Posted by tomC I carefully watched a few lobstermen dry out their boats and they seemed confident and relaxed. I had observed a few sailboats in the past do the same but when it came time to try "beaching" my own boat, I got the jitters. "Not my new boat, what if I screw up and she tips over..nooooooo". In the end fear and inexperience at this procedure prompted me to don diving gear last Saturday to pull the prop. Driving rain, an outgoing tide providing murky water, and cold temperatures greeted me and the task I was about to perform. 10 minutes to remove the cotter pin, 5 minutes each for the split lock nut and prop nut, then a gear puller. Heaving and trying to get leverage to turn the nut on the prop puller, bottom paint rubbing off on my dive suit, with a mighty blast the prop finally blasted off. I really didn't know what happened. Suddenly there was a blast and everything was gone. The tools and prop hanging by the line I had tied them to hanging below me. Later on in talking to Sandy over at Great Bay Marine, I could have avoided this by simple leaving the prop nut on by just a couple of turns. All in all a very nerve wracking experience. I blew thru an entire tank of air in less than 30 minutes. Next week the saga of re-installing. Supposedly a much smoother operation. tomC
on 6/4/2001, 9:30 am
I was determined that the prop on my newly purchased sailboat was out of pitch. Of course the boat was already launched and sitting on her mooring down at the cove so the choice had to be made.....Dry her out in the launch ramp area by leaning her against the wharf, or dive down and pull the prop at her mooring.
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