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Sorry folks - a bit new to this, had posted this on the YM forum but suspect I should have posted it here as it seems to be the more practical questions forum??
My boat has a volvo saildrive - when lifting the boat out last week, the yard managed to get the aft strop over the prop. I have not see the damage yet but apparently the shaft is bent. The yard are apologetic and say they will take responsibility to repair the damage. Their first step is to have the marine engineer (who is based at the marina) assess the damage (they are organising this) - no work will be done until they have discussed the findings with me.
The prop fitted is a volvo 3 blade folding. I have a concern this may be bent also - how can you check for this? Is there somewhere which can check a prop is still in balance (ie not bent) like a car wheel is checked?
Are there any other issues to look out for? Advice very welcome!!
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Sorry folks - a bit new to this, had posted this on the YM forum but suspect I should have posted it here as it seems to be the more practical questions forum??
My boat has a volvo saildrive - when lifting the boat out last week, the yard managed to get the aft strop over the prop. I have not see the damage yet but apparently the shaft is bent. The yard are apologetic and say they will take responsibility to repair the damage. Their first step is to have the marine engineer (who is based at the marina) assess the damage (they are organising this) - no work will be done until they have discussed the findings with me.
The prop fitted is a volvo 3 blade folding. I have a concern this may be bent also - how can you check for this? Is there somewhere which can check a prop is still in balance (ie not bent) like a car wheel is checked?
Are there any other issues to look out for? Advice very welcome!!
There most certainly are! If the strop has gone around the prop and lifted the weight of the boat then the whole upward force will have been taken by your engine mounts that are not designed for this sort of load. If in fact it is a Volvo you possibly have two feet on front and one at the back of the gearbox. Check that the rear one has not parted. They are known to let go anyway if the steel gets corroded as it breaks the bond to the rubber.
Get a substantial lever under it and check or even better take it off and check it.
Hi, you don't say what the boat is, but if fitted with a saildrive, probably big enough to weight a few tons.
So the prop is probably bent, as will be the shaft, at least.
And as Boatmike says, the engine mounts will suffer some undesigned-for stress as the whole unit would have been forced upwards through the hull opening. So also check the saildrive/hull flange and seal for damage, as well as the mounts.
Also, how much room do you have around the engine? Could anything have been crushed by the upward movement? Or by the possible forward movement as the top of the engine is pivoted forward...?
Basically, check everything around and attached to the engine/saildrive unit.
This is really not good news for you, sorry to hear.
As the guys have said, this would have put incredible loads on the whole unit. I'd be spitting blood if this had happened to me. The hull seal in my opinion would have to be changed after an incident like this. A visual inspection would not be enough to give it the all clear. Same goes for the engine mounts and the bonded in engine bed. Check the glassing thoroughly, especially around the hull aperture for the leg. These bonded in beds have been known to leak in normal use if the original bonding wasn't up to the mark, so with the forces applied it's critical that a proper inspection is carried out.
As others have said, you must check the engine mounts - they would have taken a hammering under that kind of load! Make sure there's no stress cracking of fibreglass all round the base of the engine. I'd also want to make sure that the marine engineers were sufficiently independent of the marina.
One other thing, which an experienced crew on the crane/hoist should be aware of, on one of my boats, the 'lift here' arrows on the stern hoist point were directly in line with the saildrive/prop - factory fitted The lead hoister was wise to how many times this happens and always runs a boat hook under the boat to find out a safe point to lift - ignoring the arrows - and then makes a note in his book for each boat in the marina. This is too late for you, but it would be worth checking if you have these lift arrows and make sure they aren't in line with the prop.
Thanks all for comments - boat is a starlight 35 so not light - spoke with marina at lunchtime, apparently the engineer has recommended that the sail drive unit is removed from the boat and taken to a workshop to be dismantled and fully checked out - also allows good access to the bed area so it can be carefully inspected. Marina has readily agreed for this to go-ahead - happening in next few days.
That sounds as if they are taking a very responsible approach. The reason I suggested to check the engine mounts before all else is that if they (the rear one on the gearbox particularly) have taken the load and the rubber has not become parted from the steel then you should not have a problem with the seal. I would however suggest that as the yard are going to remove the outdrive leg anyway any damage to either will be obvious. Regardless of damage I would take the opportunity to replace the seal. They are supposed to be replaced every 7 years anyway but seldom are. If the strop has gone right over the prop it is doubtful if the prop itself has suffered. The shaft itself will be easy enough to replace but the housing and bearings should be examined carefully too.
sounds like a very good yard to me and one that should be named as such for taking full responsibility. Others may want to use such a yard. Out of curiosity have you infomed your Ins Co? if not I would do so and inform them of all events and the progress reports. It would be in your favour in say months time IF something should go pear shaped.
Good luck
sorry to here your plight and nice to hear the yard are taking it on the chin.
but as said. let your insurance co know. they will probably wont their own engineer to have a look to make sure everything is covered.
if you know a good engineer yourself might not do any harm to have him look at it, sort of independent view.
good luck.
