Strut/Prop Failure

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4-27-06 Update: We still don't know the exact cause of our failure. It is Marine Pro's opinion that the strut broke first, due to electrolysis. We are taking all our parts, pieces and photos to the manufacturer of our boat, who still makes the same boat, to see if they can determine what happened.
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Today we were motoring down the ICW on the Indian River - no wind, but a beautiful sunny day just the same. We were in between two other boats from our sailing club, middle of the channel, headed to an island to anchor for an overnight. I was at the helm, thinking more about hanging the hammock upon arrival than anything going on in the cockpit at the time. I was jolted back to reality by the sound of metal on metal. We coasted off the channel and dropped anchor. With the engine still running in idle, following his inspection of the engine, Chris shouts "shut `er down, there's black oil all over down here." He then dove the bottom and saw that the strut was broken in half.

Fortunately, we were able to get towed and hauled - which was no easy thing on an Easter weekend. There was no impact involved in this failure. The rudder, keel and bottom are very, very clean. We were in the middle of the ICW with 12' water. Also, there doesn't appear to have been anything fouling the prop. We were motoring down at about 2200 rpm - 6.7 knots.

From our preliminary inspection, it appears that the prop blade failed first, and the lopsided, unbalanced, remaining two blades under load caused the strut to break. From the last photo you can see that the prop has two inches clearance between the top of the blade and bottom of the boat. We think that the gash in the boat must have occurred when the prop blade was lifting (as it was failing) and thus elongated enough to reach the underside of the boat. We have folks coming to inspect on Friday, so should know more after that.

Inside photos of LaLeLu

1. Salon looking aft to Galley, Nav Station and companion way steps:




2. Park's cabin looking forward into "day" head:



3. Park's Cabin:




4. Main Cabin with dressing table/stool:



5. Taken from Galley looking into Salon with Main Cabin beyond:

Conrads in Ft. Lauderdale

Taken during a trip to visit the Wolfes on Lucky Peek.

Stupid Pet Tricks

Yeah, I know, they look cute and innocent in the photo, but looks can be deceiving. We have been taking Roxie and Neko with us on the weekends to the boat. They seem to enjoy going, but sometimes they do really wierd things. Neko is the worst offender. On our trip up the Indian River from Cocoa a few weeks back, Neko tried to escape. Or at least that's what we think he was trying to do. We were putting up our mainsail, and thus, pre-occupied at the front of the cockpit. The dogs had been lounging about on the cockpit seats as they usual do when we are underway. When we got the sail up, I heard a strange clicking noise behind me. Turning around I saw Neko standing in the dingy, which was hanging from our davits off the back of the boat. Ok, I will admit, this was kind of cute and silly, but what if he had fallen off the boat! He would have been fish food. Then, this past weekend, he tried a new trick: Jumping off the boat while it is at the dock. Somehow, he was able to make it onto the dock - but again - what if? Another wierd thing he has been doing is trying to roam in the middle of the night. We have been putting the pin boards in to stop him from getting out of the boat at night. This doesn't desuade him. He will climb up the companionway and sit up at the top step. Sometimes he falls down and we awaken to the sound of furry paws desparately trying to grab onto something. Sometimes he justs sits at the top step and makes a moaning sound. He is so strange.

Roxie does not try any death defying acts, as she is not quite as brave (ie, stupid). She is pretty content to just lounge around and does not have the overwhelming need to roam like her buddy does. Her worst habbit is running to the bow of the boat and barking at everyone that goes by.

Oh well, it's a good thing they are so cute.