Aligning Struts

Strut on ground. Cleaning out the pocket to prepare for reinstallation.

A few weeks ago we started working on a 90′  yacht that had experienced vibration problems at speed.   The boat was hauled and shafts removed in order to check the alignment and shaft straightness.  During our optical scope analysis it became very clear that both port and starboard struts were out of alignment.  This could have been an original factory problem but more likely is a result of careless piloting/navigation by the prior yacht owner.   Aligning struts in a yacht this size requires specific tools, techniques and skills.  Pulling a 300+ pound strut off a boat can be dangerous – it usually requires significant “coaxing” to break the factory bedding.  Getting the same strut back into an alignment position, hanging six feet off the ground, can also be tricky.  A quick technical article here will give you more insight to the process.  Aligning a strut is usually a once-in-a-boat-life project provided you keep an eye on the charts and keep her off the bottom.