action to take... I will try to get all replacement parts beforehand, but we will see...

[guyrj33]

Perhaps as a temporary measure you could remove an additional blade reducing your prop to two blades and restoring symmetry and balance.

[MathiasW]

Originally Posted by Dsanduril

The Volvo blades are numbered for position, you may be able to see the numbering underwater (unfold the blades and look at the root) to see which blade is missing. This is mostly for balance, but may affect the cut of the gear teeth that align the blades.

The Pacific side of Panama has some big tides, I know of some flat, sandy places in Las Perlas on which you could go on the hard for a few hours if working out of the water is needed.

Yeah, I thought about that, being a tri, but I still have a small keel, and I am not sure the keel would do well in such an action. It is not meant to be balanced upon.

[MathiasW]

Originally Posted by FabioC

The diver who serves my boat can do this sort of things with the boat in the water. So it is certainly possible, but you'll need to find a professional in your area who offers this service. Start by checking with the local diver companies, several of them offer prop services, you'll need to find who specializes in your brand of prop. I would certainly not recommend attempting such a thing on your own, it is a tricky job.

Thanks, yes, I will see what local help I can get here.

[MathiasW]

Originally Posted by guyrj33

Perhaps as a temporary measure you could remove an additional blade reducing your prop to two blades and restoring symmetry and balance.

Interesting thought. Thanks. I'll keep that in mind.

[Cadence]

Ah the joys of a tri. finding haul out. Often a rail which means in and out. Had you considered buying a regular fixed blade prop. until you can sort it out.

[Stewie12]

A key looks may look like half a coin, It slides into a slot on the shaft and on the propellor. The idea is that if the prop hits something the key breaks instead of the propellor. It is normally used on outboards so it may not be applicable to you.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Stewie12

A key looks may look like half a coin, It slides into a slot on the shaft and on the propellor. The idea is that if the prop hits something the key breaks instead of the propellor. It is normally used on outboards so it may not be applicable to you.

That is a Woodrift key. Sp?

[Stewie12]

Yes. Wood rift key.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by Stewie12

Yes. Wood rift key.

Woodruff.....but not designed to break like a rubber hub or a shear pin on an outboard.

And....if the OP has a saildrive it’s likely the shaft is splined.

[MathiasW]

Originally Posted by Cadence

Ah the joys of a tri. finding haul out. Often a rail which means in and out. Had you considered buying a regular fixed blade prop. until you can sort it out.

That might be an idea. But getting it attached still remains tricky.

Yes, a tri is at a disadvantage in this regard. I have now found a place where they can do it, Vacamonte. It seems it is more on the commercial side. But if at all possible, I would like to get at least a temporary fix before I start using the engine again...