The driveshaft is out and polished, ready for pickup for cutting and
straight-checking. I did the growth removal in place as I pulled it out
~18" at a time, through the point where I'd cut off the bearing (using the
nick I made for reference, of cours!). At a point, however, about that
time, I became concerned for the leverage as to whether the shaft would
remain straight if I allowed that much weight on the fulcrum of the end of
the cutlass bearing. So, last night as I was finishing up, I stuffed it
back in far enough that it no longer stood out from the rudder (the better
to snag someone, too!). It was so polished that it s l o w l y slid out
about 6" before coming to rest. I think it's smooth :{))

However, as I'm thinking about the pickup and straight-checking reality (I
don't have a truck nor the van I used to haul my shaft before), I realize
that the prop shop which does pickup/delivery from Stuart to Ft. Pierce may
ALSO be in the biz of fixing pits.

So, while I'm ready to drop the rudder, I believe I'll give them a call to
see if they want to/should pick up the rudder at the same time. Certainly a
shop with the ability to manipulate it vs my standing it against the skeg,
the currently-best location I can figure, to work on it, is better, and, if
they do this all the time, are better equipped to deal with it.

So, I'll ask before asking for a pickup on the shaft.

Now to get out the cutlass and the dripless, still attached to the stern
tube..

Pix of this stage (removal and polishing) begin he
http://justpickone.org/skip/gallery/...ring&start=112

L8R

Skip and crew


--

Morgan 461 #2
SV Flying Pig KI4MPC
See our galleries at www.justpickone.org/skip/gallery !
Follow us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheFlyingPigLog
and/or http://groups.google.com/group/flyingpiglog

When a man comes to like a sea life, he is not fit to live on land.
- Dr. Samuel Johnson