Port Gear Problem

[Split Decision]

Went sharkin on Saturday. The sea was'nt looking to good but went anyway. We had 3-4 ft with some 5's thrown in. Overall it was'nt bad but got a series of big ones every so often that really rocket the boat enough to get water over the gunel. After a few hours we decided it was getting to dangerous so we packed it in since we wer'nt getting anything but dogfish. Headed home and decided to fuel up before tieing it up. Pulled up to the fuel dock and reversed the port gear to spin the boat and it locked in reverse. Not fun in a tight space when you don't know what is going on.

Got over to the fuel dock and fueled up and then checked it out. The port gear was locked in reverse. Put it in neutral and was still in reverse. Put it in forward and went into forward and reverse at the same time. Not a good sign. I guessed that we cooked the reverse clutch pack.

I called my Cummins mechanic on Monday morning and told him about the problem and he said to call ZF because they do not warrant the gears.
Called ZF in R.I. and told them about the problem about 11:45 am and gave them the model # and serial # and said they would let me know.

Recieved a call 30 min later because they had a tech just leaving the Viking plant in south Jersey and needed directions to the boat and he would be there in 1 hr. 3 hrs later they had the gear out and were taking it to the shop to check it out. If it was something simple, they would fix it. If it was bad, they would replace it. They did not have one in stock so if it needed to be replaced, they would overnight one in so I could be running by the weekend.

This is what I would call unbelieveable service. Get in touch with them about the problem at noon and have it removed by 5 PM.

I will let you know what the outcome is in the next few days.

[BLUE-MOON]

Hi Tom,
Just wondering what ZF's you are running? I have the 80A's with my 370's and so far no problems, however I only have just over 80hrs on them so far. Other than that how has the boat been handling for you. What kind of speed could you do in the sea's you described?

Steve
BLUE-MOON
CC-32 #5

[backman]

tell me more about water over the gunwale?

I've drift fished and sharked in some pretty sloppy conditions and have scared the p*** out of myself with the boat's snap roll; but haven't ever dipped more than spray over the gunwale.

Were you beam to? Its worth running a medium sized drift sock off the bow when sharking to get the bow into the seas and get away from the beam too snap roll.

[Split Decision]

Steve, the boat has been great so far.Only have 50 hrs on it. I also have the 80A's. They are going to open it up tomorrow to see what the problem is. I am still rigging some things. I will do the riggers this weekend since tuna season is not far off. I need to get a Mako first.

The ride is better than I expected. I run 20 kts in those conditions. I could do more but my father is 78 and I don't want to beat him up to bad.

Larry

The roll is a little worse than my fathers old 31 shamrock but it stops quicker. You are right about it being down right scarry sometimes. I am going to look into a large sea anchor for overnighting at the canyon in case I can't tie up or anchor. I think one 12-15' will work good and make it more comfortable.

If these boats are this bad, I can't imagine how bad a Albe would be with 1 1/2' less beam.

[CClassic28]

Tom,

Sorry to hear about your trouble but I'm glad the service was on the mark.

Larry,

I have managed a few times to have green water crash over the gunnels while drifting and let me tell you it scares the **** out of the crew! I just take it as a compromise and deal with it. This year I will try a small sea anchor to turn the boat slightly. What size are you using?

Chris

[backman]

3 weapons

the Magna door goes over in anything more than 3' on a midships down sea cleat.

http://www.magmaproducts.com/Products/Marine_Products/Stabilizer/stabilizer.html

That dampens the snap to a duller snap and at the same time removes a few degrees from the roll.

A 4' drift sock on 30' of 1/2" line goes off the bow cleat in conjunction - that gets the bow pointed towards the wind and removes both snap and another 5 or 10 degrees of roll. You'll be fine in 12-15, 3-5 with these two. No more green water!

If it gets worse I'm trolling as opposed to sharking; but I also have a 9' paratech sea anchor on 250' of 1/2" line for holy-s**t nights in the canyons when its building past 15 knots, I wish I wasn't there and it's 4 hr's till dawn. It is a royal pain in the butt to deploy and retrieve and I need to put an orange ball on it and a quick release system this year. I question my lines capability in a real survival situation, but I don't intend to be drifting in 6-8's; thank you!

