Propeller Problem and Fortunate TIMING!

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!