• Untitled Document

    Join us on March 29rd, 7pm EST

    for the CBEC Virtual Meeting

    All EYO members and followers are welcome to join the fun and get to know the guest speaker!

    See the link below for login credentials and join us!

    March Meeting Info

    (dismiss this notice by hitting 'X', upper right)

Prop Shaft Strut Source/Replacement: Ericson 36C

Blue Jeans

Member I
I am buying an Ericson 36C with a broken propeller shaft strut. Does anyone know where a strut is available or who can make one? Also, how is it attached? How much fiberglass needs to be dug out to get to the base?
 

roger hinds

Junior Member
Strut Repair

I don't how an Ericson 36C is put together, on my 1987 34 Ericson, the shaft strut is glassed in under the fuel tank. There are no through bolts going through the hull, but used four short studs screwed into the strut base plate that served as a hook for the glass to anchor to. In my case a 1/4 inch of fiberglass covered the top of the strut. I did'nt need to replace the original strut but was told that one was available for $600.00. I was also told for $1200.00 I could have one custom cast in New England if I wanted to modify the size. I think most yards have access to these struts but precise measurements are needed for the exact replacement.
good luck with your project.
Roger
 
Last edited:

paulonboat

Paul Crowder
E36 Prop Strut Movement, and excessive 'pull' to port under power

Roger, thanks for your post; sounds like you had a problem with the strut on your E34. I'd like to hear what your problem was and how you resolved it.

For others reading this, your suggestions will be welcomed.

I purchased a 1982-E36-RonHolland last October. The prop strut is loose: with sideways pressure it will move about 1/8" to starboard, then return when the pressure is released.

Does anyone have a drawing of the shape of the strut and how it is installed. It appears to be glassed in, with no apparent bolts.

The engine is a Universal Diesel 3-cylinder, mounted with only 3 engine mounts: 1 center-forward; and 1 on each side. The forward mount was broken (rubber had separated) and was held in place by only one bolt, (the other was a lag bolt hanging in mid-air).

The forward mount has now been replaced and securely mounted after first epoxying the stringer to bring the surface back up to flush. (The vibration had worn a footprint of the old, probably original, mount about 1/8" into the stringer.)

The new mount has significantly reduced vibration. Now, vibration from the 'moveable' strut must be eliminated.

I'm told that usually these struts were glassed in place, and that the best way to re-bed one is to grind out the glass below and above the strut mounting plate, then re-glass.

An easier, but perhaps not as 'permanent' or solid a repair, would be to simply grind away the glass from below the strut mounting plate, then re-fill the space with epoxy. The potential problem with this simpler approach is that the heat given off by the curing epoxy would attract surrounding moisture, thereby preventing a 'secure' bond of new material to old material.

Another problem, which may be related to the loose strut, is that when under power and moving forward there is a substantial 'pull' to port: with the steering-wheel brake fully released, and no hand on the wheel, the wheel turns fully to port. This suggests that the prop/shaft is too far to starboard, causing more prop wash to pass on the starboard side of the rudder.

Anyone have experience (and solutions) with either of these problems?

Thanks
Paul
 

Blue Jeans

Member I
Ericson 36C 'Blue Jeans"

The prop strut on the Bruce King Ericson 36C is buried in reinforced fiberglass resin, it took time and most of our 'words' to get it out. There were bolts threaded into the head of the strut, but they didn't do anything except, maybe, provide a little more 'tooth' for the resin to hold. Marine Hardware, Inc in Redmond, WA says that they have patterns for the Ericson struts, they bought/acquired them when Ericson wento out of business. Phone 1-800-526-5971, I don't have an e-mail for them.
I'm still looking for a strut that may be in someone's inventory for the Ericson 36C. Marine Hardware will build one, but if there is one existing that needs a home ...
 

roger hinds

Junior Member
Strut Repair

Dear Paul,
My E34 also has a pull to port, under power, and I thought it was just characteristic of some Ericsons. Other people in this site probably can contribute more knowledge on that subject.

My problem with the strut was that it also had a 1/16" to 1/8" movement (side to side).

The yard did my repair and I elected to have the strut removed and rebedded from scratch. When they pulled my strut out they found it set (bottom side) in a white "goo". This "goo" may have been some type of bedding compound that had deteriorated over the years, which may have contributed to the strut movement.

Hope this will help you a little.
Roger
 

Attachments

  • Strut.pdf
    153.5 KB · Views: 337
Last edited:

paulonboat

Paul Crowder
Strut re-bedding, engine/prop-shaft/rudder alignment

Thanks Roger! I'll find out more about my strut's 'bedding' when I begin grinding away in Spring. Regarding the pull to port under power in forward, perhaps there's someone can share their experience with engine/prop-shaft/rudder alignment. Because my strut needs attention anyway, it might be possible to resolve the 'pull to port' at the same time.
Paul
 