Years back I had my green water over the gunwales moment and it scared the **** out of me to the point I asked Mac what it would take to flip the boat. I think the answer was a lot more than 3-5's but I don't intend to find out - he hasn't lost one yet and I'm not going to be the 1st.

Speaking of which if Sat/Sun stays mellow I intend to be camping out in Veatches.

[Adventurer]

Hi guys,

I got a 28 Albemarle (no tower). I do the same as everyone else and use a drift anchor off the stern though to pull the stern more to the sea. Have not yet tried it off the bow I also found that if we put the trim tabs all the way down it takes out the snap roll and noticeably slows the roll. The trim tabs are actually built into the bottom of the boat. I am not sure if it is the same for the carolina or if they extend behind the boat.
-Kevin

[Split Decision]

Just a short update.

Rear clutch pack is broken in pieces with a broken shaft. Not sure which shaft but this is what I was told. They are giving me a new gear and they might put it in tomorrow. I hope so I don't miss a weekend.

ZF has been great with the service. I really had nightmares about this taking weeks to fix.

They are not sure what caused it yet. Mentioned something about a bad vibration but wont know untill they get it back together and run it. They also might change the drive plate.

I will let you know when I know more.

[Split Decision]

Up Date-----

New gear is in and running great. ZF has been fantastic with service. Old gear out and new one installed in 5 days without a missed weekend.

The reverse clutch pack was in pieces and the case where the clutch pack sits was torn up. They do not know how or why this happened but of course it had to happen to me. The vibration I felt was the clutch pack shifting off center when the case went.

I will give it a good run this weekend and try for Mr. Mako. I need to get a good fish instead of some dogs and bluefish. I will let you know on Monday.

[fishhard]

Tom,

How did the boat run this weekend?

[Split Decision]

Tom

The boat is running great. The only bug I have now is the low coolant level alarm keeps going off on the port engine.

I never made it offshore last wekend but went for some bluefish for shark bait. I finished rigging the outriggers and woodie waxed the entire top of the boat including the tower. Organized all the fishing gear so we should be good to go. Just need the weather to cooperate. I want to get out to get some bluefin. Still have'nt gotten a mako or even a blue shark. I am going through withdrawl.

Will see what happens this weekend.

[Guest]

The weather is looking good for a saturday night leave, fish sunday..I have a charter leaving around 12:30 am fishing sunday. Nw should push us out...and variable all day. I'd like to find some yellowfin..canyon water..the blue fin were in side the Toms last weekend


I spoke with a guy looking at the topaz 32, I told him the CC is a much better boat. Did you look at the topaz?

[Split Decision]

The weather is looking good for a saturday night leave, fish sunday..I have a charter leaving around 12:30 am fishing sunday. Nw should push us out...and variable all day. I'd like to find some yellowfin..canyon water..the blue fin were in side the Toms last weekend


I spoke with a guy looking at the topaz 32, I told him the CC is a much better boat. Did you look at the topaz?

Fish hard I assume this is you.

I did look at the topaz. I did not like the windshield. Much to low. I also believe the older ones did'nt have a good reputation. I just like the look of the CC much better and also think it is a much better boat.

We are planning to go to Toms on sunday morning for some bluefin or yellowfin. I think we might overnight for shark and maybe sword and troll for tuna monday morning. I will try to give you a call if we make it out. I am on 71. I believe you are on 68?

I just ordered a 15' para-tec sea anchor for the trip. I hope it works.
Let me know.

[Split Decision]

Well the new gear they put in sprung a leak somewhere. At first they thought it was the front seal so they broke it away from the bell housing to replace it. What they found was that the seal was fine so he pulled the gear out and took it back to the shop. He had no clue on where it was leaking so he resealed the entire gear and reinstalled it today.

It seemed OK on the seatrial but time will tell. If this does not work I will be getting a new gear again.

One thing I have to say is the service has been fantastic from ZF.

[BLUE-MOON]

Hey Tom,
I had a similar problem with my port ZF-80A. I think we should talk. Please send me an E-mail at [email protected] and I will reply with my phone number.

Steve
BLUE-MOON
32' CC, 370HP cummins, ZF-80A's