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Coupling Disconnected on Hauling Out?

AK67

Member II
In cleaning out my 28-2 on purchase, I found a white folder marked "official handbook" - not the same as the manual that I downloaded from this site (thank you!). It contains a collection of bulletins of varying dates on a variety of useful topics, some are model specific, others may be generic. I can't tell if it's complete or not, and wonder if there's a way to check.

I honed in on the ones for "engine alignment instructions" (2/83) and "prop shaft packing gland adjustment instructions" (7/82) because I'm about to install my prop shaft, and came across this: "The coupling should always be disconnected whenever the boat is hauled out again because the flexibility of the boat often puts a very severe strain on the shaft or the coupling or both when it is moved."

Do any of you follow that practice? There's no question this was not done in recent memory on my boat.
 

Frank Langer

1984 Ericson 30+, Nanaimo, BC
I have heard of this, but I think it's unnecessary. The weight of the unsupported prop and shaft once it exits the hull is not enough in my opinion to cause any damage. In my 18 years of owning my Ericson, hauling it about 8 times, I have never disconnected it and have had no adverse effect on alignment, shaft bend, cutless bearing or anything else.
But I'm not a pro mechanic, so just my opinion.
Frank
 

AK67

Member II
I'm not either, but am doing a half-decent impersonation (I think) out of necessity. Sometimes I wonder what the hell I'm doing, other times I'm quite proud of myself. Not always in that order.
 

AK67

Member II
I have heard of this, but I think it's unnecessary. The weight of the unsupported prop and shaft once it exits the hull is not enough in my opinion to cause any damage. In my 18 years of owning my Ericson, hauling it about 8 times, I have never disconnected it and have had no adverse effect on alignment, shaft bend, cutless bearing or anything else.
But I'm not a pro mechanic, so just my opinion.
Frank
My impression too just because I'd never heard of it. Then again, I'd never heard of rudder delam from it being painted a dark color before I read the manual but I had to deal with that too. The suggestion in the bulletin seems to be the lack of buoyancy affecting the boat form rather than the weight of the engine and that the effect is on the engine alignment. Maybe more of an issue on the bigger boats where there could be more sag and hog.
 

Frank Langer

1984 Ericson 30+, Nanaimo, BC
I have read that the boat will deform slightly while out of the water, because it's weight is not supported evenly on boat stands in a boat yard. Therefore, it's well known to wait several days after launching, for the boat to settle properly, before doing an engine alignment.
Frank
 

Christian Williams

E381 - Los Angeles
Senior Moderator
Blogs Author
coupling should always be disconnected whenever the boat is hauled out

Well, no boatyard I deal with suggests or requires that. Apparently not a liabilty issue.

But a profit center? Yeah, that coupling is often frozen on old boats, needs replacement, and messing with it raises questions about original prop shaft, packing gland and cutlass strut and bearing. Don't break it if it ain't fixed.
 
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