I recently purchased an Ericson 34-200 and the surveyor identified excessive vibration. A new 2-blade Maxprop feathering propeller was installed about two months ago by the previous owner and it feathers easily. The strut bearing shows no sign of wear. The propeller shaft is slightly stiff to turn. The propeller shaft nearly touches the bottom of the alley. There may be 1/16th inch of clearance at the aft end of the alley. According to the surveyor:
The cause of the vibration when motoring is unclear and the vibration increases with rpms. The vibration isn't present when the transmission is out of gear No sign of a significant bend could be detected at the alley by rotating the shaft against the tip of a knife. An alignment was reportedly done by the previous owner.
The surveyor recommends:
1. Removing the shaft and verifying that it is true or replace it.
2. Raising the engine on its mounts should be considered when the alignment is done.
The surveyor came highly recommended and is well respected in his field.
Do you have any experience with similar situations and/or advise for the new and inexperienced boat owner? I intend to have the problem fixed but have received conflicting advise from boatyards and am not sure how to proceed.
Thanks,<?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /><v:shapetype id=_x0000_t75 stroked="f" filled="f" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" o
referrelative="t" o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><vath o:connecttype="rect" gradientshapeok="t" o:extrusionok="f"></vath><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shapetype><v:shape style="WIDTH: 19.5pt; HEIGHT: 24pt; VISIBILITY: visible; mso-wrap-style: square" id=Picture_x0020_2 alt="http://www.ericsonyachts.org/infoexchange/images/smilies/grinning_ericson.gif" type="#_x0000_t75" o:spid="_x0000_i1026"><v:imagedata o:title="grinning_ericson" src="file:///C:\Users\Steve\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.gif"></v:imagedata></v:shape><o
></o><o> </o>