to pod or not to pod 30' bay cruiser

[Razgo-]

Hi Scott, almost good news . Just got a phone call from the mechanic saying the engineers broke my prop accidentally. They were making sure the shaft was balanced with the prop and it wasn't. They noticed a bend in one of the blades and an attempt to bend it back cause a crack to appear.

So they are trying to locate another prop for me. Shouldn't be too hard to find a bronze cast prop?

hopefully they have one by tomorrow and then can slip the boat Monday and then sea trial Tuesday.

At least I know the job is actually being done right this time and not just slapped back together.

Prop breakage is what is and can happen to anyone so i am not worried about that but it's just another thing having to be fixed

[Razgo-]

still waiting for the prop. I didn't know about the various types of prop metals as there are 3 main types

1. gunmetal Bronze (the cheapest with about 5% zinc)

2. Manganese Bronze

3. NIBRAL or Aluminum Bronze

I was told the NIBRAL was the best but also the most expensive being over the 1,000 mark.

I was also told the gunmetal bronze would be the best for boat since it doesn't get up on the plane.

So will go with the gunmetal bronze not knowing any different. the cost of that one is $715.00 inc GST from watsons at coomera.

hopefully that is the right decision.

so the saga continues and hope to have a final result by end of week.

[Razgo-]

Well the saga continues.

There wasn't enough time for the antifoul to dry on the prop and rudder as the prop only arrived Friday morning and rudder on Friday.

Also had a skeg issue where the prop shaft would not align properly. So I had to have to unbolted off and build the thickness up a bit and have it glued and bolted back on. So not enough time for that to set either.

So being stuck on the hardstand until Tuesday I figured i paint her. Spent most of today painting and should finish it off tomorrow.

So it's fingers crossed for a launch on Tuesday.

new and old prop pics attached. the new prop is about 1KG heavier.

[Razgo-]

Finally!! Boat got wet last night but didn't get the alignment done until this morning. It is 6 thou out but he the mechanic reckons 4-6 thou is ok. I thought it was a bit much personally.

Anyhow no noise except at idle it seems to have some slop gear meshing. Under load smooth as a bell. I only just went around the marina and back for a quick flat out test to make sure it didn't explode or anything.

So 4K later i now have a boat again!

Planning to take it down to coochie mooring tomorrow.

I got 3 months or 50 hrs warranty whichever comes first. Thats better than the other non existing warranty i had.

Oh the skeg had to be redone and was done with epoxy but then the mechanic broke it as he tried to fit the prop shaft through and put the prop on before it set!!

so wasn't even sure if it was going to leak when it hit the water or not. Thankfully not one drop seeping in from the skeg.

could i get a full size pod and motor for $4K? or even adding the previously spent $5k on the v-drive i think i am still in front. just minus the space

so this is the conclusion.

to pod or not to pod? for me? no.

if i had a spare $20K? possibly.

would i have my boat fixed at horizon shores marina again? NO!

that place has sucked the life out of me so i will be glad to high tale it out of there tomorrow and will take me months to recover.

/end drama

[Chimo]

Hi Razgo

Good to hear that you are finally back in the water with a warranty too.

Its been a trial for all involved but much more so for you and yours.
At least in the real estate letting area there is a blacklist (or there was) pity such a thing is not in place to allow boaties to avoid spending in the wrong places too. As you say though you have spent less than you would have dropping an outboard onto the back. Maybe in a few years if super does the right thing!

All the best with it ............

Cheers
Chimo