EP!PHANY is a 34 meters long top of the range sailing boat.
Getting ready to cross the Atlantic for a return to Europe after its season in the Caribbean, the captain of Ep!phany called us for a propulsion problem, a priori related to the propeller. The boat was not navigable under sail and the situation did not allow them to leave safely.
We communicated by email before the arrival of the yacht in Martinique, in order to understand the problem, to have the most details and technical elements in our possession, to find the adequate technicians and to start preparing at best the requested intervention.
We booked her haul-out from water by managing to integrate her into the schedule of the 440T Travel Lift present in Le Marin and satisfy this urgent request.
Once the boat was out of the water, our two specialized technicians intervened. The dismantling of the head and the four blades of the bronze propeller starts, according to the explanations of the captain and the chief mechanic.
After disassembly of the hub, it becomes apparent that the problem does not in fact lie there.
After a few verification tests, the captain decided to reassemble the propeller and put the yacht back in the water. The intervention will therefore end afloat.
The new diagnosis takes place in the engine hold with the chief mechanic. After dismantling, the suspicion is on a metal part that has a key role: an arm that mechanically controls the Hundested blades by pushing. A weld had failed and the arm was bent.
At the exit of the shaft line is the hydraulic control box of the propeller pitch. It is crossed by the aforementioned part, a small arm which intervenes on the blades by pushes, thanks to an axis inside the shaft line. At the exit of this housing, a weld has failed and the arm does not do its job of adjusting the pitch correctly anymore.
This second diagnosis is validated by the captain.
After disassembling the arm by the Ep!phany’s engineer, our two specialized technicians recover it. Their objective is to make a new welding, but also to study the part and think about a perennial and solid solution, in order to avoid the problem happening again in the future.
A work of dismantling, welding and re-machining begins. At the request of and in consultation with the crew, our technicians embark on a custom job and build a key to prevent the part from moving.
A few hours later, the part is ready.
It is delivered to the engineer, who successfully reassembles it.
The operation took three days.
After conclusive tests, SY Ep!phany takes the sea and leaves for Europe.
Last e-mail from the captain after the yacht's departure:
“Good afternoon Hoelenn,
Thank you again for all of your help whilst we were in Martinique, it was a pleasure to work with you all.
You can tell David that the prop is working as it should now and please thank him from us!
We are currently sailing NE with good trades and sun! Hopefully we will see you again next year! Thank you!!
Captain of SY EP!PHANY.”