I have that sinking feeling...Shaft Log Blues.

[CurtTampa]

After being advised by the bottom cleaner that my zinc was just about shot (which he declared to be perfect a couple of months ago) i climbed down in the aft coffin space check on things. I've had some discoloration and the evaporative salt build up on the shaft log over the last year. It usually comes right off - yesterday was different - by just scraping my thumbnail accross it I opened up a pin hole leak. I opened my Boat Panic Phone list and call the first name. Gerry - Compac. He suggested a dab of marine tex to stop the hemorrhage. Of course the only people that carry West Marine closes at 5:00.  Off to home Depot while I leave the boat to the bilge pump. Picked up som E2000 epoxy plumbers putty and gently attached a a wad of gum size dab. 15 minutes to cure and the leak stopped. . I stayed aboard and stared at the bilge all night. Two miles away is Apollo Beach Boat Yard. The best they could do is a haul out Monday. In the meantime I'm nervous to even look at. Not sure if this is an isolated through hole ir if the entire back end of the log is rusty mush. The good news is Gerry just so happens to be building two new shaft logs. Thought I would share to spark some ideas/dialouge on how to prepare for and or manage  this possible catastrophic event.

[relamb]

Make sure your bilge pump is good, and that you have a spare.  If you're really worried about things rusting through and sinking the boat before it can be hauled, move it to a very shallow slip such that the keel would already be resting on the bottom if it did spring a worse leak.  You can also jump overboard and pack plumbers putty around the prop shaft from the outside (th soft putty kind, not anything that hardens).

[CurtTampa]

Good advice.   Plumbers putty added to the disaster kit. Still contemplating best way to get to the yard - i think TowBoat US might be the call. Plumbers putty on the oustide would restrict water to the log - is that asking for a heatissue? My biggest fear is not knowing the intergrity level of the rest of the log. I added some of the silicone rescue tape to the panic bag after reading about its ability to temporarily repair through hull hoses.

[thomeng55]

Good luck.

I might also suggest some toilet bowl seal wax in your kit.  It works temporary wonders.  I used once on a small leak on a boat 20 years ago and it stopped it right up until I got her out.  Molds to ever shape too.

We'll be thinking of you.  Let us know how it goes

Thom

[CurtTampa]

Great idea - I thought of the same having recently replaced my dirt dwelling head. I think it could be packed tight and its just the right amount of gooey.

[relamb]

I wouldn't put the plumbers putty on the outside if you were planning on spinning the prop, I doubt it would seal then.  Save that for later if it springs a serious leak!

[CurtTampa]

Well the drama is over. I made it to the yard. Sitting in the service slip waiting to be hauled a second pinhole leak opened up. She's on the hard now and plan to drop the rudder today. The zinc was a little over half gone and the prop nuts had come lose. Amazing. Im thinking the diver should of caught this this(?).  On the bright side I didn't need the borrowed gear puller to get the prop off. To be overly prepared I rented a generator to power a 100 GPM (yes minute) in case the whole shebang let lose. It's a hold over from my boyscout days. "Always be prepared".

[relamb]

Take some before/after pics of the repair.  Whatever goes wrong with one, goes wrong with mine eventually!

[CurtTampa]

Ill take some pics and post after I get the new shaftlog tomorrow. To my surprise and honestly now I feel I may over reacted - I dropped the rudder, removed the shaft and shaft log today. Its a good days effort with plenty of time for the unexpected. My first unexpected was the condition of the mild steel set screw collar on the rudder post. It sits on a delrin washer and is below the steering  quadrant. I put a twist on L shaped Hex wrench trying to get the set screw out - soaked in PB Blaster while I ran to Home Depot for a hex socket. That failed as well -broke off the hex part of the socket in the set screw. Ended  up drilling from the top (emergency rudder port) and dividing the collar into halves. Once that was complete I droped the rudder etc... the suprising part was the condition of the shaft log. Its a heafty piece of tube stock - except for the two through wall pinholes and 6 or 7 other beginnings it was solid and thick. I was expecting rusty mush. I doubt the pinholes  would of overwhelmed the bilge pump.

[CurtTampa]

Update on the shaft log repair: Gerry at Hutchinsons came through as promised. Brand new shaft log was ready for pick up in less than two days. One unexpected hitch was there has been a change in the stock tube size. This required I replace the packing gland nuts and coupling hose. Something to be mindful of if you replace yours. He ordered the new gland and I had it next day. Im fortunate to be just across the bay so I didn't lose much time. I was impressed that Gerry and Richard had not only dropped everything to help and order parts but when I arrived they had pressed the cutlas bearing, installed the nuts in the shaft and packed the gland with flax. Great service as always. The entire job was easier than expected. The only challenge was the bottom bolt on the shaft log flange. I opted to reverse the bolts having the nuts outside. This makes threading the nuts easier. A lenght of threaded rod run through a deep socket with two nuts to keep it from spinning made holding that bottom bolt easy. Its still a two person job but manageble. I've been back in the water for over a month and no leaks!