Perfect Timing to have a Problem

                                                    

leaving in the fog

the prop shaft separated from the gear box

  the lock

This is almost the end of a successful 1,200 mile of the first leg of the 6,000 mile Loop. However, the trip hasn’t ended without a mechanical problem. On our last day while leaving Joe Wheeler State Park and the Looper Rendezvous our starboard prop shaft separated from the gear box.  We left with 6 other looper boats at 8:15 as the fog was lifting. A few miles out we approached the first of two locks of the day.  Just a dozen feet from entering the lock the starboard transmission was not responding (no forward and no reverse).  While entering the lock I didn’t tell Lori until we were tied to the bollard on the lock wall so she wouldn’t panic. When controlling a twin engine boat at slow speeds you lose a lot of control. You can go forward (sorta) and starboard, but you can’t maneuver port. As soon as we were secured to the lock wall, I told Lori we lost our starboard engine control. She had to hold the boat against the wall in the lock while I went into the engine room to see what the problem was. (We had about 15 to 20 minutes while the lock lowered us  50 feet).  After a few minutes I realized the starboard prop shaft had separated 6 inches from the gear box leaving a 1 ½ inch gap.  If the shaft continued moving backwards it would fall from the boat leaving a 1 ¾” hole where water would come rushing in.  I knew we could not stay in the lock to remedy the situation, so I wrapped the shaft with duck tape so it wouldt be less likely to pull out when we left the lock. We couldn’t go far before the spinning prop and shaft could fall out. I radioed the other boats in the lock to let them know that as we were leaving the lock I wouldn’t have much control. I told them I was going to stop and tie a rope around the prop to hold it in place so it could not fall off.                                                               

 One of the loopers told us a mile out there was a bay out of the way of main channel. Once there I  jumped in the water, used a mask, and managed to tie a rope around the prop.   

We had about 15 miles to the next  lock, the Wilson Lock (a 98 foot drop- the third highest lock in the world).  We caught up with the other loopers with just one engine and made it through the Wilson Lock.  We stayed the night close by at Florence Harbor Marina.  

                                                                                     

                                      harbor police towing us from the dock

                                                                              

            The harbor police boat pulled us out from the dock in the morning as I couldn’t maneuver the boat away from the dock.  Another boat, Summer Recess, traveled with us to make sure we were ok. We traveled another 40 miles slowly to Aqua Marina with the prop tied on.  On Mon. the boat will be pulled out of the water and hopefully the shaft will be fixed.  We are so lucky this happened here and not later on where there was no marina/lift/mechanics available. Crossing our fingers there are no other problems.