Removal of Feathering Max Prop for Reconditioning

This past summer both Sue and I have noticed more vibration coming from our drivetrain. On many dives to the prop for cleaning, I began wiggling both blades and felt there was more clearance in the blade than necessary.

I started to wonder when the last time this prop has been reconditioned (not when we owned the boat). I even dove on another sailboat that had a Max Prop to feel its clearance and it wasn’t quite as loose as mine.

Soon after Jubilee was brought on land, ten days ago, I began walking around the yard testing clearances of other boat’s props.  I determined that Jubilee seemed looser and needed reconditioning.

Easy removal - cotter pins and socket head screws

I found more support from Jerome of PYI, dealer of Max Prop on the west coast. He found that this prop was installed on Jubilee in Rochester, NY in 1988.  That is 26 years of questionable use; except for the trip to the Bahamas and all the motoring we did in the ICW.  Jerome also added that the split pin through the locking nut was done in the late 80s and since the middle 90s, a double pin is used to retain the gear mechanism.

I also found that this prop was installed improperly in 1988.  This is an 18” prop with 16 degrees of pitch, running in forward, turning counterclockwise, was set for reverse.  However this didn’t matter since the pitch is the same in forward or reverse.  This prop was usually good for 7.5 knots in flat water, at 2500 rpm, and we usually sail much more than we motor.

I'll be sending everything to PYI next week in hopes that their rebuild will give us a smoother ride in the spring.


I had to use a wheel puller to break the taper on the shaft

Preparing to Close-in the Bow Area

Since the weather is becoming a little nippy, we needed to expedite the bow cover. We needed a support, so I grabbed the spinnaker pole which resides in the top of our garage.


loaded for travel



red flag attached!





 

main support for bow cover

our camera room is large enough to layout
the entire cover and pin together

We've taken the measurements and cut the cover material to size, now to sew it and try the first fitting!  Don seems to enjoy his time behind the sewing machine and how intricate he can made the cover fit.

 

doesn't he look happy?

 

Reporting about Pixie:

On Thursday, 13th November, Pixie had her final exam after her radiation treatments and she is doing fabulously!

I captured an image while both Sue and she were sleeping together on the loveseat in the living room.  If you look closely
you can see the affected area on her right side is clean of any scabs or skin infections.  We're both happy for her total recovery and she acts so much younger now.

 



Covered and Prepared for the Snowy Winter

On November 5th we covered Jubilee's cabin area and cockpit.  We brought the dinghy home to give

us room to prepare to extend the winter cover to the bow section, since we haven't sewed it yet. We dropped the boom to the deck for safety reasons and moved all of the halyards within the mast. All work inside can now proceed with the cover on and the heaters connected.

Inside the cover



Ready for the harsh winter weather

Pixie & Mom waitin' for me to leave

Out of the Water on Election Day!

Jubilee was lifted out at 9:30, washed her bottom and placed in the cradle before 10:30 AM. 

http://www.delawarecitymarina.biz/


Lifted high above the water

Washing the hull

pretty clean

Pixie's Follow-up Exam

 “On August 18^th I was given 2 months to live by a specialist at the Veterinary Specialty Center of Delaware.  My Mom and Dad saw that I was not feeling well and they prayed to GOD for a direction to help me.”

Walking into the VOS in West Chester with Mommie



Dr. Jeglum is examining me!

“Life is so precious, and the folks at Veterinary Oncology Services in West Chester never doubted that every day I could love and be loved was worth fighting for….  Thank you for all that never would have been had it not been for you Dr. Ann Jeglum and her Staff!”

Spending the Winter at Home!

The good news is Pixie has been sportin' her Elizabethan Collar to keep her from scratching her face and she is healing quite well.  Sue detects hair growing-in some of this area. Most of the credit should go to Sue as far as keeping Pixie regular on her pill/capsules each day.  We are planning to give her a bath today and a trim for her visit tomorrow at the oncology veterinarian in West Chester.



In just one week the tissue is responding!

The boat has been unloaded almost completely. We removed and flaked the sails today and they are stored in the garage.  We'll be placing the winter cover on Jubilee later in November, but first I will be adding insulation to our refrigerator and working throughout the winter on this project.

Jubilee sitting 2 inches higher in the water

Notice how much help Pixie is in folding the mainsail!

Back Home...

Dear Friends  - It is quite a disappointment to be home after two months of preparing for our trip south, however our primary concern is the health of our family member Pixie.  We couldn't expect Pixie to be as comfortable on the boat as at home and it took a short trip for both Sue and I to realize the magnitude of Pixie's needs.

Motoring at 9.5 kts on the C&D Canal

Almost everything from Jubilee to go HOME

Captured in front of Delaware City Marina

Waiting to be place on land

After arriving home we called the Oncology Vet to find out why Pixie's radiation wounds were not healing as we expected.  We visited them in West Chester yesterday (Oct23) and received more medication and were given a topical spray to moisten her cheek twice a day.  They wanted Pixie to wear her collar all the time and this would never work on the boat.

Also, the refrigeration system wasn't performing as expected and not nearly as well as it had during our Bahamas trip years ago.  This needed to be updated and more $$$$/time to be invested.
Most of the other systems on the boat were Ok and we needed them to get back in some of the heavy winds we've encountered.

Sue and I will be adding family photos and Pixie's recovery info as it happens, so do keep checking back now and then for those updates.