I have stripped out the stern gear on my boat.It is a traditional set up with bronze tube and stuffing box and a 1 inch prop shaft. As it works well,is simple in design,and fixable if it leaks I want to retain it and have the cutlass bearing and the bearing in the stuffing box replaced. My marine "engineer" says that no one will replace bearings that are as small as this and that I should get a fibreglass tube bonded into the boat at a cost of £500.00 plus all the bits!

Norris of Isleworth say that they can do the work but is there any one else that specialises in this sort of work. I like having a "plan B"!

Regards David

Hi Chas, They say that they can probably re-do the bearings subject to seeing them!

David

There is a firm nr.Rugby in warwickshire which specialises in white metaling-if bearing is like one in my old 1947 boat it is lined with white metal-same stuff they make big end bearings out of.

Firm primarily reline  bearing shells for vintage cars and cast bearings into piston rod ends on really old cars/steam engines etc. but were quite happy to do my bearing and ream out to true.Once did some shells on a vintage boat engine I owned.

Also do things like chrome plate bores and crankshafts if you want an engine to last for ever!

Cannot remember exact address but look up White metallers on Google or Yell.

Cost me about £50 5 yrs ago plus postage.

Phil

Hi David

You wil almost certianly be able to get your existing set up rebuilt, you just need to make sure in future who you are talking to:

An "engineer" will only either design or specify the bearing.

A mechanic will install the bearing.

And a technician will tell the mechanic whether or not the bearing has been correctly installed and adjusted.

Cheers

Chas