Alignment Poll

skicat wrote: BuffaloBFN wrote: I only check mine when I pull the engine. So you do yours annually? Just kidding man!

For a while I was seeing annually go by pretty quickly! It doesn't need to come out this year, but I could do it for a ceremony of some twisted kind.

I'm looking forward to burning some gas with yall this year. That part I have figured out.   

pete, i meant that i unbolted and checked alignment with feeler gauges between coupling halves...i'm not as dumb as i look...

Waternut wrote: when the boat goes in the water, wouldn't the hull always goes back to it's original location? If it doesn't, wouldn't something be severely damaged which prevents the hull from going back to it's natural state?

I really couldn't say if a hull goes back to it's as built original state. The poly absorbs water easy but it does dry out easy. Considering that, an alignment check is important within the first 25 hours.

I definitely understand polyester resin can absorb water and I also understand that some boats have wood stringers. I even understand that a boat flexes differently when on the trailer and in the water. However, when the boat goes in the water, wouldn't the hull always goes back to it's original location? If it doesn't, wouldn't something be severely damaged which prevents the hull from going back to it's natural state?

Waternut wrote: I don't understand how such a stout series of components works it's way out of alignment.

John,
You may want to use a different word than "stout"!! Alignment will change from the boat on the trailer to the boat in the water. It's the reason Eric likes to do engine alignments in the water. He's stated it several times that it always surprises him how much it does change.

The biggest issue affecting alignment is water absorption both in wood stringers and polyester resin. You do realize poly resin is hygroscopic correct?

In my opinion a good portion of the enjoyment of owning an old classic boat is the time you spend relaxing while polishing, waxing, and maintaining it. Just as recreational oil changing seems to be a gearhead pastime I would venture a guess that there are recreational aligners. Being an incurable OC, I will probably join their ranks.
On a cold winter day there are few things as satisfying as going to a warm garage, liquid refreshment in your hand, music playing in the background, and the familiar aroma of a boat bilge. Some of the most enjoyable times of my life with family and friends flood back whenever I experience it. Boat maintenance is therapeutic. I feel truly fortunate to have an opportunity to enjoy these things.

Sorry for the thread jack, but I am feeling really lucky to be a part of the CCF family today and want all to know how much I appreciate all of the help and advice I have received from so many of you. THANX.

I only check mine when I pull the engine.

Chris,
I only had to adjust the 89 once when I first got it. When I checked it almost annually nothing had changed still within .003 limit. Always considered that was an indication that my stringers were fine. With the large surface area under the engine cradle it would take quite a bit of rot to have an effect though.

The 98 Sport was spot on when I checked it straight after it arrived in Australia. The prop took quite a few hits last season. When I did some prop reshaping after these hits. I used Joe's method of checking the ease of turning the prop shaft as a indication the prop shaft was not bent or the alignment had changed. Checked it at the start of this season still spot on.

We are into the last few days of our vacation at Whistler BC. Sad the holiday is ending but it will be nice to get back to some sunshine and boating in Australia.

tbeard wrote: Is there anything else I need to consider prior to assembly?

If the cutlass bearing has not been replaced in the last couple of years, now is the time to do that.

Great timing on this topic. We just finished painting the bilge and ready to install the engine. I did not remove the shaft from the boat. Watching Pete's video I am thinking I should loosen all 4 engine mounts and make sure they move freely before installation. I am positive I will have to tweak the engine to meet/exceed the .003 max spec requirements. Is there anything else I need to consider prior to assembly?

Owning a boat, even a classic inboard is not rocket science and doesn’t require one to own a set of feeler gauges or to have a mechanic on speed dial ..

Personally I do what is recommended in the owners manual which is
“Periodically check alignment by visually inspecting and turning the prop to assure yourself that it turns freely with no binding”
I suspect that for most people doing more than that on a boat that hasn’t recently hit something is far more likely to cause harm than good.   Even if it has hit something a good spin by hand has always told me whether it was limited to the prop or if the problem went deeper.

A couple spins of the prop by hand on a boat I am looking at to buy tells the same tale, if it is loose in the strut or binds at one or more points while turning around I am deducting the cost of the parts from the bell housing back from my offer…

For the poll - I aligned my 83 when I put in the new stringers, transmission, and mounts five years ago.. I have had the engine out a few times since then, and even switched blocks but haven’t removed or adjusted the trans, bell housing, or the engine mounts.. each time I bolted up the new engine then gave the propeller a spin and decided not to touch it so that is one actual alignment in 5 years. But I give it a good spin every chance I get (10+ times a year)

Well I wondered where I got the idea that it had to be checked annually, so I looked at the owners manual - it just says to spin the prop to check for binding. I then found this old post from Eric suggesting annual alignment:

Posted: March-19-2007 at 12:15pm

perfect scenario is to check it in the water if you can, these boats are very short and rigid and you can get by on the trailer, its the 25 footers and up that should always be checked in the water, any time you strike an object it is a goood idea to check the alignment, i would add it to the spring list of checking it once a year. boats with rotted stringers should be checked more often if that problem is not fixed. if you do decide to check it in the water at least let it sit overnight or longer to let the boat settle to its natural state.
Alignment is often overlooked and is as important as checking the oil, I dont try to advertise this to much because, well you know...
but alot of transmissions i see are failed due to mis-alignment and it causes hard part damage, vibrations, excess heat and so on

Ha last time mine was checked you did it to make the alignment video Pete.

I've never used an alignment pole.
I just use a worn out prop shaft to tune (bend or un-bend) the strut and to nudge the engine side to side.


Oh! Poll! with two el's,   Ok, well other than changing engines, velvet-d's, ARE's etc...
As a part of routine or preventative maintenance.

1966 Mustang    (never)
1974 Ski Nau.   (once, in 8 years)

Is anyone keeping count? Both of our woodies are apart at this time. The
Atom probably should be checked before the season though I hadn't really planned to do it till now. My son's SN was aligned three seasons back when we completed the stringer replacement. It is working fine and I hear no plans for the alignment check. I guess if his tranny goes he will just fix it as that is what he does for a living. Ya, ya I know an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and all that stuff. My comments on the Craigslist thread were more centered around how we receive new posters and should we try to maintain a small amount of decency or just go about alienating them before they even get started, just saying.