Strut placement

[f_inscreenname]

Thanks to a friend I now have a strut to work with for the race boat. This one is about as close as it gets off the (very old) shelf. But as you can see from the pictures it’s not a perfect fit. That leads me to a question or two on how to go about making it work.
1, How close to the prop should this strut sit? The old strut used to ride about an inch off the prop. I ask this because …
2, Can I move the strut forward, up the prop shaft? Like 2 or 3 inches? If that’s the case I can fix the existing cut out and move the strut forward on the shaft so I can counter sink it into the hull. It will still need some sort of spacer built due to the angle not being standard. You can tell by the smaller strut in the picture below. See how the side closer to the prop hangs down lower. I guess that is a racer trick.
3, Last but not least if nothing else will work and I have to have the strut as close as possible to the prop can I build something that will fill in the gap between the strut and hull? I used to have a boat that had a old depth finder sender on a little wedge (shaped like a little boat) so the sender would point straight down. The boat did 50mph and it held on for decades.

http://www.supernova19.com/forumcw/index.php?topic=1127.msg7373#msg7373

 

[natemoore]

Re: Strut placement

Picture?

 

[wire2]

Re: Strut placement

The issue with moving the strut forward, is it will diminish support. The farther out the prop is, the more the shaft can flex, possibly leading to failure.

What about machining an aluminum block to fill the gap where the strut is? Can bolt up through both into keel.

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Strut placement

That is one option. Just wasn't sure if that was a proper way to do it or not.

 

[captk]

Re: Strut placement

A shim that thick may cause water flow problems, ventilation. How bout shortening the prop shaft an inch or so? What ya doin for a rudder?

 

[natemoore]

Re: Strut placement

Weird. Still don't see any pictures.

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Strut placement

It has a massive rudder. It?s about 16? wide X 20? long and weighs about 35lbs.
The thickness of the shim is one reason I wanted to move the strut further up the shaft. If I put it were the original was the shim will need to be an inch thick. If I move it up the shaft by just 2 inches the shim would be tiny.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Strut placement

Do you still have the old?Trying to replace it with something like that will work after a lot of glass and bottom work.
You will need to reinforce where it fits.Too far up the shaft will not work as good.
Millers Island Prop repair.In the Baltimore Md.area hasor can get what you need.
I worked in that area and they always came through.J

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Strut placement

Hey Jerry
What does a custom made strut like that go for?
The original is long gone and I'm not above doing glass work. The inside of the boat doesn't have motors installed yet so access is not an issue either.
How far is to far up the shaft? If I moved it an inch and a half up I could almost get it to sit flush. That would leave about 2 and a quarter inches between the strut and the prop.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Strut placement

Your best bet is contact them.Take the boat #s Model etc.Pics and talk to them.Go to Cobes Marine on Ft Smallwood.The parts guy if it's still the same one can probably help.He always came through for me.
Your right around the corner from them.Close anyway.Someone somewhere has that strut.
I used to live in Rivera Beach.I used them guys a lot.J

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Strut placement

Ya, Joe (Cobe) and I spent a lot of time together trying to figure out the missing parts for a small block Chrysler to a Volvo set up.
After some hardcore measurements, placements and mochup's I can keep the strut I have and it will ride in the same place (within a 1/4") on the prop shaft but the mounting plate has to be changed to have more of a V shape instead of being simi flat. The question is can the the mounting plate on the strut be bent?

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Strut placement

Yes.It can.Again contact Millers Island.They can do all kinds of things.J