Hi Eric,
I did get your phone message.* You are welcome to try again.* My phone took a salt water bath a couple weeks ago,* before I went on the five day cruise east,* and I dragged my feet getting* a replacement as I tried to get a deal on ebay,* which didn't work out,* anyway,* I have another phone now,* same number.
I hear you about the Velvet drive,* but really want to shorten up the engine/transmission unit so I can get at the front of the engine without working blindfolded.* As most of these engines I am looking at are really "sailboat engines"* they are all set up to be worked on from the front,* which is sometimes the only easily accessible place on many sailboats.* Unfortunately, on the Horizon, as the Perkins sits, everything from the front of the valve cover forward is under the wheelhouse deck, and even with the access holes I have expanded to get at the front from the forward cabin, access is limited.* For example, working on either fresh or sea water pumps are sketchy at best.* Belt tension and Alternator work is also limited.
Is the engine in your boat a bit further aft?
The only way I can see to do this is to gain space at the transmission.
Yes that Aqua drive gizmo would be a nice addition,* But my wife is behaving well enuf about my desire for a new engine,* so I better not push that issue.* And I am sure that they are quite proud of that Aqua Drive, dollar wise that is.* And The installation can't be cheap or easy,* as that requires some sort of solid bracket/mount for the new thrust bearing.** Do to the length of the intermediate shaft between the transmission and the thrust bearing, that would have to be back under my cabin sole,* where there is not that much extra space,* or a good place to bolt anything solid to.
On the subject of shaft,* to eliminate the possibility of the vibration originating from the shaft and wheel,* I am going to have both analized after* haul the boat this fall.
And, since the shaft will likely have to be longer, and in the event that my vibration has damaged the shaft where it enters the coupler,* I have a plan.
I plan to cut the shaft about three feet back,* which will have the prop shaft end about two feet aft of the second support bearing from the stern.** I will have a coupler here theat will attach to a coupler on the stub shaft that goes thru the second bearing and attaches to the coupler at the transmission.
This will have several benefits that I see.
1.* Whenever cutlass bearing or stuffing box work has to be done,* only the after section of the shaft needs to be moved.
2.* If I ever am in some remote location and need a new shaft shipped in,* there will be shorter pieces,* which might come thru shipping better.
3.* The coupler under the cabin sole,* between the two support bearings, will be stiffened by having the coupler in the middle of that length.
4.* I won't have to buy a new longer shaft for this change,* just have a new stub shaft made, and have the old shaft cut short, and have on the new forward end..a new end machined on the forward end of the old shaft.
I hope my new engine installation,* which I plan to do myself goes a lot better than what the company I work for is going thru.** They finally decided to replace a GM 12V71. in a small tug that we have.* They chose a six cylindar Cat, and have taken one lump after another.** First, the engine that was supposed to be deliverewd in one week took three.* Then Cat dragged their feet* in working out how much keel cooling was needed, 2 more weeks.* Then they decided a manufactured keel cooler would be needed instead of just using steel channel welded to the bottom.* Then the rush order for the new keel cooler was misplaced by Cat and another one week turned into 3,* after a two week delay in the original figuring.
Good thing work has been slow and they were able to shuffle work around between the two other tugs that we have.** Good news or bad,* the other tugs each have 12V71s in them,* and we had hoped that this new engine would be a for-runner of maybe getting the others replaced.* With all the SNAFU they may have a bad taste in their mouths about doing this again.* Or maybe they will just be able to plan things ahead a bit better.
Things in Maine are finally starting to cool off.* After Labor Day and the start of school,* traffic starts thinning out.** The good days out on the water are nice, but a rainy day can get pretty raw.** But I don't have to tell you anything about cool or damp or cold weather.** You have enuf of that.
Dan Pease