Shaft Tubes

[h2orowe]

Anyone know anything about maintence of shaft tubes? A friend has a new boat alittle over year. He just recently hauled up and put some new wheels on when he did his tubes were fine. Just hauled up yesterday and his tubes were loose. Is this a problem more and more boats are having. He's got over 500 hours since Dec, she's a 65 footer that goes just under 40 knots. Any info would be great!!!!
My main question would be: does this need to be a normal maintence thing to tighten them up about every 500 hours? Or is this a freak thing? Any boat builders been using the shaft tubes long enough to know?

[fishskipper]

Casey, thats the first one I've heard of breaking loose they need to be glassed back to the struts.

[h2orowe]

It's Walt's and he said he just had to tighten bolts. I was just wondering if anyone knew much about then since they are kinda new (not really but just being used more)

[anthony]

I've got a question...what's the purpose of those shaft tubes?

[h2orowe]

Irvin (Spencer's) says they help speed, hold support for the shafts, etc..
I personally don't know. I just asked him last year when they were building that 70 something

[WAHOONBOX]

COOL THREAD HERE!


WAY TO ROCK ON HERE FISHSKIPPER!!!!

[capt. jakeg]

They also slightly increase fuel efficiency as well. The whole theory is that the shafts turning in the water create resistance and installing these shaft tubes makes it so that the water that comes down the boat is not interrupted as much before getting to the props and thus increases performance. Supposedly they increase both horsepower and torgue at the props in the water. No, they should not be loose. Very bad things can happen if these get too loose. Add reinforcement to them before putting them in the water. I have been doing my homework on these little puppies and think I will be getting a set at my next haul out. I fished with capt. Butch Cox in Venezuela and his boat "Prime Time" has tubes. His performance logs on these things definitely make them interesting to me.

[Capt.Troy Crane]

Hey fishskip,
that looks like a Redskins boat

[fishskipper]

Hey fishskip,
that looks like a Redskins boat

You got it! HOG WILD

Them tubes also keep illegal sharks from biting!

[Capt.Troy Crane]

LOL..........looks like they needed some paint too.

ps, 60 qt. cooler filled up a 40 pound bag with a little left over.

Thanks,
T