CAL 33-2 Prop Question

I have a 1986 Cal 33-2. Somewhere along the line a 2-blade Gori folding prop was installed. Since I bought the boat, late last year, I have had vibration problems in the driveline that I believe are related to the old folding prop. I am going to have to remove the prop, underwater, and have it checked out. As far as a fixed prop goes, does anyone have any information on what size/pitch fixed prop is specified for this boat? I may try to borrow a fixed prop to try out on the boat. The engine is a Yanmar 3gm30. Thanks, Travis

Travis, I believe the original prop on my Cal 33-2 was a 2-blade 16x13RH "Michigan Sailor". I did have some vibration with that and had the 1-1/4" shaft checked. The shaft had some minor runout, but was within tolerance. Since then, I've switched to a 2-blade Maxprop...better for sailing as previously mentioned. Vibration problems can also be caused by even the slightest misalignment between the two halves of the shaft coupler. If changing the prop doesn't help, you might be able to lessen the effect by incrementally adjusting the engine mounts. Bill Terrell "Tupelo Honey", '88 Cal 33-2. --- Travis <tr… [at] sbcglobal.net> wrote: > > > I have a 1986 Cal 33-2. Somewhere along the line a 2-blade Gori > folding prop was installed. Since I bought the boat, late last year, > > I have had vibration problems in the driveline that I believe are > related to the old folding prop. I am going to have to remove the > prop, underwater, and have it checked out. As far as a fixed prop > goes, does anyone have any information on what size/pitch fixed prop > is specified for this boat? I may try to borrow a fixed prop to try > out on the boat. The engine is a Yanmar 3gm30. > Thanks, > Travis > >

Travis, The prop on my 86 cal 33-2 had an original fixed 2 blade 16x15 prop. We replaced the prop this spring with a 3-blade 16x13 dyna-jet from Michigan wheel. This was a compromise based on information gathered during my research. So far I am happy with the performance, both under sail and under power. I especially enjoy being able to gain control while backing within a boat length. Our last trip out, we were powering into a 20knot headwind. The prop powered thru the chop and swales while maintaining speed. The new prop was actually de-tuned from one the prop shop had in stock, and I believe the final cost was around $350. I don't know what condition your gori prop since it is several years old. I believe my 2 blade became un-balanced due to years of cleaning and layers of antifouling applied. This caused a vibration around 1700 RPM that did go away as we power thru the vibration. This vibration is no longer noticeable. You may be able to send the prop off and get it balanced. You may be able to find a used prop from a sail racer to fit. Performance you should be able to use a pitch anywhere from 12-15 with little noticeable performance. John Raxter _____ From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Travis Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2007 10:54 AM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: [Cal_Boats] CAL 33-2 Prop Question I have a 1986 Cal 33-2. Somewhere along the line a 2-blade Gori folding prop was installed. Since I bought the boat, late last year, I have had vibration problems in the driveline that I believe are related to the old folding prop. I am going to have to remove the prop, underwater, and have it checked out. As far as a fixed prop goes, does anyone have any information on what size/pitch fixed prop is specified for this boat? I may try to borrow a fixed prop to try out on the boat. The engine is a Yanmar 3gm30. Thanks, Travis

