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32-2 - Bent Strut and broken prop shaft

Kif

Member I
This past weekend we wrapped our prop with a dock line and the stress apparently bent the strut and a bit later the prop shaft broke near the base of the boat. Guessing the bent strut pulled the shaft out of alignment which stressed it until it broke.

Starting to shop around for repairs. Curious of a couple of things from others here (based on questions I'm getting back).
  • Strut is bronze right?
  • It's pretty bent out of true and has some corrosion, time to replace yes?
  • I was asked how it's attached inside and have not looked yet. Are bolts glassed over on the inside?
  • Thoughts on gross repair costs (we are in the bay area). New shaft, probably new strut, cutlass bearing, stuffing box maybe.
  • Any recommendations for where to go (we are in Berkeley Marina)?
 

Loren Beach

O34 - Portland, OR
Senior Moderator
Blogs Author
Wow! Painful accident, also insurance should cover the repair. Final bill will be pretty big.
The strut should be bronze and if bent will likely need replacement. (How many degrees is it bent? Quite a bit, seems like, to have broken a shaft. Check on the rest of the 'stern gear' also, like coupler and stuffing box hose.)

I know how this part is secured and glassed over on the inside of our '88 boat, but it may differ in details in a 70's 32-2. I hope that other owners can check in with more info.

Are you now hauled out, somewhere? Or do you just possess the outer broken portion of shaft, in hand, from a dive under the boat in the slip?
 
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Nick J

Contributing Partner
Moderator
Blogs Author
Sorry to hear you're forced to go down the strut replacement path. There's a few good threads on here about replacing the strut. Here's my experience:


Cost can vary widely depending on a lot of different factors. There's been a few examples of folks doing the repair themselves with really good success and that can save a lot. My biggest factor was the "while your at it" problem. I took the opportunity to fix up my engine compartment, replace thru hulls, replace plumbing and the kitchen sink, etc. That increased the cost exponentially, but I'm really happy we did it.
 

G Kiba

Sustaining Member
Berkeley Marine Center. Known great place to go and you are already there. I know this does not help - Prepare your checkbook! Remember it is only money and sailing, your boat, and the people you sail with are all worth it!
 

Prairie Schooner

Jeff & Donna, E35-3 purchased 7/21
That's a bummer, @Kif - If the strut is bent more than 10º-15º I'd go for a new one, even if the yard claims they can tweak it back. If the bend is slight, you might get by with bending it back. When metal gets bent or compressed, it work-hardens. Pushed far/often enough, the compressed grain separates and the part breaks. Think of a paper clip bent repeatedly until it breaks. - A boat I was racing on got the prop wrapped in a fish trap cable and the result was much as you described, though the shaft only bent. The strut/hull mount cracked enough that significant water was coming in. Keep checking the bilge.
Nick's replacement is pretty much the gold standard. A variation of the process which may be helpful, if only for additional insight on what's inside:
 

Pete the Cat

Sustaining Member
You might look at this as an opportunity. With all the folks who drop their keels and replace chain plates that have no damage for "preventive maintenance", you are into something that actually does wear out and degrade over time (the shaft, the strut, the stuffing box and hoses) and is often overlooked because it is an "on the hard" work and expensive to tackle in bits and pieces. Frankly, it is not cost efficient, if you intend to own the boat a few years into the future, not to jump on the opportunity to do it completely and right while you have everything apart and in the yard. I have heard good things about Berkeley Marine, but like my guys at British Marine on the Estuary for experience and reasonable costs. Check out the rudder bearings while you are hauled. FWIW.
 

Kif

Member I
Thanks all. Such great perspective. A few follow-ups.
  • @Prairie Schooner & @Loren Beach - I think it's more than 10-15 degrees out of line. I was thinking the same thing about metal being fatigued if we try to straighten it and it's also already a bit corroded. Definitely want to have whoever does the work look at the whole stern gear.
  • @Loren Beach - not hauled out yet. Happened to have our diver going there this week and he checked it out (pulled the broken part of the shaft with with prop still on it.
  • @Prairie Schooner Nick's replacement? Not following you there.
  • @G Kiba & @Pete the Cat - Thanks! Leaning towards BMC. Good to hear they are well regarded. Will look at British Marine, though getting there is a consideration.
  • @Nick J - Very good points on the while you are at it. Definitely going to paint. Not sure what else we'll consider. Through hulls are an interesting one. Ties back to the checkbook eh?
 

bigd14

Contributing Partner
Blogs Author

5-part strut replacement blog in here. Not an easy job but possible to DIY if you want.

