water in hull

[Willj]

Hi guys. I had my lobster boat out for it`s first run yesterday and blew a fuse in about 5 seconds. That left my boat adrift for about 25 minutes until the wind blew it back to shore. When I inspected the internals, I noticed there was a good half ounce of water in the hull that puddled up by the batteries, just fore of the prop shaft by the drive dog. My question. How does a boat that has been covered with 2 layers of glass cloth get water in it? I did not cover the inside with any cloth or resin. I didn`t feel it was necessary.
Thanks

[HYDROJERRY]

hay man im pritty new but have two boats and still lerning. i used to get boatmodaler magizine and i learned to remove the prop and run it in a bath tub or in a pool to see if water gets in and where from of corse hold on to it and as always be carfull but give it a try maybe your harwhare isnt completely sealed. remember im only a newbe :)

[HYDROJERRY]

ps. like me you might want to invest in a cheap blowup raft to go get it in a hury or maybe thats just me im pairanoid about mine. good luck dude!

[tim slocum]

The water may have come in thru the stuffing tube. Do you have grease in it?

[Kmot]

A 1/2 ounce of water is nothing to worry about. Simple splash over across the deck will get more than that.

Anyway, chances are it came up the stuffing box. A good coat of grease on the propshaft will help minimize that.

[Willj]

Thanks guys. I figured it had to be coming from the drive shaft. I did grease it quite liberally and am quite surprised that water would get in. I won`t worrry about the water if it`s fairly normal for it to happen. My chris craft puddles too. Interesting that water finds it`s way in. I have another question. At the point where the drive shaft exits the stuffing tube, I have a lock nut with a nylon washer. Should the drive assembly have a few milimeters of play or should there be no play at all? I have about 3mm`s of play. I felt this probly would be beneficial, instead of having the assembly rigid with no play. Am I right making this judgement?

[Kmot]

Yes, a little play is good. IMHO 3mm is a lot. I would reduce it to 1 or 1.5mm's.

[woodybob]

I leave just enough space so the shaft doesn't bind. Then I use Octura Thrust Washers at both ends.

[pompebled]

Hi Will,

Assuming you have a solid shaft, you don't want the thrust from the prop to be on the motor bearing, it's not designed for it.
On my solid shaft set-ups I have 0,,5-1 mm of play in the motorshaft and I make sure the propnut hits the thrustwasher under the hull within that margin, keeping the motor running free.

Did you add a grease tube to your stuffing-box/propshaft? Makes maintenance a breeze and nothing ever leaks...

Regards, Jan.

[norgale]

I've done the same thing as woodybob. Went to Ace Hardware and brought the shaft with me. Found a nylon washer that fit on the shaft perfectly and with that between the prop and the shaft tube my Tuna Clipper doesn't leak a drop. Horizontal shaft too so the whole thing is below the waterline. I also greased the shaft liberally with vasalene so that helps too. Pete

[HYDROJERRY]

willj you can put a piece of rubber fuel line onthe end of the stuffing box covering over the shaft goingto the motor. theres different size hoses so you can judge how mutch drag on the thaft, as little as possible of corse. it will be hard to strech it over the stuffing box, put it in hot water so it will stretch eser. this was also in boat modelermag hard to do but works great in my boat.

[CGAux26]

Rule #1: If it's a boat in the water, it leaks. The shaft log is below the water line, so there is a slight head of water on it. What everyone has said about greasing the tube and minimizing the end play will keep the leakage to a minimum.

I epoxy the insides of my wooden boats, just 'cause they will get water inside.

[Willj]

I leave just enough space so the shaft doesn't bind. Then I use Octura Thrust Washers at both ends.

I have a thrust washer on the inside. I`ll add another at the prop end. I used your picture of your water intake tube as a guide for the install on my Chris Craft. Works great! Preveously I had the water pick up placed starboard of the keel and it didn`t pick up at all. Thanks for that image.

[Willj]

Thanks again for the suggestions. As it turn out, I had badly sodered an oil tube on the drive shaft and it was leaking from there. I ended up smearing epoxy around the joint. No more leaks! Woo Hoo!! I shortened they play on the prop shaft too.

[woodybob]

Cool. Glad to hear you got it sorted out.

[Iunnrais]

1/2 oz? That's just 'shaft cooling' :D

Here's a couple of truly leaky ships =)

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

1/2 oz? That's just 'shaft cooling' :D

Here's a couple of truly leaky ships =)


I agree, What's a little water between the frames.. :rolleyes:

:p