A Propeller From Another Mother

“You and I share the same DNA.  Is there anything more lonely than that?” ~Charlie Kaufman

Here in the Wake Zone, we do more than just ride (believe it or not!).  Hobbies are good for the soul…and often softer on the wallet than a fuel-consumption addiction!  It’s time for a mid-summer off-topic post…but is it REALLY that off-topic?  After all, many things are related in distant, less obvious ways.  So I guess it was no surprise when I was drawn to a unique piece of history many months ago that, as it turns out, isn’t so far removed from my aquatic heritage.

Anytime you see this sign...pull off the road immediately!

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…in a tiny outpost in the Florida Everglades, I was visiting one Lucky Cole.  He is a generous, cheerful soul that opens his remote property to visitors most Saturdays and Sundays.  Lucky and his wife Maureen live a simple life.  They have a modest home on a nice piece of land that abuts Big Cypress National Preserve, just 6 miles off US 41 in the Florida Everglades.  When Lucky isn’t photographing nature or lady clients, he is serving up delicious Everglades chili with a side of ice cold beer and some intriguing stories of yesteryear, when real Gladesmen were the only folks hardy enough to live out in the humid, mosquito-swarmed swamps west of Miami and east of Naples.  The property also boasts a collection of…well, Junk!  Lucky is a collector, of everything and anything.  And everything on the property is for sale (except Maureen!).  He has an interesting assortment of old signs and tools, fishing poles, antique furniture, even an autographed birthday bowling pin!  

Life in the elements had not been kind!

I have been visiting Lucky’s for a number of years now…it was a perfect escape from the chaos of urban life, and only an hour’s ride by motorcycle from Miami.  One particular afternoon, something caught my eye.  There, hidden amongst the knick-knacks in a small outbuilding, was something different.  It was a huge wooden propeller, with metal tips on it.  “What is that from, Lucky?”  After scratching his head to think, he replied, “Not sure exactly where it came from.”  Upon closer examination, it was quite weathered, full of termites, but stamped with a serial number that was still legible.  I assumed it must have come from an old airplane.  We agreed to do some research to figure out what it was before coming up with a price.  I had to have it.  It was too cool! 

Said research turned up that in all likelihood, it actually came off an airboat.  That made perfect sense, considering where Lucky lives.  Airboats are the ATV’s of the Everglades.  After several months of visiting it, watching it on the wall of the outbuilding, we finally settled on an exchange of services agreement, in which I received the prop as renumeration for a favor I did for Lucky.  I was very eager to get it home and make a plan for restoration.

Stubborn former wood finish did not give up!

First things first, I had to kill off the termites.  A trip to Home Depot and ¾ of a can of termite death later, my prop was free of cannibalistic insects.  Since moving day was approaching, I decided to put off refinishing it until I moved.  So recently, that event found time in my busy schedule.  My nice termite-free prop was in bad shape…the searing Florida heat and relentless blistering solar penetration over Lord-knows-how-many years had taken its toll.  The wood was stripped completely bare of any finish on the prop tips.  So sanding those areas was a snap.  But the center hub and two areas that once must have sported labels or tags had stubbornly hung onto their original finishes.

A generous and thoughtful neighbor told me to bring it over so I could use his power sander on it.  This was not a job that could be completed by hand sanding (at least not in the next century).  Like magic, after a few hours using different grit sanding papers, the prop was stripped evenly back down to bare wood.  And aside from a few hidden hollow pockets that the ‘mites had dug out, it looked really good!  I wasn’t concerned about flawless perfection…I personally appreciate the patina look.

Sanding, sanding...and more sanding! (and beer!)

For a final finish, I went with a few coats of tung oil.  On recommendation from a wood working friend, it would give it the most minimal and authentic finish.  I did not want to lacquer over it or use anything that would hide the texture and natural color.  The result…AMAZING!  And what could be more suitable?  Propellers are a big part of my life as a boater.  Just because it came from something other than a PWC, doesn’t make it any less awesome in my book.  It’s final showplace will be over my home bar.  It is a neat piece of South Florida history with a great story, that fits in perfectly with all the things I love.  I do not discriminate between props!  They are all my friends, no matter which parent craft they came from!

Serial # still legible

After looking into the serial number burned onto the one blade, and conferring with an airboat enthusiast that has been gliding for many years, this prop was originally manufactured by Aerostick, and it may have been originally manufactured and designed to be used on a 6 cylinder aircraft engine in the 220 – 260 hp range.  I learned that these propellers were selected by some airboat manufacturers as retrofit parts for use in their airboats.  For all I know, this one may have been used on an airplane for part of its life, and then moved over to an airboat later.  Or it may have only ever been on an airboat.  I will be using the serial number info to try and find out…but the mystery of its use is part of the allure.  What is clear is why it was eventually decommissioned.  One of the blade tips is dinged.  This would make it ineffective for either purpose.  But makes it perfectly suitable to hang on my wall!!

I hope you all have been taking some time this summer to work on some interesting pet projects this summer when you are not out riding.  Or maybe you do them in the wintertime when riding isn’t possible.  Here in the Keys, there is no winter, so now seemed like as good a time as any.  So whether it is building a RC helicopter, creating a Japanese garden, or inventing the next ugly rubber shoes with swiss cheese holes in them, take time to follow your passions and work on fun stuff!  It’s good for your mind and breaks up the monotony, and also works great for stress relief.  Craft on, my watery friends!

All done!  Now back to your regularly scheduled Wake Zone.