Re: SHorthaul - What to do?
This time of year, most yards have a complete supply of zincs in all sizes on hand, or should. Your pre purchase survey may make mention of shaft diameter. Or, you could measure yourself inside the boat at the trans coupler or packing gland access.
Re: SHorthaul - What to do?
Don't forget to check those rudders for extra play, up & down and back & forth. Photograph everything from back, both sides. Take a few measurements to go with those photographs. Ensure stabilizer fins, end-of-keel and sling locations are marked up on the toe rail. Repair any gelcoat nicks along the waterline from flotsam hits. Replace the rudder zincs. Check the swim platform brackets for loose bolts.
Bear'
1984 61' MY Strategic Plan
Re: SHorthaul - What to do?
Shaft diameter on an '80 53MY is 2 inches. I would ASSUME it's the same for a '70 but I don't know.
Another good thing to check while out of the water is the seacocks. This is a good opportunity to ensure they all work freely and seal properly. I have several that seep when closed. When we haul in June, I will be disassembling all of them, reseating the valves with vlave grinding compound, and cleaning/greasing them.
Re: SHorthaul - What to do?
Before your haulout, get somebody else to take the helm at cruising or planing speed while you go to the aft stateroom and look in the lazarette at the rudder arms while underway at speed. Look for a "shudder" or rattle of the rudders when going straight or not being used to turn the boat. If so, look at the upper rudder shaft bushing (the only one you can see) on the rudder table to see if they're loose and shaking. If you have this condition, you may need to check your rudder shaft bearings for play and also align and tighten the upper bushings. Rudder shaft bearings are identical to propshaft bearings. When hauled, if you shake the rudder left and right from the bottom, it should not move much in the bearing.
Let me know if you need to replace these. You use one 8" propshaft bearing cut into two 4" lenghts. It is possible to do it when hauled without taking the thru-hull out of the boat, which is a mega-PITA, but you need to know a few tricks or it's almost impossible.
Doug Shuman