SHAFT LOK INC.
Since 1979
Over 1,300 units sold.
Marine Shaft Lock, Boat Propeller (Lok) Lock (Loc) or Brake, Propeller (Prop) Brake, Shaft Brake, Propeller Drag or whatever; Shaft Lok will keep the propeller and shaft from turning. For boat owners with Twin Engines run on one engine and save BIG on diesel, see below.
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The best anode for you freshwater boaters is Magnesium now offered by Shaft Lok Inc.
Magnesium is the most active (least noble) meaning it will provide the ultimate corrosion protection.
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Email: Shaftlok@att.net
Contact: Anne Marie
Phone: 262 786 6800
Leave a message if the machine answers. We will return your call. Open Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm Central Standard Time. But, if the surf is up on Lake Michigan those hours are problematic.
LAST UPDATE: December 27, 2019
LINKS TO PHOTOS AND INFORMATION:
Welcome to our Web! (Prices)
Cover Shows a picture of a Mod II unit installed.
BackCover Has the dimensions of all units.
Selection Guide - 2 Bladed Propellers
Selection Guide - 3 Bladed Propellers
Shaft Lok Yachts! A partial listing of the yachts with Shaft Loks.
Easy Lok Mod II The only way to lock a prop.
Freewheel or Locked Propeller? Boat speed is one reason to lock the propeller.
The Simple Spring Locking System Replaces the cable and saves $$$$.
Our MacGregor 65 Sea Ya II was a great ride:
http://www.shaftlok.com/MacGregor_65.htm
MOD II EASY LOK UNIT IN A NORTHSTAR 40.
S/V Loonsong, Captain J.T.D., Thank You, April 2010.
YANMAR MARINE SERVICE ADVISORY February 8, 2008. This advisory is issued as a reminder; Yanmar requires that if sailing with the engine OFF (not running) the transmission shifter must be in the neutral position or internal damage to the gear or sail-drive will result.
FOR FASTER AND QUIETER SAILING.
The best way to keep the propeller from rotating while the yacht is moving. Enjoy boating more with SHAFT LOK... Properly Positions, Locks and Automatically Unlocks the Propeller, Quickly and Easily Without Leaving the Cockpit.
ROTATING PROPELLER?
Causes NOISE to the point where it may compared to the Chinese Water Torture. This can ruin a nice day of sailing. A spinning prop can also build up heat in the transmission to such an extent that the seals may be damaged allowing leakage. Long term freewheeling will wear all drive train components unnecessarily. While sailing SHAFT LOK locks the propeller in the most efficient position, vertical in the rudder and keel opening (if that is what you desire), for the best boat speed,quiet operation and without transmission or propeller shaft bearing wear.
Does a propeller cause more drag freewheeling or stationary?
Consider riding in a HELICOPTER high in the sky. Ooops, the turbine engine runs out of fuel. Now, we are in trouble! If we lock the propeller blades from turning we will have an awful day because we will not get any drag (or in this case, lift) from the blades. If we auto rotate (allow the blades to spin) using our altitude and speed of descent to rotate the blades we will be able to land safely. How is this possible? Because the rotating blades create DRAG. Google: windmilling propeller drag for more information.
It is known that the slower the propeller rotates the more efficient it becomes. An extremely fast prop may produce less thrust than a prop at half that speed. An infinite slowly rotating propeller will approach one hundred percent efficiency. So now consider that efficient slowly spinning propeller while you are sailing and not using the engine, what a wonderful speed killer.
For the least amount of drag use a folding or feathering propeller and lock it with SHAFT LOK.
SHAFT LOK holds the propeller stationary regardless of yacht speed. All that is necessary to release the lock is to start the engine and engage the transmission. SHAFT LOK automatically unlocks.
According to a European magazine SAILING TODAY article: During manufactures comparison tests it was discovered that a standard 15 inch diameter 3 blade propeller increases the resistance of the hull by 48 pounds (this is) the equivalent of dragging a large bucket behind the boat.
HOW DOES SHAFT LOK WORK?
SHAFT LOK is a simple device of few moving parts.
The main housing contains long and short pins, a rotating disc and control cable.
The yacht propeller shaft slides into the main housing black rotating disc and is secured with set screws. An anti-torque bracket (included) holds the housing from rotating.
While motoring the rotating disc turns with the prop shaft.
