mark loveys
Cadet
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2002
- Messages
- 6
I got through Friday 13th fine - a good day even.<br /><br />Saturday 14th however was a different story.<br /><br />A relative newcomer to cruising I picked up an old Bayliner 190 penta 270 powered (1987-ish). I want to get my family out more and thought this the ideal solution.<br /><br />First of all I broke my finger getting into the tender (I have an estuary trot mooring). The UK casualty system guarantees a minimum 7 hour wait so I strapped it up and carried on. This could be the last fine Saturday of the year.<br /><br />We got out in fairly low water and bumped the muddy bottom a couple of times. We got out to sea and stopped to drift while the kids fished.<br /><br />I raised the leg to see if there were any nicks out of my prop and to my horror it had disappeared! Boss, retaining bolt and all.<br /><br />My auxilliary seagull would not fire up so I was stranded out at sea. Luckily we got towed back in.<br /><br />How could this have happened? I know the retaining bolt was firmly screwed in and the prop was new (but for four trips).<br /><br />Now I need a new boss and retaining bolt and I just HOPE that I've not done any greater damage. The spline looks fine- although I've not inspected it closely.<br /><br />Any ideas? (My favourite theory is that someone was trying to steal the prop on the mooring and got disturbed half way through).<br /><br />Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.<br /><br />Mark
