Propeller axle strut - Ballad

[kaidepuu]

My problem is that the lamination of the metal strut outside of the boat has been starting to rotten.

My first thought was, that the strut goes through the floor - but inside the boat you cannot see any sign of the strut, or lamination.

Now it is clear, that in my Ballad the strut doesn´t go through the floor and is laminated only outside.

Is this really the original structure in Ballad, I wonder?

[prjacobs]

My strut had been reinforced at some time in the past, I don't know why. Maybe it was re-aligned for the Yanmar engine, or maybe damaged in a grounding. There was nothing visible on the inside of the hull, it seems to be quite strong so I faired it a bit, installed a new bearing, and left it alone.

[kaidepuu]

Anyway - have you the idea that the metall strut by no means doesn´t go through the floor? So that it is laminated only from outside.

Kai

[prjacobs]

My guess is that it has a bit of a shoe that cups the bottom of the hull, and maybe a couple of bolts going through that have been glassed over during construction. As I say ... it's a guess, but looking at pictures on the net that seems the way they are built.

[kaidepuu]

This is what dropped down when I took away the rotten laminate.

[MarkRyan1981]

Interesting - wonder why the laminate was failing? Possible grounding? Bad cutlass bearing replacement? Misaligned engine putting forces through it incorrectly? Or manufacturing defect? Let us know what you find

[kaidepuu]

No answer to this result. There can be many possibilities.

Anyway, there were signs of earlier repair - not during the last 15 years, according to 3 earlier owners.

[kaidepuu]

Finally: all the earlier reparation was not made professionally. The metal strut was plain, with no rough to help the laminate to be attached.

[PhilippZ]

Kaidepuu,

After catching a rope with the propellor I will have to face fixing the shaft strut as well. From the first looks if the cracked fiberglass it is the same as in your pictures, just a simple metal plate where the bearing is bolted to. so you ended up replacing the old strut with the V-shaped part. Have you tried to just laminate the simple strut back on in the beginning? I am tempted to go that way, but worried that it will be a painful process trying to align the strut and keeping it in place until the epoxy is hard enough.
I am happy for any advise

Cheers,
Philipp

[Diane]

Hi Phillip,

Did you manage to repair your trust? Did you laminated it back? We have the same problem with our Albin Ballad and are seeking for a fast and economic solution.. Any advices?