Lifting gear described but never fitted.* Unfortunately we were unable to procure a two blade propeller with the universal coupling so the three blade propeller was reinstalled and Peggy remained a coble that could not be beached because the propeller shaft had to remain in the locked down position – MD, April ’24.
With the engine now in place we connect up the propeller shaft and put in new gland packing and grease up.
The propeller and shaft on this boat is unusual and becoming quite rare, it is designed to be lifted up between the bilge keels when the boat is beached, but also to reduce the drag effect when under sail the propeller is also unusual as it only has two blades enabling it to gain maximum height between the bilge keels.
Just to the front of the inspection box there is a stern gland installed in the vertical position the shaft through this has 2 holes drilled through for the 2 positions raised or locked down when in use.
To make this work the lift on the outboard propeller shaft close to the gland there is a universal joint then a second shaft goes into a swivel bearing on the end of the upright shaft. This works well and is a proven design, only problem it can rattle and vibrate a bit when in use.
* discovered that when an old coble had finished her life she was usually cut up and any valuable parts sold for scrap and brass or bronze universal couplings, along with the prop-shaft and prop would have been especially valuable.
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