Solent - Wednesday 16 May 2007

Biggles · 13 May 2007, 16:39

Myself and AndyB007 are planning to take our boats out for a spin in the Solent on Wednesday.
The itinery is weather dependant but things are looking fair at this time.
I think an excursion to the Needles is on the cards with a view to going onwards if the conditions allow.
Anyone is welcome to join with their boats if they like.

Wight Skipper · 15 May 2007, 18:34

We will be coming out of Cowes in the morning. What time will you be around?

Biggles · 15 May 2007, 18:42

I'm meeting Andy off Calshot at 1100 hrs.

We'll be on channel 77 and you can also DSC us if you like. But that always gives me a mild panic attack when it goes off.

Wight Skipper · 16 May 2007, 05:46

No worries, we will try 77 later. The weather looks OK!

Wight Skipper · 16 May 2007, 14:47

Good to meet you all. Hope that you got round OK. See you next time!

Andy Moore · 16 May 2007, 14:53

A good trip!

Biggles · 16 May 2007, 19:44

Hi Andy and Alex,

Good to find more RIBNET members.

It was a funny old day weatherwise. Started off fantastic then became overcast with a little wind building. After we all made our way to the Needles Alex took us in quite close and contemplated going between the rocks. However one look at the rollers breaking amongst the rocks soon made us think otherwise. 'Ditherer' went on to Freshwater Bay whilst 'Darwin' and 'Zerstorer' aimed for the reported pod of dolphins. Unfortunately a good few miles south of the IOW I hit something. I don't have a clue what it was but I've got some funny white marks on the gearbox and prop and a badly distorted prop. This caused my engine to vibrate like it was running on three cylinders so it was a quick 180 turn a back to yarmouth at slow speed to check it out. Luckily its booked in for a service next week so they can have a look and see if the damage goes further than just a new prop. Shame there were some nice rollers to play around in and it would have been a good day to hunt for the dolphins. Now I see why people carry spare props. And what hacked me off even more is I've got one sat at home.

Some pics to follow.

Biggles · 16 May 2007, 20:08

As promised some pics.

1) Ditherer and Darwin in the Solent.

2) Ditherer approaching Alum Bay.

3 and 4) Approaching the Needles.

Nos4r2 · 16 May 2007, 21:43

Ouch!

Any marks on your hull?

Biggles · 16 May 2007, 22:30

No hull is okay as far as I can see. been over it with a torch and no marks at all. Will get on my back and check the spine tomorrow but I suspect that will be fine.

I have a couple of strange white marks on the left of the gearbox (Will easily rub off with a finger but I'm leaving them on till Suzuki have seen them) and some white marks on the prop. Its pushed one blade out of canter.
I'll get the guys at Suzuki to check the prop shaft. But it doesn't seem to be leaking oil. I went 25 miles on the bent prop so if it was leaking it would have seized up by then I think. Anyway I'll have to leave it to the service guys. Lucky it was booked in for next week for a service.

Just annoyed I didn't have the spare prop with me to swap it over and get rid of any niggling doubts re the gearbox.

Spoilt a good day out, but hopefully should be more to come.

Nos4r2 · 16 May 2007, 23:49

If you spin the prop by hand does the hub wobble?

Biggles · 16 May 2007, 23:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

If you spin the prop by hand does the hub wobble?

No.

Biggles · 16 May 2007, 23:51

Apparently they have a machine that can check the tolerances.

Nos4r2 · 16 May 2007, 23:53

Cool. Sounds like you took a bit of a nasty knock. Was it loud and scary?

Biggles · 17 May 2007, 00:01

Certainly was loud. I instantly knew we had hit something as I was driving. My co pilot was not convinced. He heard the noise but though it was a mechanical noise. That made me think that he was right and the noise I heard which was like a loud click was something breaking in the engine. We stopped checked the prop for damage and plastic bags/rope but could see nothing. Because of the vibrations I then though maybe a spark plug had shattered but that was beyond being fixed in rolling seas miles from anywhere so it was limp back in to port time.
Its bloody annoying hitting something in the middle of nowhere. Close inshore you could understand it but 5 miles south of the IOW is a p___er.
Time to get a prop spanner and carry the spare prop for something that will probably never happen again. But better safe than sorry. As they say.

Nos4r2 · 17 May 2007, 00:08

wierd. Glad it didn't do more damage though.

Biggles · 17 May 2007, 00:50

It was certainly weird.
As long as the Suzuki boys are happy with the shaft I'm going to be completely flummoxed as to how how something can bend one blade so badly and not touch the hull.
Its really strange. No visible damage to the prop unless you look at a certain angle then you can see that one blade has been twisted.

Was it a white bouy ?

Her indoors thinks it was a dolphin.

Certainly wasn't metal but what else leaves white marks and bends a prop ? Thats why I think a bouy did it.

Wight Skipper · 17 May 2007, 05:54

Sorry to hear that your day was spoiled. I hope that the damage is not too bad. Do let us know the outcome.

Thanks for the pics!

timw · 17 May 2007, 08:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggles

It was certainly weird.
As long as the Suzuki boys are happy with the shaft I'm going to be completely flummoxed as to how how something can bend one blade so badly and not touch the hull.
Its really strange. No visible damage to the prop unless you look at a certain angle then you can see that one blade has been twisted.

Was it a white bouy ?

Her indoors thinks it was a dolphin.

Certainly wasn't metal but what else leaves white marks and bends a prop ? Thats why I think a bouy did it.

I lost an entire blade of a stainless prop through tangling with a large piece of rope at speed. No visible marks on hull or anywhere else.

Biggles · 17 May 2007, 13:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by timw

I lost an entire blade of a stainless prop through tangling with a large piece of rope at speed. No visible marks on hull or anywhere else.

Did you get any vibrations ?

The prop doesn't look too bad. And the bloke I spoke to at Suzuki said "Of course it will vibrate". Thing is I've seen far worse props than mine and they haven't vibrated. I'm a little confused now. There's no sign of oil leaks. I'm going to swap the props over tonight and visually check the shaft. Suzuki said if the gearbox has any damage then that would be a major rebuild. Trouble is I can't check it without putting it under load at sea.

I think I'll just have to wait to see what Suzuki say but it would be nice if anyone on here has had vibrations after bending a prop, which has disapeared once the props been swapped. Much like running on three cylinders.