Propulsion hardware

I hope I am in the right place for advice. I have inherited a small homebuilt "tugboat project". It is a true displacement hull and a hole is bored to mount the drive shaft and associated hardware. There are no drawings or parts. There is a Beta marine diesel in a crate, 37 horsepower. The only notes that I can find refer to a 1 1/4 inch drive shaft that must be cut to size. I understand that there are several parts that should go with this....a "tube", coupling, hose clamps etc. Is there a source of information that will suggest the parts that I need, the proper sizes, and a source for them. Thanks for any and all assistance.
Bob

 

Marine Hardware

Robt. I remember when I was clueless about this stuff! I learned a lot in 1960 from the old "Stokes Marine" catalog.

Take a look at: http://www.boatdesigns.com/departments.asp?dept=35 You can also order their Marine Hardware catalog for $2.

Look for "Shaftlog" and "Stuffing Box" etc.

Can you tell us more about the size and configuration of the bottom and shaft hole? Photos??

 

The boat is 26 feet wood, made of 3/4 inch bead and cove spanish cedar with two layers of 1/8th inch sapele covered by 2 layers of xynole epoxy. The keel is laminated fir, and all the frames and deck beams are laminated fir. It looks like a Lyle Hess 28 foot sailboat hull but was really designed as a transom sterned workboat similar to a catboat. ....12 foot beam with a wheel house and after cabin. The floorboards are removed, the hole was bored 1 inch in diameter, to be finished when the other parts were ordered. The intended engine was originally a 28 hp beta diesel, but I have looked at the bateau site and think a 37 hp nanni would be better. I was told the propeller would be between 20 and 23 inches in diameter depending on the engine and transmission. Looking at the TW28 on Mr. Mertens site, it is similar, but beamier and slightly shorter. The idea was to travel to the Caribbean with it (my uncle) and use it as a retirement boat. What more can I tell you? There are a couple of gentlemen nearby that can finish the hole for the drive shaft and the things that go with it.
The keel is about 3 feet from waterline to bottom and built up/laminated with a rudder behind supported at the bottom of the skeg. It was my understanding from the notes that a shaft of 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 inches would be used with the tube or bearings that would fit it.
Do you work in Tunisia?....I worked in Greece and Saudi for a while, Turkey and around the Med.

 

Robt. was this boat built from plans, but you cannot find the plans? If you have any idea of the designer, and put a couple photos and a "What Boat Is This?" query here in Boat Design, I bet someone can figure out what she is..

The propeller shaft sounds quite large for that HP.. I would have expected 1 inch. Is it possible the sizes you have referenced are the size for the hole, or for the 'tube' and stuffing box and ID of the 'hose'??

Can someone else point to a good drawing of a typical shaftlog / stuffing box / rear bearing for this kind of boat???

Speaking for myself, at 67, if I had the choice of 2 or 3 years building a good boat, or 2 or 3 years sailing someone else's boat, I'd probably pick the building. Your Uncle would be happy someone is appreciating his work...

PS: I've lived here in Carthage, Tunisa, North Africa for 3 years, where my wife is a teacher at an international school (http://acst.net/newsite) where I've done a lot of Photography and some teaching and design of the website. Fascinating, varied, Modern, Rural, Muslim, Progressive and visually amazing Country. BUT I have been on the Mediterranean for 3 years with NO Boat. Is that dumb or what?? We're moving to China next year for 2 or 3 years, where my Wife's High School is on the water at Deep Bay near Hong Kong, with boats tied up to it! Next year I'll be figuring out propellers and shafts on some old Fishing boat that I'll buy... And I'll be asking lots of questions on these Forums...

 

Hello again..
The boat was built from plans with the lines drawings and most all wood work drawn, with vague suggestions for the interior. The engine location was marked but no details were supplied for the engine install except "try not to exceed 750 pounds for the engine and "any horsepower from 25-55 will work"...The hull is very fair. The strip planked construction makes a pretty hull. I will try to get some pictures.
Hong Kong is also nice, and down to Macau....