To lock SHAFT LOK when sailing press down on the control cable palm knob. The control cable has the long locking pin attached to the working end. The long pin engages the rotating disc locking it and hence the propeller from turning.
Inside the main housing along with the long locking pin is a spring loaded short pin that holds the long pin in locked and unlocked positions. The short pin is the heart of the unit. SHAFT LOK resists the static torque generated by the stationary propeller as it is being dragged through the water while sailing.
SHAFT LOK is designed to unlock when the engine is started and the transmission engaged. The unit automatically unlocks.
No electrical or hydraulic power required.
SHAFT LOK since 1979 is installed on yachts worldwide. Shaft Lok Yachts!
YANMAR MARINE SERVICE ADVISORY February 8, 2008. This advisory is issued as a reminder; Yanmar requires that if sailing with the engine OFF (not running) the transmission shifter must be in the neutral position or internal damage to the gear or sail-drive will result.
MANUFACTURER and BOATER COMMENTS:
June 26, 2015...I just wanted to let you know how much we appreciate your shaft lock on our Slocum 43. We installed it in Mexico in 2007 and just finished our 46,000 mile circumnavigation. It work(ed) flawlessly the whole trip, unlike many other pieces of our offshore equipment. Crossing the Indian Ocean and rounding S. Africa were the most demanding passages and the shaft brake was really put to the test. We purchased a Shaft Lok back in Nov. 2006 (sailing south along the coast of California) for our Slocum 43. We love the unit. Slowing the boat down to lock the brake is the one challenge we have. Anything over 2.5-3 knots and it will bounce back out when I'm engaging it. With the shaft button (Simple Spring Locking System) located under the floor in our cabin, it takes two people to set the brake, one at the helm, one down below. We have it down though and it works wonderful. We typically sail at 5-7 knots, but have hit 9 knots without the brake coming free. Thank you: Captain David Pryde and Admiral Jan, S/V Baraka, 17 x 11 x 3 fixed propeller, Mod II Easy Lok unit with Simple Spring Locking System. On the hard at Rebak Island, just off Langkawi, Malaysia. December 17, 2010.
PRACTICAL SAILOR MAGAZINE, To Shaft Lok: “Since installing a Shaft Lok on my 46 foot, heavy displacement ketch two years ago, it has performed as intended in over 2,000 miles of mostly weekend sailing, albeit with two ‘breakdowns'. In both instances, the producers attentively helped me in evaluation of the problem and readily replaced the broken parts, even though the malfunction, in the second instance, was partly due to my misuse of the unit. This simply designed, self-releasing mechanism offers a welcome alternative to the more complicated, trouble-prone systems around. Shaft Lok’s customer service can’t be beat. I believe this will be of value to those of your readers who face the problem of preventing damage caused by a freewheeling hydraulic transmission." John Walsh, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Autoprop Bruntons its use (Shaft Lok) is essential with the Bruntons prop otherwise a lot of drag will occur while sailing. The boat had a shaftlok fitted but unfortunately I thought that I would not need it (wrong!) with a folding propeller and removed it while I was changing the sternseal. I now re-installed it. Once I got the knack of engaging the shaft lok it was easy and it is essential that it is engaged otherwise the Bruntons propellor rotates and causes more drag than the original fixed blade propellor. The new propellor + shaft lok gives about 1/2 to 3/4 Knot more speed while sailing. Thank you Captain A.S. of S/Y Tournesol, May 14, 2010.
This Mod II Unit was installed (twice) in a Sea Stream 43, Hull #33.
S/V Tournesol Captain A.S.,Thank You. May 2010.
Twin Disc transmission advised a motor yacht owner that the transmission should only be allowed to freewheel with the engine shut off for a limited time because of the heat produced. May 10, 2010.
Autoprop. Do I need to do anything to make the Autoprop feather under sail? All you need to do is stop the engine whilst motoring in ahead and thereafter leave the engine engaged in ahead.With engines fitted with some hydraulic gearboxes engage your shaft lock. Your Autoprop distributor will be able to advise you if this is necessary. Autoprop Bruntons Propellers Ltd.,
AutoBrake (Autolock) by Brunton~ The Prop is a AutoProp, Diameter 610mm (24.4 inches) with variable Pitch. The yacht was fitted with the AutoBrake by Bruntons but because its (it is) subject to oily water it did not work, the brake pads got oily.Thank You, Captain B. (Notes in red added by Shaft Lok Inc.)May 2011.
