Prop Bolts & Saftey Inspection

[WallyGator]

I was reading the CCAA news letter and it was talkin about prop Gremlins and the number of failures in the past few months.I have a 5 Blade warp drive. I check the blades evreytime I clean the boat and put it away. I have leading edge tape on them but do nothing more.
What should I be looking for?. Do you check the hub or remove it and look for cracks?. Bolts? Etc. What is the rule of thumb or is there one?
Wally
Oh another question I was trying to remember from one of the other post are you required to carrry a flair kit in the airboats along with the other gear?

 

[BigBoom]

This is from the FWC website

Visual Distress Signal

Required on the high sea and coastal waters only
Must carry visual distress signal for both day and nighttime use.

NOTE: Coastal waters means the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and all bays, sounds, harbors, rivers, inlets, etc. where any entrance is over two (2) miles wide to the first point where the distance between shorelines narrows to 2 miles.

 

[swampjet]

Wally,
Yes you should have a flare kit according to the U.S. Coast Guard. At least thats what I was told by the Auxilliary at the F.A.A. inspection in July. That was the only item missing from my boat in order to get an inspection sticker :evil:
On props, the "gremlins" I talked about were on all types of props. One was a wood prop that failed due to an exhaust clamp loosening and flexpipe falling into the prop. It also took out the cage. :shock: Another was wood that developed cracks so was parked. 2 more were composite that developed cracks along the length. Another was composite that met with a tree
Just ALWAYS check ALL bolts,ALL bolts,and ALL nuts,ALL nuts, every where on your boat. I've had a 5/16th x1" bolt come out of the alt. and hit the prop, damageing it and then it was slung thru the flexpipe and almost thru the side of the hull! Check What?

 

[BigBoom]

It is a good idea to have them for inland waters, but they are not required.

This is from the Coast Guard's site:
Visual Distress Signals

All vessels used on coastal waters, the Great Lakes, territorial seas, and those waters connected directly to them, up to a point where a body of water is less than two miles wide, must be equipped with U.S.C.G. Approved visual distress signals. Vessels owned in the United States operating on the high seas must be equiped with U.S.C.G. Approved visual distress signals.

http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/fedreqs/equ_vds.htm

 

[swampjet]

You are right Boom, as far as water bodys. BUT if you look at that website it states "less than 16' operating at night". And thats what the C.G.Aux. officer told me.

 

[BigBoom]

Swampjet,
Your right here is the rest:
TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS

CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)

PART 175_EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS--Table of Contents

Subpart C_Visual Distress Signals

Sec. 175.110 Visual distress signals required.

(a) No person may use a boat 16 feet or more in length, or any boat
operating as an uninspected passenger vessel subject to the requirements
of 46 CFR chapter I, subchapter C, unless visual distress signals
selected from the list in Sec. 175.130 or the alternatives in Sec.
175.135, in the number required, are onboard. Devices suitable for day
use and devices suitable for night use, or devices suitable for both day
and night use, must be carried.
(b) Between sunset and sunrise, no person may use a boat less than
16 feet in length unless visual distress signals suitable for night use,
selected from the list in Sec. 175.130 or Sec. 175.135, in the number
required, are on board.

TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS

CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)

PART 175_EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS--Table of Contents

Subpart C_Visual Distress Signals

Sec. 175.130 Visual distress signals accepted.

(a) Any of the following signals, when carried in the number
required, can be used to meet the requirements of Sec. 175.110:
(1) An electric distress light meeting the standards of 46 CFR
161.013. One is required to meet the night only requirement.
(2) An orange flag meeting the standards of 46 CFR 160.072. One is
required to meet the day only requirement.
(3) Pyrotechnics meeting the standards noted in Table 175.130.
(b) Any combination of signal devices selected from the types noted
in paragraphs (a) (1), (2) and (3) of this section, when carried in the
number required, may be used to meet both day and night requirements.
Examples--the combination of two hand held red flares (160.021), and one
parachute red flare (160.024 or 160.036) meets both day and night
requirements. Three hand

http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wais ... 75_04.html

 

[swampjet]

Yeppur that be da one!
I just finished the C.G. course (six-pack)last week and some of it did sink in.