escapade

Inactive Member
"strutting" your stuff

I have a 88 E34 w/M25XP (3 cyl.) diesel. The strut is secure (no side to side movement) but has some pull when motoring. I'm not sure there is a way to eliminate it all but the wheel brake or autopilot should be able to handle it. I also had to rebuild/rebed the front motor mount. Lag bolts had pulled out of the stringer and allowed the front of the motor to move. Fabricated a stainless plate with stainless nuts welded in place which was then lag bolted to the stringer in 4 new locations. Used epoxy on all lag bolt "threads" when reinstalling them in there respective stringers. Cured the loose motor mount problems. I would NOT recommend doing a halfway job when remounting the strut. There is a lot of torque transmitted through the shaft and alignment and straightness are very important. If your going to do it, you will be farther ahead to do it right. If the old strut isn't broken you can just install a new cutlass bearing and rebed it. They can be welded but this is something to have a VERY competent welder handle. If you're unsure of your ability to get it right it would be a good idea to find a competent yard to do the work. This is someplace you really don't want to cut corners. A bad job will probably fail at the worst posible time (Murphy's Law).
Aligning the motor to shaft isn't an especially difficult job, just takes some time & patience. I would allow a couple hours (and a 6 pack) to get it done. You will be rewarded with a much smother ride, though.
Have fun & sail fast
Bud '88 E34 "Escapade":cheers:
 

TAPH2O

Member II
Cracked strut barrel

The prop strut on the Bruce King Ericson 36C is buried in reinforced fiberglass resin, it took time and most of our 'words' to get it out. There were bolts threaded into the head of the strut, but they didn't do anything except, maybe, provide a little more 'tooth' for the resin to hold. Marine Hardware, Inc in Redmond, WA says that they have patterns for the Ericson struts, they bought/acquired them when Ericson wento out of business. Phone 1-800-526-5971, I don't have an e-mail for them.
I'm still looking for a strut that may be in someone's inventory for the Ericson 36C. Marine Hardware will build one, but if there is one existing that needs a home ...

Me too my daughter just bought Papillon barrel cracked and strut dezincifieing Marine Hardware doesnt have the plans for the strut so they would have to have the strut to rebuild it.
Prop also broke while trying to remove it does anyone know the pitch for a left handed 3 blade attached to a 20hp westerbeke/buch
 

Blue Jeans

Member I
'Blue Jeans' Prop Strut Replacement and Prop Size

Me too my daughter just bought Papillon barrel cracked and strut dezincifieing Marine Hardware doesnt have the plans for the strut so they would have to have the strut to rebuild it.
Prop also broke while trying to remove it does anyone know the pitch for a left handed 3 blade attached to a 20hp westerbeke/buch


We finally went to a local used marine parts store in Seattle, no longer in business, and found a prop strut that would work. I don't know what kind of boat it was originally built for, not an Ericson 36C. What we did was to take the remains of the old strut to the store and compare side-by-side. The strut we found was the reverse of the one on 'Blue Jeans'. We simply installed it backwards. `We installed the prop shaft with the strut, supported the shaft, dammed the hole in the boat duct tape (would use Gorilla Tape or equivalent now) and made several pours of epoxy and chopped fiber. The boat has since been sold, but the installation is still solid. Find one that will fit the requirements.

The engine in 'Blue Jeans' is a 20 hp Bukh/ Westerbeke, the prop had lost the blades due to corrosion, but I kept the hub as a curiosity. It is stamped Austral 16X11 RH. Possibly the gear is different. Found a used prop of the same diameter and pitch, all worked fine. 16X11 prop size

Personal philosophy; I don't need to use original parts or processes to do a repair/rebuild. I need to make it as strong or stronger, and as functional or more functional.

Bob McKee
romckee@comcast.net
 

Blue Jeans

Member I
Ericson 36C Prop Size

Me too my daughter just bought Papillon barrel cracked and strut dezincifieing Marine Hardware doesnt have the plans for the strut so they would have to have the strut to rebuild it.
Prop also broke while trying to remove it does anyone know the pitch for a left handed 3 blade attached to a 20hp westerbeke/buch

The prop that was on 'Blue Jeans' was an Austral 16X11 RH (repitched from 16X10). The engine was a 20hp Westerbeke/Buch with a RH gear.
 

TAPH2O

Member II
Me too my daughter just bought Papillon barrel cracked and strut dezincifieing Marine Hardware doesnt have the plans for the strut so they would have to have the strut to rebuild it.
Prop also broke while trying to remove it does anyone know the pitch for a right| handed 3 blade attached to a 20hp westerbeke/buch
The prop is actually right handed with lettering 16R11 404 712 (3?)
 

TAPH2O

Member II
Prop found pitched and shimmed ,was 11/8 needed 1”, beautiful strut made of 316 stainless at Independent Marine Propeller in portland.
There is a hole in the boat waiting to be filled with strut then cross fingers they get it lined up corrected.
 

Attachments

  • F1EC2B56-CC6F-4CC8-87E4-320F1A740237.jpeg
    F1EC2B56-CC6F-4CC8-87E4-320F1A740237.jpeg
    194.1 KB · Views: 27
  • 32059536-3DEC-493C-BD43-F9D892AE98AF.jpeg
    32059536-3DEC-493C-BD43-F9D892AE98AF.jpeg
    149.3 KB · Views: 26
Top