Tom
Administrator
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2005
- Posts
- 51,941
Over the years we've picked up our share of stuff on our props. One of the worst was a 9/16" polypropylene diameter line that got wrapped around the counter-rotating props. When the props had picked up all the slack line, both engines lugged down, then I heard a loud screeching noise which turned out to be the set screws holding the coupling on one shaft giving way and scoring the shaft. This all happened very quickly and I shut the engines down too late to prevent ruining a prop shaft. That was 12 years or so ago on a prior boat.
Over the years, I've often thought about a product like Spurs, but have never talked to anyone who's actually used them. Thus the intent of this message - to ask if anyone has used this or a similar product. If so, on what make/model of boat, engine size, size of props, etc and have you found evidence that they work or don't work?
Every time I get the boat hauled I ask myself if I want to cough up that amount of money and every time I say "next time".
I was reminded of this issue again when I recently delivered a friend's boat back to it's home berth after having been hauled for periodic maintenance. The harbor/boat yard in question were new to us, thanks to our long-time yard having changed hands and having gone downhill. I knew that there were depth/draft issues in the area of the new yard and I consciously left the harbor close to high tide. I hadn't gone more than half a mile before I thought I'd spun a prop, although I knew that was close to impossible. Fighting a high wind, I brought the boat back into harbor on one engine and, with the owner's permission, called a diver.
Both props were engulfed in weed, one so much so that it had lost all "bite". The diver had a tough time cutting/removing the weed and I ended up waiting until high tide the following day to try a different "escape" route. So, here I am again wondering if I should install this product or if I'd be wasting time and money.
Over the years, I've often thought about a product like Spurs, but have never talked to anyone who's actually used them. Thus the intent of this message - to ask if anyone has used this or a similar product. If so, on what make/model of boat, engine size, size of props, etc and have you found evidence that they work or don't work?
Every time I get the boat hauled I ask myself if I want to cough up that amount of money and every time I say "next time".
I was reminded of this issue again when I recently delivered a friend's boat back to it's home berth after having been hauled for periodic maintenance. The harbor/boat yard in question were new to us, thanks to our long-time yard having changed hands and having gone downhill. I knew that there were depth/draft issues in the area of the new yard and I consciously left the harbor close to high tide. I hadn't gone more than half a mile before I thought I'd spun a prop, although I knew that was close to impossible. Fighting a high wind, I brought the boat back into harbor on one engine and, with the owner's permission, called a diver.
Both props were engulfed in weed, one so much so that it had lost all "bite". The diver had a tough time cutting/removing the weed and I ended up waiting until high tide the following day to try a different "escape" route. So, here I am again wondering if I should install this product or if I'd be wasting time and money.