Survey on relaxing shaft coupling during winter storage

[R. Meigel]

I have been told by some it is advisable to loosen the shaft coupling when the boat is stored on the hard, then realign when the boat has been launched - preferable after 1/2 day or more in the water. This prevents wear on the cutlass bearing and other stresses related to the different hull shape on the hard. Others have said this is overkill. It doesn't matter that much. What is the consensus among Cape Dory owners out there? (I have a CD 27)



rlmeigel@aol.com

[Neil Gordon]

>>I have been told by some it is advisable to loosen the shaft coupling when the boat is stored on the hard, ...<<

That's a new one. Never heard it or seen it on any decommissioning checklist. If it made even the least bit of sense, it would be on the yard checklist... something they could charge you for if you even remotely needed it.

>>... preferable after 1/2 >>day or more in the water.<<

This sounds like a holdover from wooden boat days.

>>... different hull shape on the hard.<<

On the hard, the CD sits on its keel. I doubt the hull shape changes at all, least of which near the keel where the shaft coupling and cutlass bearing are.


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167



neil@nrgordon.com

[Lee H. Hodsdon]

I've just completed re-installing my transmission, and aligning the two coupling faces. At present the faces are parallel within <.002", on the same centerlines and the engine mount bolts are tightened. When LOKI is in the water I intend to recheck the alignment. I'll let you know the results. She goes back in May 10. I guess any change will be a result of the difference in hull shape as the support goes from the keel, to the entire hull as it is surrounded by the displaced water, and any change caused by installation of standing rigging. It seems the change will need to be substantial if it is to be measured across the 4" diameter of the coupling faces.

One note: I thought the distance between the coupling halves and the engine front was small unitl many trips from the port locker to the cockpit down the companionway to the front of the engine, make an adjustment -- then retrace steps to see the result. What fun!

Sincerely,

Lee


P.S. Great comment on the boat yard checklist, though I am convinced that "not needing the work done" deters them in the least!



lhodsdon@nh.ultranet.com

[Larry DeMers]

HI,
I have owned our CD30 DeLaMer for almost 9 years now,a nd have never needed to relaxe the coupling. There is a flexing of the hull that is different than when the boat is immersed, but this should come out in the first week or so of water life. The coupling should then return to the original position that it was in before being removed from the water (assuming nothing else has changed structurally).

If it does not return to the original position, I would investigate why not..as it should if everything else is equal.

Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer

>>I have been told by some it is advisable to loosen the shaft coupling when the boat is stored on the hard, ...<<

That's a new one. Never heard it or seen it on any decommissioning checklist. If it made even the least bit of sense, it would be on the yard checklist... something they could charge you for if you even remotely needed it.

>>... preferable after 1/2 >>day or more in the water.<<

This sounds like a holdover from wooden boat days.

>>... different hull shape on the hard.<<

On the hard, the CD sits on its keel. I doubt the hull shape changes at all, least of which near the keel where the shaft coupling and cutlass bearing are.


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167

demers@sgi.com