Volvo transmission 2.43 ratio D3110 110hp diesel installed in a Hanse 540E; Somebody gives an advise (advice) that I can turn off the engine while running and in gear, however the Volvo guys does not believe in this and think a shaft lok is a good idea. Hanse Yacht owner A.F.D. of
Pearson 365 owners can click on http://www.sailingseadragon.com/Shaftlok.htm to see how Captain G.B. installed a Shaft Lok Mod II Easy Lok unit June 2004. Sea Dragon is a 1981 yacht with a Westerbeke 4-108 engine and Borg Warner V Drive Transmission fitted with a 17 x 11 x 3 fixed (non feathering or folding) propeller.
Mod II Easy Lok Unit in a Pearson 365
S/V Sea Dragon Captain G.B.,Thank You, June 2004.
YANMAR MARINE SERVICE ADVISORY February 8, 2008 This advisory is issued as a reminder; Yanmar requires that if sailing with the engine OFF (not running) the transmission shifter must be in the neutral position or internal damage to the gear or sail-drive will result.
Yanmar users should be aware that the transmission may lock the prop shaft from turning BUT may cause serious damage to the transmission.Contact Yanmar for details.We learned this from several boat owners who experienced problems.
The voice of experience: A rotating propeller while sailing can cause extreme heating of the transmission fluid which may destroy the polymer seals causing leakage and transmission failure. (Thanks for the heads up to TBG of NY 8/1/04)
Max-Prop and AutoProp, feathering propellers, require that the prop shaft be held stationary momentarily while the blades feather. Henry K. of
The
DUAL ENGINE YACHT OWNERS; DIESEL TOO EXPENSIVE?SLOW DOWN & SAVE BIG.
Mod III Easy Lok Unit in a Waveney Class 44 Life Boat.
Twin 27.6 Inch Diameter (701mm) x 24.7 Inch Pitch (627mm) Fixed Four Blade Propellers.
Dual Caterpillar Diesels 3208T 250 HP with Twin Disc Transmissions MG506
Mod III Easy Lok Unit in a Waveney Class 44 Life Boat.
MLB Gryphon, Captain T.C.,Thank You, Tom !~January 2011
Operating on one engine can cut your fuel bill by 73%.
A 1977 cruising Hatteras 42 footer with twin diesel 165hp engines and 24 x 25 inch 3 blade propellers at 2200 RPM on both engines uses 15 GPH producing a boat speed of 11.5 MPH which is .76 MPG.~With one engine shut down the GPH drops to 7.5 and speed drops to 9.43 MPH which is an 18% speed loss with a 50% fuel savings at 1.25 MPG~.Still with one engine off and reducing the RPM to 1800 the speed is now 8.05 MPHwith the GPH at 4 or 73% reduction results in a 2.01 MPG.~Thank you for the information Captain Bob. 1/15/2010
NO SPACE IN THE ENGINE ROOM? Ask about installing the SHAFT LOK unit over the aft coupling half.
WANT MORE INFORMATION? CHECK OUT OUR LINKS!
Welcome to our Web!(Prices)
Cover Shows a picture of a Mod II unit installed.
BackCover Has the dimensions of all units.
Selection Guide - 2 Bladed Propellers
Selection Guide - 3 Bladed Propellers
Shaft Lok Yachts! A partial listing of the yachts with Shaft Loks.Easy Lok Mod II The only way to lock a prop.
Freewheel or Locked Propeller? Boat speed is one reason to lock the propeller.The Simple Spring Locking System Replaces the cable and saves $$$$.
If you have comments or suggestions,
SHAFT LOK INC. Since 1979
Contact: Anne Marie
Email: Shaftlok@att.net
Phone: 262 786 6800
Leave a message if the machine answers. We will return your call. We are usually available Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm Central Standard Time. But, if the surf is up on Lake Michigan those hours are problematic. If you want to send a FAX 262 786 7492 contact us to make sure the machine is operating.We have it turned off sometimes when the spam gets heavy.
LAST UP DATE: August 14, 2017
Enjoy your day!~Shaft Lok for faster and quieter sailing...
This page created with the help of SPN and Rebecca.