[C320-list] Prop Shaft: Replacement

[Rod Boer]

Hi Warren,

You could be creative like I was about 23 years ago when I had a Catalina
27.  I just dug a really deep hole under the rudder and then dropped the
rudder in the hole and removed it.  The marina wasn't very happy about that
approach, but I pretty much patched things up afterwards. I did put a new
stainless steel shaft in the C320 but I think I removed the cutlass bearing
which probably helped.

Rod
Odyssey, #688

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf
Of Warren Updike
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2018 3:13 PM
To: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Prop Shaft: Replacement

Another 320 owner and I are in the process of replacing the prop shaft with
a SS shaft. We find that the shaft does not easily pass by the rudder, yet
many have said that it can be removed without dropping the rudder. Jeff
Hare, in a previous post, indicated you have to use a bit of muscle, but it
wasn't hard. Another post said the strut was bent in the process.

We are interested in comments and suggestions from those who have done the
shaft replacement as to how difficult is was to move the shaft past the
rudder.

Finally, has anyone heard of loosening the shaft strut as oppose to dropping
the rudder?
Thanks guys,
Warren and Pattie Updike
1994 C320 "Warr de Mar" #62
Middle River, Chesapeake Bay