Anchor Rope Removal

[dreddy]

My prop picked up someone's lost anchor rope while backing up from a beach on Lake Powell over the weekend. I was never more grateful to one of my co-workers who recommended always keeping a cheap diving mask in the boat. After getting it unwound to the extent that I could, it was apparent that a loop had made its way into the shaft support and wasn't coming out. After a dozen attempts pulling with both feet braced on the bottom of the boat, I gave up and cut what I could off leaving some unknown amount of rope inside with the prop shaft. After a very careful start and no issues going into gear or making slow turns, we made our way back over about 20 lake miles to the marina. There was no vibration and everything seemed to be perfectly normal. I was hoping to find that what was left in there had been completely chewed up and spit out, but after getting it back on the trailer, it is still there.

What to do next? How hard of a job is it to remove the shaft? Looking at it, it seems to me like the only way I'll get anything more out. What kind of damage will it do (or has it already done) leaving it there? As mentioned, everything seems to be perfectly normal.

[oldairboater]

Fishing line will groove shafts and destroy seals so I would figure rope strands would do the same. I would remove it myself just for peace of mind. There might be others with a better way of removing the rope.

[TX.X-30 fan]

Just keep hacking at it till you get it right??

[ski_king]

I had a simular problem a few years ago.
For some reason there was a 20 foot peice of dark colored rope floating and I didnt see it until too late. I got lucky and was able to cut it all off. I didn't have a mask, but did have a knife with me and smooth water.
I couldn't imagine being under the boat trying to cut off the rope if there were rioller beating the boat against my head.

[dreddy]

How big of a job is it to pull the shaft? I'm fairly competent with a wrench but have never seen exactly what is behind the black plate through which the shaft disappears into the hull. Is this a DIY job or should I take it to the dealer? Are there assembly drawings or something from which I could make a judgment? My local dealer is only 1.5 miles from my home so at least that is easy if necessary.

Thanks

[Footin]

If it is a direct drive, take out the four bolts on the coupler by the transmission and the shaft will come back a few inches and then you should be able to see if anything in stuck in there.

[FrankSchwab]

Well, it looks like you have a V-Drive.

You'll have to remove the prop (15 minutes, if you have a prop puller).

You'll have to unbolt the coupler between the transmission and the prop shaft - it's under the center rear seat if your boat is like mine. 4 bolts, 15 minutes. It should look like this. (http://www.mastercraft.com/teamtalk/showpost.php?p=640196&postcount=12)

Now, you have to seperate the prop shaft from the coupler. It's probably a taper fit, so you'll need some kind of puller. With the right tool, another 15 minutes...and the shaft, worst case, will slide out the back of the boat and clang on the ground. You might want to have someone hold onto it as you tighten the puller.

Putting it back together will be faster, because you won't have to deal with seperating the prop and coupler from the drive shaft.

/frank

[G-man]

Keeping a dive mask and knife on board is good. Remembering that the platform comes off in the heat of the moment is smart. In clear water you may not have thought about this.

[dreddy]

Yes, thank-goodness for clear water. Removing the platform is also good to remember. In other circumstances it may be the only option.

Thanks for the info on removing the shaft. It sounds reasonably straight forward so I'll probably dig in to it myself.

You guys are great as always.

DE

[dreddy]

I'm packing for Vegas right now!

I went out to get the rope out tonight planning on pulling the shaft. I started at the propeller end and with the prop off, thought I'd give the exposed rope one more tug. It came right out. I'll have to remember that a dry rope is smaller than a wet rope.

Everything else that I own that uses or touches water has broken this spring (toilet, faucets, washing machine, pool ...) now at least I won't add the boat to the list.