A little bit of boat progress

As I was reminded today, another blog post is due. Well, I have been holding off for the simple reason that I wanted to show you the completed install of the Aqua Drive and prop shaft installation, but because of a hiccup, it is not quite done yet. As to other happenings around here there were yard cleanups, house chores and paperwork I had to take care of. The weather had been pretty nice and I think we were spoiled thinking it would last. It didn’t. Today is absolutely miserable outside with high winds, driving rain and our daytime temperature is 5C/41F.

 

Installed Aqua Drive, top coupling is mounted on the Diesel Engine
bottom piece of shiny shaft is where the PSS shaft seal will be mounted

So to back up, since we replaced the engine in the boat and Benno wanted an Aqua Drive, the old prop shaft and propeller will not work anymore for the new Beta Engine configuration. The existing prop shaft showed serious wear markings and is with an Aqua Drive now too long. 

Benno had figured out if the old cut key way for the motor coupling is cut off from that end of the shaft and a new taper and key way for the propeller is machined there instead, then the other end of the shaft could be cut off to the new length to fit the future Aqua Drive. That way we could still use the existing prop shaft having a good surface for “Cutless” bearing and shaft seal, we would not have to purchase a new propeller shaft and saving a bundle of our dollars.

In order to make these changes happen, we needed to bring this prop shaft to a company who manufactures prop shafts or is capable to work on it, but here in Southern Ontario there is “nada-nada” for the next 300 miles. We found The Henry Smith Company in Algonac, Michigan, USA, which is only 40 miles from us. They would be able to do this kind of work and they are well known even here in Ontario. From our house the shortest way would be to drive to Walpole Island, which is part of the Indian Reserve just north of Lake St Clair and to take the ferry over the St Clair River to the city of Algonac in Michigan, USA. 

 

In short order we stuck the prop shaft into our truck between the seats with one end resting on a piece of foam on the dashboard and the other end sticking out of the rear window and got underway. When we drive over to the USA our usual road is via the Detroit border crossing over the Ambassador Bridge so this route was new to us and was our first ferry ride with the truck. We parked at the indicated lanes for vehicles and waited for the ferry to arrive, which was at the other side of the river. The ferry runs about every twenty minutes or so and with us were four other vehicles. The river was very calm and so was the ride. At the Henry Smith Company Benno explained what he wanted done and we left the prop shaft in their capable hands and returned home.

A week later we got the call that the shaft was ready for pickup and also the brass “Cutless” bearing and PSS shaft seal were in, which we had ordered. We went the same route but this time the weather was much cooler and it was windy with a bit of a wave action on the river. This time we only waited about 5 minutes before the ferry pulled in. It turned out that the prop shaft needed another modification and we were sent away until it would be ready for us. Close by was a West Marine store whose merchandise we thoroughly inspected as well as a bit of sightseeing of the area and watching some freighter traffic while digesting our McD lunches all to kill time.

 

At the agreed upon time we returned and this time the prop shaft was ready to go. We paid our invoice, got the boxes of the parts and left for the return trip. Mid way on the river the ferry stopped to let a large freighter pass even though we had the right of way but who is to argue with a huge old Laker. Back in Canada at the Customs house I paid our HST (taxes) for the goods and we were on our way home.

 

So why the hiccup? It turned out that when Benno opened the box for the PSS shaft seal he said “Shit” because it was the wrong size and neither one had noticed it. Well, another couple of ferry rides is in our near future once the right part is being shipped. Hopefully the weather will have improved by then.

 

Top part with the shiny shaft is waiting for the PSS shaft seal
(will show at the next update)

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