Cutless bearing wear

[30boat]

I've just replaced my cutless bearing as my old one wore after not a lot of hours.As I said in a thread on this subject weeks ago, alignment is not an issue and the shaft is in very good condition.There are two things however that could account for the accelerated wear.I noticed that there was a layer of calcium like deposit on the bearing surface on the shaft.The fact that the boat saw very little use probably caused it.The other thing is the folding prop that is very heavy,much heavier than the fixed prop that was originally fitted.It appears to be well balanced as there is no undue vibration but maybe the extra weight is causing wear?

 

[gordmac]

The heavier prop will put more load on the bearing, that is what supports the weight.

 

[vyv_cox]

I have an Autoprop, not sure how the weight of this compares with a folder but it is far more massive than a standard fixed two blader. I last replaced my cutless bearing in 2005 in France, since when I have reached Greece and cruised the Ionian and Aegean pretty extensively for the past three years. There is no detectable wear of the bearing.

 

[30boat]

I have an Autoprop, not sure how the weight of this compares with a folder but it is far more massive than a standard fixed two blader. I last replaced my cutless bearing in 2005 in France, since when I have reached Greece and cruised the Ionian and Aegean pretty extensively for the past three years. There is no detectable wear of the bearing.

I've taken pains to make sure everything is properly aligned his time.I hope I can get a decent rate of wear now.