John, Bill, Dave, Thanks for the info and suggestions. On my boat, I've observed the following. When I start up from a dead stop and put the transmission in forward, I increase the rpms and the prop engages and moves forward with very little vibration, as long as I keep the rpms a few hundred above idle, which is about 900 rpms. I can motor along at five or so knots with no problem. As the end of a sail, say when I start the motor to drop the main, and the boat is underway when I engage the transmission in forward, the drive line starts vibrating immediately when the transmission is engaged. The vibration continues until I get the rpms up--maybe 2000 rpms or higher. It seems like, that when the boat is underway, the water flowing past the prop wants to keep the blades closed. The prop is engaged and the blades do not open completely until the rpms are high. Once I get past this shaking, the boat will move along with little vibration. I have to dock in close quarters at a marina, and when I begin slowing the boat, down to close to idle rpms. the vibration starts again--at a lower level than in other circumstances, but too much. Also, this prop must be oversized, because at about 1300 rpms, I'm going 4 knots! That makes for exciting docking. The engine mounts look OK to me, but I've been trying to get a diesel mechanic to look over this part of the system--it is just hard to line a mechanic up here. Thanks guys, Travis ----- Original Message ----- From: john rr To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2007 1:01 PM Subject: RE: [Cal_Boats] CAL 33-2 Prop Question Travis, The prop on my 86 cal 33-2 had an original fixed 2 blade 16x15 prop. We replaced the prop this spring with a 3-blade 16x13 dyna-jet from Michigan wheel. This was a compromise based on information gathered during my research. So far I am happy with the performance, both under sail and under power. I especially enjoy being able to gain control while backing within a boat length. Our last trip out, we were powering into a 20knot headwind. The prop powered thru the chop and swales while maintaining speed. The new prop was actually de-tuned from one the prop shop had in stock, and I believe the final cost was around $350. I don't know what condition your gori prop since it is several years old. I believe my 2 blade became un-balanced due to years of cleaning and layers of antifouling applied. This caused a vibration around 1700 RPM that did go away as we power thru the vibration. This vibration is no longer noticeable. You may be able to send the prop off and get it balanced. You may be able to find a used prop from a sail racer to fit. Performance you should be able to use a pitch anywhere from 12-15 with little noticeable performance. John Raxter ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Travis Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2007 10:54 AM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: [Cal_Boats] CAL 33-2 Prop Question I have a 1986 Cal 33-2. Somewhere along the line a 2-blade Gori folding prop was installed. Since I bought the boat, late last year, I have had vibration problems in the driveline that I believe are related to the old folding prop. I am going to have to remove the prop, underwater, and have it checked out. As far as a fixed prop goes, does anyone have any information on what size/pitch fixed prop is specified for this boat? I may try to borrow a fixed prop to try out on the boat. The engine is a Yanmar 3gm30. Thanks, Travis

Travis, This sounds very familiar to a problem we have with our boat as well. According to a local boat service yard / Yanmar mechanic this is a problem with the Transmission. Specifically the "older" Yanmar transmissions have an external detent on the shift mechanism. This allows the shift "cone" to either engage loosely creating excessive wear, or too tightly causing over stress. The repair is to rebuild the transmission or replace with a later model (rebuilt units are available) Ours was diagnosed about three years ago. It is not getting better, but only slightly worse after three years. Our plan is to run it to a terminal conclusion, then call BoatUS to tow us home before fixing the problem. We have avoided any emergency situations where we may over stress the transmission, so we may be able to avoid this repair indefinitely YMMV John Raxter _____ From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of tr… [at] sbcglobal.net Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2007 4:07 PM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] CAL 33-2 Prop Question John, Bill, Dave, Thanks for the info and suggestions. On my boat, I've observed the following. When I start up from a dead stop and put the transmission in forward, I increase the rpms and the prop engages and moves forward with very little vibration, as long as I keep the rpms a few hundred above idle, which is about 900 rpms. I can motor along at five or so knots with no problem. As the end of a sail, say when I start the motor to drop the main, and the boat is underway when I engage the transmission in forward, the drive line starts vibrating immediately when the transmission is engaged. The vibration continues until I get the rpms up--maybe 2000 rpms or higher. It seems like, that when the boat is underway, the water flowing past the prop wants to keep the blades closed. The prop is engaged and the blades do not open completely until the rpms are high. Once I get past this shaking, the boat will move along with little vibration. I have to dock in close quarters at a marina, and when I begin slowing the boat, down to close to idle rpms. the vibration starts again--at a lower level than in other circumstances, but too much. Also, this prop must be oversized, because at about 1300 rpms, I'm going 4 knots! That makes for exciting docking. The engine mounts look OK to me, but I've been trying to get a diesel mechanic to look over this part of the system--it is just hard to line a mechanic up here. Thanks guys, Travis