53 MY Repower, started!

[Walter P]

Pascal, I wouldn't do anything until the boat is ready and launched. Let it sit in the water for a few
days and dive under and try to turn the props. If they are very hard to turn you may have an issue
but if they spin easy your alignment is probably OK. Next would be to connect the coupling using the
standard procedure with a feeler gauge. I'm sure there are many other opinions on how to do the job
but that is what was done on one of my 43DC years ago and it worked well. The boat ran very smooth
with no vibration and each time the boat was hauled the cutlass bearings were checked for wear caused
by misalignment. After several years they were still good.

Walt

[Boatsb]



Well see.

[kelpy]

Thats going to be a job getting the shaft back in there.

The best (only) course of action at this point is to listen to the guy doing the work and follow his lead.

[q240z]

The ER is looking great!

On the shaft alignment issue, what about having the yard lift the boat and reblock it? Then again, with plenty of boat stands around the chine, it seems odd that the hull would banana even if the center block was a bit high.

[Pascal]

The guy doing the work is one ofthese older no non sense very experienced guy. He was recommened by the cummins dealer and i have used him for years on various projects on the boats i ve run. I trust his advice and decision.

The stands dont bear a lot of weight compared to the keel blocks. I wasnt there when they blocked the boat. Lowering the stringers isnt enoug to cause problems, there is still plenty left! If anything the low floors aft of the engine room and resulting short sgringers are probably why there is flexing which again is common and the reason why alignment is finished in the water

[Cricket]

Think I would have them lift the boat sooner than later so it can return to the correct shape.
Here's something you may want to look at while you're in the middle of all this. We pulled a few strut bolts to see if the holes had enlarged over the years after a friend discovered this on a 53c. Sure enough most of them had become egg shaped, fixed 2 bolts at a time as we didn't want to take everything apart and start over.
Btw, more pictures please.

[SKYCHENEY]

Several years ago, I pulled my props and stub shafts and put in 6 new cutlass bearings. The alignment was the same on the hard as in the water. The props turned freely by hand with brand new cutlass bearings both before and after launch. This is the same hull so I would think it has to be the way it was blocked and/or the cutting of the stringers that is the issue. I would reblock it first and see it improves.

[Boatsb]

80% of the weight is on the center blocks. If the hull flexed even 1/4 inch in the engine area it's going to be a big issue.

I have replaced stringers in boats before and the biggest challenge is getting the boat in the right shape.

I used lots of keel blocks and spread the weight evenly by adding 1/4 plywood to the blocks until it was equally weighted. The side stands and some on the belly held it in shape while I ripped out the rotted wood and replaced with foam and glass.

Look at the cribbing plans if you don't know what it should be like.

I'd lift the boat with 4 or more straps and start blocking the keel and belly right. A small flex will be a major issue if the boat twists in a sea.

[SKYCHENEY]

80% of the weight is on the center blocks. If the hull flexed even 1/4 inch in the engine area it's going to be a big issue.

I have replaced stringers in boats before and the biggest challenge is getting the boat in the right shape.

I used lots of keel blocks and spread the weight evenly by adding 1/4 plywood to the blocks until it was equally weighted. The side stands and some on the belly held it in shape while I ripped out the rotted wood and replaced with foam and glass.

Look at the cribbing plans if you don't know what it should be like.

I'd lift the boat with 4 or more straps and start blocking the keel and belly right. A small flex will be a major issue if the boat twists in a sea.

Good points. My yard always shims every block under the keel. Of course, up here, we are sitting on the hard for months at time so its pretty important to do it right. My friend had the keel messed up on his Pacemaker from a poor blocking job.

[jim rosenthal]

We all must be the same age 66. I’m having a hell of a time dropping down and getting up. Damn.

Dropping down is easy. It's the getting back up that's difficult.