after a decade with a 25' northern that had a 9.9 merc off the back (easy maintenance),
i "upgraded" to a 1982 Catalina 30' with an atomic four, last year.
i can't afford a boat in good condition and am quite handy, so i found myself a real fixer-upper. it is in bad shape but, like i said, i can fix most stuff, but also i can spend the money slowly fixing the boat over years, just not all at once up front. (plus it will truly be my custom boat).
the engine, however is a touch intimidating.
the old northern (Firefly) was a dream to handle, but i noticed that the cat30 (Dragonfly) had near zero reverse. pulling into my slip was more about tying-off in time that actual boat handling. stressful, and difficult for a solo-sailor with a new-to-me boat that weighs nearly twice as much.
so i looked into several different prop options that increased reverse thrust.
AutoProp was what i decided on and splurged...
the problem was this... (would like to add picture inline but can't)
ok, so during the transition between forward and reverse... the blades can HIT THE DAMN STRUT!
i need to "lengthen" the prop shaft by about an inch. two ideas have floated up.
A) a custom spacer between the transmission and the coupler.
B) a Flexible Coupling.
i am brand-spanking new to this engine and really could use some advise.
(and not the "return the prop" kind as the ship has sailed. also i am profoundly dyslexic so please ignore spelling, & vids are WAY better than written directions for me.)
here is a guess at a Flexible Coupling i might use from a local (in town) shop (which also has a huge online business if you are in canada)
it would add just over an inch (1 11/32) and thus the prop would clear.
i can't find any discussion here about Flex Coupling. pros/cons... that sort of thing.
if i can't figure this out soon, i'll miss the short lived summer here.
also i should change the cutlass bearing... so much to do... and none of the custom tools...
i "upgraded" to a 1982 Catalina 30' with an atomic four, last year.
i can't afford a boat in good condition and am quite handy, so i found myself a real fixer-upper. it is in bad shape but, like i said, i can fix most stuff, but also i can spend the money slowly fixing the boat over years, just not all at once up front. (plus it will truly be my custom boat).
the engine, however is a touch intimidating.
the old northern (Firefly) was a dream to handle, but i noticed that the cat30 (Dragonfly) had near zero reverse. pulling into my slip was more about tying-off in time that actual boat handling. stressful, and difficult for a solo-sailor with a new-to-me boat that weighs nearly twice as much.
so i looked into several different prop options that increased reverse thrust.
AutoProp was what i decided on and splurged...
the problem was this... (would like to add picture inline but can't)
ok, so during the transition between forward and reverse... the blades can HIT THE DAMN STRUT!
i need to "lengthen" the prop shaft by about an inch. two ideas have floated up.
A) a custom spacer between the transmission and the coupler.
B) a Flexible Coupling.
i am brand-spanking new to this engine and really could use some advise.
(and not the "return the prop" kind as the ship has sailed. also i am profoundly dyslexic so please ignore spelling, & vids are WAY better than written directions for me.)
here is a guess at a Flexible Coupling i might use from a local (in town) shop (which also has a huge online business if you are in canada)
it would add just over an inch (1 11/32) and thus the prop would clear.
i can't find any discussion here about Flex Coupling. pros/cons... that sort of thing.
if i can't figure this out soon, i'll miss the short lived summer here.
also i should change the cutlass bearing... so much to do... and none of the custom tools...
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