Well, Grainger is closed on the weekend, so that killed the project I had in mind for the day. We instead continued with further cleaning of the lazarette. Those big old 34″ diameter, 33″ props that were stored away don’t do this boat any good at all anymore. We haven’t found anyone we know who might need them (they’re awfully specific), so tossed them up on Craigslist (after hauling them up through the deck hatch, which wasn’t easy).
I can’t imagine that we’ll get someone who actually needs them for boating purposes, so we offered them up as yard art as well. If no one bites, we can at least scrap them at $1.30/lb. That seems a shame. Wonder if I could take a small bit and have it fashioned into some trinket (ring, tiny propeller pendant or earrings) as part of KJ history?
experience
Ahoy sailors, nice to say hello to others who are living the life in the PNW. My wife and I are currently tied to the dock in victoria, wishing we were somewhere much warmer. We live in gorgeous sailing country but come winter it's downright dreary, and these recent storms have been crazy! do you live aboard all year?drop by my blog and say hello.
For a broader market and thus perhaps more successful sale could you advertise them in a commercial fishing (boat) magazine ( they are more likely to have a slow revving high torque engine for their work)or web site ? also I`m not sure that the prop shop you use is the right place perhaps a foundry where they make props would take them in parr exchange for a couple of new one or give you the best advice? just a thought, it will be a real shame if you don`t get the best benefit from them. By the way they will look 100% better ( and thus "worth" more) in a photo if they are polished up with fine emery cloth or a fine wire brush in a small angle grinder. as if you haven`t got enough to do :o((
We looked at using them on one of the Argosy boats – would have needed them re-done into 32" x 20" and were told that even that would be taking out too much twist. They were not willing to do even that, much less modify it down to what KJ needs. Here's hoping somebody needs a screaming deal on a couple of big props!
Thanks for all the comments, gang – they really are appreciated! Rob, I could never take offense to anything you say – you're full of fantastic ideas! When Brock talked to the prop shop, they told him that the new engines wouldn't even spin the old props – we went from a 34" x 33" down to 20" x 22". With two props, I'm not overly worried about trashing both of them to the point of being unusable at the same time (that would have to be a REALLY bad day) and desperately needing something to get back in on. I'm just hoping I can find someone to whom they're worth something – unfortunately, if you can't find the right buyer, the value is not much. We'll see what happens, but in the meantime, I do think the feedback is great! It's why I blog…I need your brains!
Bill and Rob are on to something: you probably have almost 4000 dollars worth of props there (I think you've got two) and as for spares, any prop is better than none at all when you need one. Personally I'd keep them in the laz unless you already have something more important to take their place (or you never plan on needing spares in which case you shouldn't be leaving the dock). Cheers.
Jamie,I hope you know how much those are worth.My knew 28" x 32" props were $1500 then or twelve years ago.Bill Kelleher
just a thought, as I have cut props down, re canted the blades and even bored out the shaft size succesfully in the past, it was just a thought! I hope you didnt mind? :o((
Rob, the new props are 20 x 22 with a 3:1 gear. The last engines had about a 5:1 gear, we're guessing – it was much slower turning. Unfortunately, these just aren't going to work. Believe me, I wasn't going to give them up if there was any chance they could be spares!!
Ah! thats a right hand propellor thats for sure do you know how to tell instantly?????? try my method, place your right hand thumb in the prop center "hole" and your hand (the four fingers )should naturally end up under the front edge of the blade so that if you had the strength you could actually, with a struggle, pick it up off the floor, now try with your left hand and you`d have no chance! hope that helps??????
consider having them adjusted so that they are suitable, if its possible, what is the pitch etc of them as against your existing ones? most prop makers/repairers will size correctly your boats needs for a most economical, fastest, suitability for your boat/engine. don`t sell them if there is a chance of using them in some way as spares for KJ!