Looks more like oil, doesn't it? But it is the water of the Avon. David thought he'd check the prop.
The easiest way to check/clear the prop on semitrad Shadow is to get into the engine 'ole, stand on the engine bearers and try not to bang your head on the underside of the deck.
How easy/hard is it to check the prop on a trad stern boat? Or on a (former) working boat?
Bidford-on-Avon, August 2011
7 comments:
Hi
It's not a problem on a Tyler/Wilson as long as you've got reasonably long arms, 'cos of the way they trunk down to the weed hatch from the stern deck.
Cheers
Bruce
And if your arms are not reasonably long?
Choose a crew over 5' 9"?
One of you stands up and holds the other one upside down?
There are always solutions!
;-}}
Bruce
On Warrior (trad style) there was a hatch on the back deck immediately above the weed hatch, which made access easy. On Chertsey it's a matter of poking around underneath with the cabin shaft, or a shunter's pole (sort of pig tail shaped hook, the proper purpose of which is uncoupling railway wagons). The latter was suggested to me by Blossom. However, much as I loathe to tempt fate, I have to say we have had no cause to try it yet as for some reason we have yet to pick up anything substantial.
Sarah, do you mean you'll have to poke around from the bank? That sounds very difficult, especially as there would be no tactile feedback. Like Warrior, Shadow has an access from the deck, but lying down on a rain-soaked deck is not my idea of fun. That's why I get into the engine 'ole.
Yes, from the bank if you're lucky. The seems to be a knack to it but I haven't had much chance to practise yet.
On Warrior we didn't lie down, we just stood over it and used the cabin shaft. I guess we could have got closer if we'd needed to use wirecutters or something. The big advantage was that you had a clear view and didn't have to crawl into the counter.
Ours is a bit like yours except our hatch is about 3ft square, so it's easy to hop down and stand on the bearers while still having your head and shoulders inn fresh air. easy weedhatch access is on my list of musts for a boat. I rejected a few because of that.
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