Miracle cure for $80.

[SeaEric]

This spring, I invested the big bucks in a computer balance redo of my props complete with fancy print outs, care and feeding instructions, the whole big deal. This was done in an attempt to tweak up the performance a little, and maximize speed and efficiency. The boat launched in late April. Due to a busy spring business-wise, my first real trip out on the boat was the second weekend in June. What a fiasco. When I first powered up to cruise speed I felt a substantial amount of vibration that I never had on this boat before, and the starboard engine overheated almost immediately. I pulled back, shut the warm engine down and went below to take a look. All seemed OK, although the water pump belt needed a little bit of tightening. I continued on at displacement speed to destination, then home the next day. Running at 10 knots, all was fine.

Next trip out was 2 weeks ago. Longer trip, about 50 miles each way which I again ran at 10 knots. Vibration was still evident on the port side, starboard was OK. Temp as edging up now, even at lower RPM. Made the trip to and from without incident. I'm now figuring that the prop shop got me for big money and that I was worse off than before they did their "magic". Next step was to schedule a haul to take a look. I had still considered that the yard might have not installed the wheels correctly. Grrrr.

On Friday, I caught a diver on the dock who was cleaning a neighbor's running gear. He said that the growth had been terrible this season so far. I couldn't imagine that my props had fouled in that short time, but he convinced me to give him the job to take a look.

$80. later, I have no vibration, normal engine temp, 16.5 knots right up and running at 2350 RPM's and my world is back spinning properly on it's axis. Go figure.

 

[Capten]

Eric,

As I posted previously, my running gear completely fouled in only 3 weeks. The boat was at BBM and I have never seen it as bad as this year. I can't figure out what is causing it to be so bad in this area.

 

[SeaEric]

Hello Paul, On my trip to Chesapeake City 2 weeks ago, you passed me eastbound just as we were entering the C&D Canal. Were you on your way to some ocean fishing perhaps?

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

Last summer we only needed to bottom cleaned twice during the summer, and I'm not really sure both were needed. And not once was my A/C strainer even close to being fouled.
This year we're all having to have the diver out every 3 weeks, and not sure it shouldn't be every two weeks. And I'm now having to clean my badly clogged A/C strainer every 4 days !!!!
Diver and others have said it's due to lack of rain here in N. Florida and the amount of salt water we have 35 miles from the ocean here on the St Johns River.
"Funny thing is....." The diver we've used for over 5 yrs now insists on us suddenly signing a year long contract, including a TWO HUNDRED DOLLAR "non refundable splashing clause and now charges $2.25 a foot.
Needless to say we have found another diver for the marina.......

 

[Capten]

Hello Paul, On my trip to Chesapeake City 2 weeks ago, you passed me eastbound just as we were entering the C&D Canal. Were you on your way to some ocean fishing perhaps?

Eric,

I recall seeing you! You are correct - we were headed to Sunset Marina in West Ocean City, MD to fish offshore for the next few months. So far the fishing has been a bit slow but with a few big tournaments coming up we are optimistic that we may be able to find some big ones.

Hopefully the barnacles won't be as bad here in OC!

 

[Scott Mather]

So did the prop magic provide any benifits?

I had our spare wheels redone by a traditional prop man for $ 250.00 a pop, they were both in need of some repair work.

Old props:
I had port motor right at 2450 wot. (right were it should be)
I had stbd. motor at 2300 wot (not were it should be)

The port motor had cyl kits and valve job 2 years ago and was running right were I would expect, I just assumed the stbd. was off because it was in need of a valve job.

Boat would cruise at 16 to 17 knots all day long at 2250 rpm.

Put redone props on this spring and here is what I have?
Stbd. is now running at 2450 wot
port is now at 2250 wot
cruise is down under 16 knots

Was wondering if I should have the props scanned to get them right?

Thanks,

 

[SeaEric]

The biggest difference I noted after the high dollar prop scan was in my checking account balance.

 

[spartonboat1]

OK, I gotta chime in. Had all four props "computer balanced" (gosh!!) at no small expense, in the good ole days when I stored inside heated. Those boneheads made no record of identification as to which props were balanced. So I received a nice bill with the requisite pretty print (old computer term) printouts of specs found and rectified. Problem is I have no idea which prop went with which printout.

irritation for the record...please notify your prop person to fully record the id of the prop on their records of the work for each prop.

 

[Genesis]

I think it depends on who does the propscan.

I used to take my props to a local "beat and bend" place. They did decent work.

Then, on a lark, I took them once to Accuprop over in Pensacola. They beat 'em too, but to measure 'em they use the "Hale" system - basically a computer with a probe on it and some fancy software coupled to the optical encoders in the probe.

They also have a fairly expensive dynamic balancing machine with a similar computer readout of where the imbalances are.

Now they did lighten my checking account - that's for sure. But - these guys are the cat's meow when it comes to prop work. The difference was instantly noticable when I ran the boat once they had done the work.

Like all things, I'm sure the care and quality put into it was a big part of that. Proof is in the performance - I went back after that - repeatedly.

The "beat and bend" guys actually didn't do BAD work - the Hale report of the "before" props wasn't THAT bad. But their work was superior - and worth it.

BTW, I've still got two of those wheels... they're for sale if anyone needs 'em.

 

[Passages]

I think it depends on who does the propscan.

the "Hale" system - basically a computer with a probe on it and some fancy software coupled to the optical encoders in the probe.

Funny you mention the Hale System. Mr Hale himself lives down the road from me and has a shop in Old Saybrook, CT. Spoke to him at length about the science of props. I think it would be fair to refer to him as the "Genesis" of propellers. Anyway, I had him rework my props when I bought Passages and the improvement was dramatic. To remove 2.5" of pitch, recondition, computer balance using the "MRI" system was about $325 a prop. Not THAT much more than a "bend & bang" guys who will hit you about $250.

I pulled the link to a list of prop shops that have the Hale system. Try it next time and decide for yourself if it's worth it.

http://www.miwheel.com/MIWheel/pdf/MRI03.pdf