Drive Shaft & Feathering Prop Upgrade
March 18, 2026 · 17 min · 8K views
Man holds new propeller beside blue boat Nerka
What this video covers
Oliver replaces his boat's propeller shaft coupler, installs a new feathering propeller, and upgrades to a dripless shaft seal.▶ 1:23 After removing the old, corroded coupler and drilling out a snapped bolt, he installs a new coupler and a shaft saver to protect the transmission.▶ 2:52 He replaces the traditional packing gland with a dripless seal, routing the required air bleed hose as high as possible to prevent water ingress.▶ 10:28 The installation requires a two-person effort to seat the shaft and align the set screws, which are secured with Loctite.▶ 6:50 Finally, he mounts the new feathering propeller, greasing the internal mechanism to ensure smooth folding.▶ 13:37 The feathering design aims to reduce drag while sailing, which the owner estimates could improve passage times by up to two weeks on long voyages.▶ 14:39 The installation is completed while the boat is on the hard, with final testing planned for after the vessel is relaunched.▶ 10:15
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