8 years backwards-sdrawkcab

Its been eight years living on Prodigal.  The entire time I was unaware that my transmission was running backwards.  The Propeller was, wrong sized, wrong pitched, and also – by default – running backwards.  So I have been merrily going along unconsciously burning up the old transmission and slowly slogging through the high seas with the wrong size and pitch propeller.  (pitch is the angle of the blades and how much they are tilted.)  to understand the propeller pitch, imagine a little old lady waving a tiny paper fan in her face like the ones you saw as a kid on a large Popsicle stick.

  VS. 

That fan is the propeller they HAD on the boat.  The propeller I now have is like a huge thing taken off an old B52 bomber.  Large and pitched to move us…    So, get the large correct propeller and a new transmission AND run the transmission in the correct direction and It just might make a difference in how the boat moves?   Now to pay for it?  Jason left yesterday, “going straight to Don’s boat for us to figure your bill.”  

So I’m up early today worrying my little self.  How long will I have to eat nothing but baked beans to balance my budget?  Oh well, at least I’m not still “backing up!”

*NEW THOUGHT:  any other Pirates, I welcome your input on this.  The mechanic told me yesterday that, “Perkins engines like to run fast and not be bogged down.  Taker her out and run her – WIDE OPEN – at top end, to see how many maximum RPM’s she will do.  Then when you motor, use 75% of that top end number.”  (it’s not the speed of Prodigal, it’s how many revolutions the Perkins engine turns per minute.  Always motor the engine at 75% of maximum RPM’s.)      Pirate COMMENTS?

So, I’m waiting for a calm day to take her out and ‘open her up’…  it certainly makes one curious.  If Prodigal went 5 knots before, will she do 7 knots now?  I have been running the engine at 1,800 RPM.  I’ve never tried to run the engine up to maximum RPM and see how many that is.

YESTERDAY was final engine work day.  Finish all the little things that had not been buttoned up.  Cutlass bearing test and grease that zirt, drip-less seal shut off valve install, Helicoil the oil dip stick, new shift cable and lastly replace the generator exhaust hose coupling that was rusted and leaking.  After all this we started the Perkins and put the new tranny into gear to listen to everything hum…  hmm hmm hmm like an angel singing.  (its funny now to realize all that noise from the shaft shimmy and old cutlass bearing was not supposed to be there.  With the out of aligned engine and the bouncing shaft, the old cutlass bearing sounded like a coffee grinder when it turned.  I didn’t know how quiet it could be!  Even with the engine off, the sails cause the propeller to turn and you would get that coffee grinder noise.)

 Old Transmission shift cable

 Cutlass Bearing

 Jason and Lynne celebrate the finish

 Don with Helicoil

 Don Grinding

 New Drip-less Seal

 Dip Stick drilled out

 Helicoil

 Jason and Don discuss plans

 Transmission cable attachment

 Skip and Jason celebrate

**SECOND NEW THOUGHT:  other Pirates, do you leave the transmission in neutral for the prop to spin?  Or put it in reverse so the prop is locked when sailing?  COMMENTS?

Now I will take Prodigal out and do some testing.  Check the new stuff, the old stuff and all the other stuff.  But first I have to wait for this blue norther to finish blowing through.  Perhaps another cup of coffee and try to finish more boat chores?   (*Call your dad and check in, ssb antenna tuner, clean boat bottom and zincs, fix water leaks, paint bright-work, empty v berth, empty car trunk, laundry, groceries, taxes, update blog, pay bills, pick up and put away tools & parts)  It’s time to chart my next anchorage!

Maybe more pie and a nap?   😊   

 Pirates like Pie!       -Skip