Shaft couplings

[Zach]

Talk to me about shaft couplings to take two piece of prop or rudder shafts and put them together.

I was reading in Self Sufficient sailor about using a shaft coupling on a rudder shaft to avoid having to dig a hole to get the rudder out of a boat. Seems like a novel idea for a Triton, even though it'd take some re-arranging of the aft end of the keel.

I haven't found much in the way of a prelimenary search for them. I've seen them on big shrimp boats, but haven't ever noticed one on a boat with a small shaft like a Triton has.

Thanks,

Zach

[galleywench]

I like the idea, but wouldn't you have to pull the shaft out in order to cut it in the first place, or can you cut it in place? Seems like it would be pretty common if it were practicable, since burrowing under the heaviest part of the boat to drop the rudder always seems like an accident waiting to happen. I'd love to hear more.

[galleywench]

Looks like something like this could work:

http://www.staffordmfg.com/ProdSpec.aspx?catId=9

[Eric]

Looks like something like this could work:

http://www.staffordmfg.com/ProdSpec.aspx?catId=9

I don't think there is room for this on a Triton without enlarging the bottom end of the tube and then you would still have to drop the rudder far enough to bolt/unbolt the coupling. Given that the hole needed to free the rudder is not that big, I question the need for such an effort. How often do you plan to have to drop the thing, anyway?

-- Eric, #635

[galleywench]

Looks like something like this could work:

http://www.staffordmfg.com/ProdSpec.aspx?catId=9

I don't think there is room for this on a Triton without enlarging the bottom end of the tube and then you would still have to drop the rudder far enough to bolt/unbolt the coupling.
-- Eric, #635

Good point, I don't know what kind of room you have on the Triton.

[Tim]

Agreed. Too often, we see so-called solutions that are far more complex than the supposed problem they aim to remedy.

[Zach]

Absolutely... its a dumb idea on a Triton in its original design form.

In my winter time "Can't do much work outside" way... I'm contemplating having a stainless steel rudder built with a solid shaft down to a bearing cup, if I go that route, it'd take a real deep hole to get it out.
A new shaft is 18 dollars a foot, bearing cup is 30... Plus plate. I have the welder, and can broach the key ways myself. (Well, I could machine the couplings too, but I would rather buy them!)

Bomb proof rudder, for a bomb proof boat. Grin.

Cheers,

Zach

[Zach]

Apologies, that last post sounded like a snot nosed punk.

I just spend every day working along side work boats with metal rudders. They are starting to make sense, run across a reef and maybe bend on rather than turn a wooden one into tooth picks.

Zach