As Pete the Cat says, as you replace the strut and shaft now is the time to fix or replace everything else you can back there too. You’ll have the space to work on it. Motor mounts, shaft seal, hoses, fuel tank, on and on.
 
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Prairie Schooner

Jeff & Donna, E35-3 purchased 7/21
Thanks all. Such great perspective. A few follow-ups.
Nick replaced his strut and it's a well documented process with thoughtful discussions of options. There is good additional information in some of the other threads here. Even if you don't do it yourself, reading the accounts will leave you much better prepared to work with the yard.

It's very likely the engine will need to come out. As folks have said here, you'll never get better access to those areas. Engine mounts is one thing to take care of now. The engine bay and aft cavity is the locus of a lot of complexity. You could spend a full year and buckets of money with just what you have access to there.

What kind of engine do you have? Is it original? Most folks here will put some basic info like year, model, engine, etc. in their signature line. I find it helpful as people respond to my questions and when I respond. (This info is not visible when I view the site in my iPhone Safari browser)

Cheers,
Jeff
 

Kif

Member I
Hey everyone. Based on all the good info, it seems more than likely we'll need a new strut. Based on several posts about struts, I reached out proactively to Marine Hardware to find out if they have the strut specs and get an estimate. They sent me the attached drawing. They are asking me to confirm this is the right one, something I'm not sure I can do. Does anyone here know if this is the correct strut for a 32-2 and/or how I could verify (we're still in the water)?
 

Attachments

  • MH 526 - Erickson 32.pdf
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Loren Beach

O34 - Portland, OR
Senior Moderator
Blogs Author
Does anyone here know if this is the correct strut for a 32-2 and/or how I could verify (we're still in the water)?
They do not seem to specify which version of the E-32, and the hulls are not the same. I wonder if they can check their records for the info about the customer boat for the one they built?
 

whoosh349

New Member
Kif, I don't know how close the 32-2s' Strut is to the 35-2s'? I happen to have a 35-2 strut. I bought it from eBay as a backup knowing the cost and time of a new one. The Yard did manage to straighten mine out.
If you haven't secured a new strut yet reach out and I'll let you have this one for shipping.
Steve in SD
 

nukey99

Member II
This is very dated history, but we had a replacement of our Atomic 4 with a beta marine diesel in an old E29 at what I believe is Berkley Marine center 40 years ago or so. They were very good people to work with at that time. Good luck on it.

I just checked google maps, that is for sure where I had the work done. Clearly with the passage of time, it's all new people, but they were very good when we lived there.
 

R22QuietThing

Junior Member
I don't know how close the 32-2s' Strut is to the 35-2s'? I happen to have a 35-2 strut.

I had Marine Hardware cast a new strut for my 1970 35-2 in 2021, and it was a perfect replacement. Took 8 weeks. Great company!

It was not the same as the 32 strut shown above. I know there were probably at least two versions of 35-2 struts, one for midship engines, one for aft engines.

I would advise measuring what you have, get a diver to take photos with a ruler, plus angle measurement if possible to verify what is on there.

Alternatively, you would need to haul out and do it, if you can afford, but likely up to 2+ months for them to cast the new one.
 

bigd14

Contributing Partner
Blogs Author
Hey everyone. Based on all the good info, it seems more than likely we'll need a new strut. Based on several posts about struts, I reached out proactively to Marine Hardware to find out if they have the strut specs and get an estimate. They sent me the attached drawing. They are asking me to confirm this is the right one, something I'm not sure I can do. Does anyone here know if this is the correct strut for a 32-2 and/or how I could verify (we're still in the water)?
As long as you get fairly close on the overall dimensions and angles, I think you'll find that any minor differences from the current strut can easily be overcome by adjusting the placement and alignment within the hull. You may not be able to tell what the top part of the strut is like compared to the drawing, since it is embedded in a huge wad of resin and filler. But do find a way to match the existing angle of the bearing tube to the exposed bottom part of the strut. Obviously, matching the angle of the bearing tube with the prop shaft angle is the critical part. Modifying the wad of filler to match the top plate and upper part of the strut is the easy part- it's just fiberglass work.
 
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