WELL...this had been an interesting day and a half (May 21,22). When we docked
at Barefoot Landing in a 24 knot wind, (on the 21st)...and opposing current...the dock master asked me to come in
"hot"...and he and assistance would catch lines... Now normally coming in hot
isn't a problem... because we swing a 24 inch diameter 'wheel' (propeller), and
a little reverse throttle stops even this 20 ton vessel on a 'dime'. NOT so at
Barefoot...we careened straight ahead when we hit the reverse... Looking like
rookies... "HUMMMM????" I said... "that's unusual" (not that we're not still
learning... we are).
Anyway, in the morning, we tried to "spring the bow off the dock"
using an forward spring line... Now usually in backing up against the fwd
spring.. the bow usually JUMP off the dock... that morning.. it more or less
'wandered' out into the channel... NO springing!!!!
"Hummm ???? that's unusual!!!" I said.
We made it all the way through two swing bridges, and a narrow rock
lined section of the AICW (lovingly called "the Rockpile") without major
incident....
WELL... except for nearly drifting into the bridge fenders at the
Little River Swing Bridge... Because the boat didn't slow down when I hit
reverse... HUMMMM ????
We made it all the way to Southport, NC...when we decided to test the
transmission...I couldn't believe that the transmission had 'given up the
ghost"... I'm so diligent about checking oil levels, etc.
In testing...it changed gears (fwd / rev)...HUMMM
...
The prop-shaft
rotated in the correct direction, etc. So we continued
forward and into the Cape Fear River... and fought an outgoing tidal current all
the way up to G-35 (buoy Green #35) where we anchored...
But when I asked Susan to verify the anchor set, by reversing
the transmission with 1/3 power...nothing happened... the anchor chain was not
pulled taught, as usual... HUMMMM ?????
So we tried 'forward' gear. ... NADA... We had neither
forward, nor reverse...
NO propulsion what's so ever!!!! NOT GOOD!!! :(
And the wind which assisted us in motor-sailing up the river... was
gone.. dead calm.
So we couldn't even sail-out the anchor. So we called Tow Boat
US....
"John, Come get us now!!! OK ?"... so he did...
 |
Propeller spun on the shaft with one finger pushing it around.
NOT GOOD!!!! key completely disintegrated - gray powder! |
After we called John (Tow Boat US)...the tidal current (which can run up to
3+ knots) went slack...so I grabbed my mask and snorkel; threw a line over boat
to hold on to, and dove under the boat...The water was pretty murky, but getting
to within 9 inches of the prop...and grabbing hold.. I realized immediately why
there was no propulsion... the prop rotated on the shaft with the mear touch of one finger... either direction.
The tow was a night tow, down the Cape Fear River...passing ocean
freighters, and car ferries in the dark.... A Thrilling ride!!!
... considering we were 50- feet behind the tow boat... and
literally went where he went... a
couple times I almost called John... "You do see that giant freighter bearing
down on us...right?"....????? :)
By 10:30PM we were docked at South Harbour Village Marina... on the
AICW. What luck...(more on the luck later).
the Propeller is normally held on the shaft with a lock nut, and
castle nut.. those were still in place. But the Key, which guarantees that the
prop do what the shaft tells it to do... seemed to be GONE!!! Disintegrated, or
corroded.
this morning, the Harbor master called Justin Heady (local
diver)...and his buddy Rich.
They were here mid-morning... I was going to
get my scuba gear on and go clean up the prop, castle nut, etc. prior to the
divers coming.. but in talking to a local sailor, and a local shrimper on the
dock this morning, over coffee... They said "YOU might want to re-think that
going in the water...thing... there's been a lot of spring 'GATOR' traffic up at
this end of the water channel. A five footer just swam by this very area
yesterday... True he might not kill you, but he's sure to give you a start!!!"
OK... I re-thought that first scenario...stayed dry today..!!! :)
The divers were through with the job in 1-1/2 hours... using the 304
SS key from our spare shaft (carried on the boat some 12000 miles). No damage
to the prop was visable.; castle nut in tact; there was some scoring of the lock
nut, but not bad.
SO...we're back together... IT Works; we're now full of fuel...and
ready to go...
What a God-send, coming to this marina... Everyone was so friendly
and helpful...
So...we're behind our schedule... but OH So LUCKY... :) We didn't
have to haul the boat, or buy a new prop, or key... or
anything.
NICE!
What do they say ??? Sometimes it's better to be LUCKY, than
talented!
