Clearance between prop and rudder

[Peter McBratney]

After a great many years I have finally got my 19ft Capri into the water! Great feeling and a life's work, so my wife says.
I needed to totally rebuild the boat, taking the plans from the museum and needing to re-establish the hull and all the fundamental dimensions. I think I have ended up with the prop too close to the rudder. It is about 7/8 clearance at the top and larger at the bottom due to the inclination of the prop shaft. I noticed a little vibration coming through the steering at low to medium revs and wondered if that is the clearance.

Can anyone give a guide as to what is the recommended clearance? I can shorten the shaft to achieve increased clearance. Thanks

[Jim Godlewski]

What is the measurement from the propeller to the rear of the strut? I'm understanding it should be around 3/4 of an inch.

[Peter McBratney]

Jim, thanks for the reply. Sorry for not checking earlier.
Distance is 2 5/16 inch between prop and strut.
If 3/4 is the go, then my feeling that mine is not right is confirmed.
I don't see an issue with shortening the shaft, once I get it out of the boat. I really don't want to take the engine out, but I think I am going to have trouble pulling the coupling off the shanft. It is not a tapered coupling and looks to be a push fit with keyway and two locking screws. I guess the plus is it has not had time to corode. any ideas?
Regards
Peter

[Jim Godlewski]

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=10174&p=65569&hilit ... val#p65569

[Peter McBratney]

Thank you Jim

I made up a nice puller that bolts to the propshaft coupling and has a centre bolt to pull the coupling off the shaft. Work of art! Crawled into the boat and fitted it. All good. Then I found I could slide the coupling off the shaft by hand! C'est la vie. Going to shorten the shaft by 40mm.

Thanks for the suggestions via the previous posts.

Regards

Peter

[Jim Godlewski]

Good job on the puller! You may want to replace that loose coupler with a new one. I had the same situation. When I showed my coupler to the place where I got my new SS shaft they said no good. The coupler needs to press fit on. That may be contributing to some of the vibration. Just a suggestion.