It is highly likely that the seal was damaged as the engine mounts would be incapable of lifting the boat. As this all took place whilst the boat was afloat presumably the accident occurred because the sail drive was immersed and could not be seen. The lifting points should have been marked but they are not always.
The consequence of a damaged seal is that the boat would be flooded. Whilst the interior may look ok if water did get in electrics around the lower levels and other interior fittings were probably damaged also. Some of this may not show up immediately but now is the time to check as otherwise following over winter corrosion the true extent of the damage will become obvious.
The rapid response and offer to remove the saildrive may be an indication that this job was partly completed using the crane and strop as you described.
Don't accept blame and don't claim on your insurance unless you agreed in advance to the yard's contract fine print making it clear that the job was being done at your risk. You presumably expected a certain degree of expertise on their behalf.
As others have already said, it sounds like a very good yard.......mistakes happen occasionally, but they certainly sound like they are taking full responsibility in getting it sorted for you.........
We tend to use existing items fitted to the yacht as indicators for strop positions e.g. stanchions - winches - genoa tracks etc.
Having said that, my friends Contessa 26 got damaged last haul in as the yard moved it before he got there and the strops damaged his teak toe rail........the yard owner stayed there late into the night, he removed and completely repaired the toe rail ready for relaunch the next day......he also now knows that he has to use spacer blocks when slinging (crane) a Contessa 26
There most certainly are! If the strop has gone around the prop and lifted the weight of the boat then the whole upward force will have been taken by your engine mounts that are not designed for this sort of load. If in fact it is a Volvo you possibly have two feet on front and one at the back of the gearbox. Check that the rear one has not parted. They are known to let go anyway if the steel gets corroded as it breaks the bond to the rubber.
Get a substantial lever under it and check or even better take it off and check it.
I agree: this is a most serious error by the yard. All boats have check marks installed along the hull so the slings avoid this well-known hazzard: how was it not so with your boat?
To the chase:
1. Engine bearings: The gaiter will have been stretched greatly and must be replaced which requires the engine leg to be removed and split. Whilst this is underway - all 3 engine bearings are likely to have been severely weakened / distorted and must be replaced. It is likely the engine will need removing so the engine bed can be properly inspected and restored.
I strongly advise you and your engineer to accept nothing less than this to ensure you do not have problems in the future. Any failure underway in alignment of the leg through the gaiter could split the gaiter and sink you in no time. This system is very reliable only if all parts stay within tolerance.
2. The S Leg / gearbox / engine junction needs close examination for any stress indications arising from the lift. These parts are less likely to have suffered damage as they are well engineered for stress under way - but never to the extent of holding half the weight of teh boat, of course.
Sorry to be a downer on this one - but from 11 years' experience with my S leg - I know you have to be rigorous in your claim. In your own interests insist on a thorough checkout, whatever the cost!
OK - insurance company is informed. Also, after all that has been said, am going to stall the engineers moving anything til I have had a chance to see the damage myself (have not been able to get the boat since the incident occurred).
The boat has clear markings on the hull for strop positions - these have worked fine since 1993 when the boat was built. Yard's mistake, and a stupid one but it is done now.
The prop fitted is a volvo 3 blade folding. I have a concern this may be bent also - how can you check for this? Is there somewhere which can check a prop is still in balance (ie not bent) like a car wheel is checked?
Are there any other issues to look out for? Advice very welcome!!
wise to get your insurance company involved. You should ask them to assign a surveyor to work on your/their behalf.
Good that the marina hasn't dodged their responsibilities. You could name them as although a mistake has been made, they appear to be doing the right thing. Could be a good opportunity to get a few additional jobs done in that area of the boat for little/no expense.
I have noticed that often they are on the side of the boat where the guy standing on the deck doing the slinging wont be able to see them. Need to be seen if they are to be useful.
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Agree with VicS - have your sling marks easily seen - ours are both sides, not only in the usual waterline position, but also just below the toe rail.
We also have a double sided laminated A4 photograph - each side of the laminate has a different side of the boat - showing Hinewai in a previous sling. The operators seem to love it.
Its easy for the yard to tell when the strop is under the sail drive when they lift because the stern of the boat will lift first, every yard where I have ever hauled out have been very careful to hold the boat when she just starts to lift and check this regardless of the marks on the hull.
I did see a yacht on the hard at Cherbourg where they had lifted with the strop under a prop shaft and placed a nice bend it in so I guess its easy done if they are not careful
Saildrive prop damage by crane lifting strop
The lead hoister was wise to how many times this happens and always runs a boat hook under the boat to find out a safe point to lift - ignoring the arrows - and then makes a note in his book for each boat in the marina. This is too late for you, but it would be worth checking if you have these lift arrows and make sure they aren't in line with the prop.
using the crane and strop as you described.
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