The trip to Wicksteed proved very useful. A larger expanse of water failed to remove the problem. It was, however, very useful to hear from several people that I am not alone - the problem is quite common! This of course confirms what everyone told me before we went - but it makes me feel better! Not only that, she didn’t sink!
So, where do we go from here? Well, the chap in the drawing office confessed that he was out of his depth but this, in the past, has never stopped him coming up with ideas - most of them pretty farcical. Because his underling had replaced the original three bladed white metal prop. with a four bladed brass one, he wondered whether it might be worth going back to a three bladed jobbie. He also thought a smaller one might draw in water from a narrower field and therefore keep it closer to the rudder. The underling’s response was “Forget that matey, I’m not splashing out on a selection props. just on the off-chance they might have a beneficial effect.”
The chap in the drawing office conceded that the Management might have something to say about such expenditure. He did, however, come up with another thought: What if the prop. were to be moved closer to the rudder? Now this appealed to his underling because, although it could not be achieved with the brass prop., it might be possible to achieve it with the old one - and it wouldn’t cost anything!
So:
A piece of rod was popped in the lathe and turned down to create a spacer with a sleeve to fit in the old prop. (which was not threaded). This was glued in and tapped out M4.
This was then used to replace the brass prop.
Another session in the bath produced the following result:
It must be said that the performance is hardly spectacular - but is a dramatic improvement on the previous experience!
Now for the dilemma! Do I buy a three bladed prop. or stick with the four? Also, do I go for a slightly smaller one? (The current one and the old white metal one are both 40mm.)
Mike
