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Prop pitting 2005 43

Discussion in 'Cabo Yacht' started by Ben Cooksey, Apr 2, 2023.

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  1. Ben Cooksey, Apr 2, 2023
    #1
    Ben Cooksey

    Ben Cooksey Member

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    Noticed pitting on the base of all four blades of our stbd wheel and one blade base of the port wheel all in the exact same location. About the size of a thumbnail a few millimeters deep.Looks like cavitation pitting or prop burn.l? Don't know exact age but the wheels are probably 15 years old. I'm trying to upload a photo they are to large from my phone
  2. Capt Ralph, Apr 2, 2023
    #2
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    A pic sure would be helpful.
    I remember a set of wheels that looked like they were getting ate up by something.
    Found out is was the welds from an old repair coming back.
    Welding/repair material does not wear or last as the original wheel.
  3. Capt J, Apr 3, 2023
    #3
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Prop burn can be common on the Cabo props due to tunnel to blade tip clearance. Veems didn't seem to get it, but Michigan Federals did on some and not on others.
  4. Ben Cooksey, Apr 5, 2023
    #4
    Ben Cooksey

    Ben Cooksey Member

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    Our prop guy looked at them said it was pretty common, going to weld them. Really want the 5 blade veems
  5. Capt Maritime, Apr 8, 2023
    #5
    Capt Maritime

    Capt Maritime Member

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    I have attached a couple of photos of the 40 Cabo set up. One with Federal which is my boat and one with Veem. I ended up servicing my Federal EQY props during my last haul out, however I will be switching to Veem props in the future. The question is should I go with (4) or (5) blade Veems. I did not see any heavy pitting as you noted on your props from your 43 Cabo.

    Attached Files:

  6. Capt Maritime, Apr 8, 2023
    #6
    Capt Maritime

    Capt Maritime Member

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    Attached is a 45 Cabo express that switched to (5) blade Veems and experienced a substantial performance improvement. Veem quoted a 24X32X5 blade set up for my Cabo 40 with C12 CATs.
    45 Cabo five blade Veem .PNG
  7. Capt J, Apr 8, 2023
    #7
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    That prop pitting is nothing to worry about and extremely minimal.

    Veems would generally be 2 knots faster than the Michigan Federals and Acme. On a few boats 3 knots. A 45 Cabo would cruise (80% load) at 28.5 knots with 800 mans, 30.8 knots with 1015hp C18s, and 33 knots with 1100 mans from the factory, I've run lots of them when they were new
  8. CaboFly, Apr 9, 2023
    #8
    CaboFly

    CaboFly Member

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    Veems are fast and very good props. My 48 has a set of 5 blade Federals and 4 blade Veems. Last owner never ran the Veems as he liked the lift the 5 blade Federals provided. The 5 blades are very smooth and perform well are a few knots slower. I put the Veems on after yard visit this winter as I really liked how the Veems performed on my previous 40 Cabo. The Veems perform great on the 48 as well and are what I plan to run going fwd.

    Attached are the props side by side after cleanup and screenshot is from my phone on the way home. Electronics install underway now.
    20221219_091926_copy_2000x1500.jpg
    Screenshot_20230103_130058_Boating.jpg
  9. Capt Maritime, Apr 9, 2023
    #9
    Capt Maritime

    Capt Maritime Member

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    The 38.4 Kts on the GPS screen shot, is that your 48 with the (4) blade Veems?
  10. CaboFly, Apr 9, 2023
    #10
    CaboFly

    CaboFly Member

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    Yes
  11. Ben Cooksey, Apr 20, 2023
    #11
    Ben Cooksey

    Ben Cooksey Member

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    00FFE1CB-BFD6-4AA4-8B1E-42C4A1F73A23.jpeg 3142541E-8AF3-4C03-948C-385C58A43C71.jpeg
  12. Ben Cooksey, Apr 20, 2023
    #12
    Ben Cooksey

    Ben Cooksey Member

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    Above is the pitting I had fixed it was at the base of all 4 blades on stbd and 1 blade on the port
  13. Capt Ralph, Apr 20, 2023
    #13
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Pretty common what?? Electrolysis, cavitation, old repair or mixed fill metal ??
  14. Ben Cooksey, Apr 20, 2023
    #14
    Ben Cooksey

    Ben Cooksey Member

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    They've probably been repaired in the past, they're 18 yrs old
  15. DOCKMASTER, Apr 20, 2023
    #15
    DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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  16. Ben Cooksey, Apr 20, 2023
    #16
    Ben Cooksey

    Ben Cooksey Member

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    Possibly we aren't within 500ft of other boats the bonding wires on the strut and shafts are intact. The pitting is in the exact same spot on base of each blade
  17. Capt Ralph, Apr 20, 2023
    #17
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Could be filler or repair brass after original casting, getting ate away.
    From factory or past repair.

    Less noble metals (brass) can disappear in the environment with out the help from another boat.
    Your dock or river bottom can make galvanic current.
    Your own shaft SS shaft could be drawing from the prop.

    As how a prop works, electrical currents thru the water is still full of guesses and assumptions.