Replacing a 40 yr old steel stern tube with a new GRP one?

[Westerly Jetstream]

Every time I turn the greaser on my Renown I am met with dozens of little worms of white marine grease wriggling their way out through my porous 40 year old steel stern tube. So time to bite the bullitt and replace it, on the outside there is a bronze cutlass bearing holder which bolts through the deadwood onto a two bolt flange on the stern tube. The only GRP tubes I see are Vetus ones which have an integral cutlass bearing, so what way do I go about this, do I install it by bonding other end to inside of hull leaving me with extra cutlass at deep sea seal end(there does seem to be an option to buy an extra cutlass for these tubes anyway?) anyone replaced a tube recently? And other suppliers? Any good advice?

 

[Tranona]

Stern gear suppliers such as Lake Engineering, T Norris, Teignbridge, Clements will supply plain grp tubes but to retain your outer bearing probably better to use bronze. Suggest you also use a Volvo stern seal then you won't need a greaser.

 

[Bobobolinsky]

Stern gear suppliers such as Lake Engineering, T Norris, Teignbridge, Clements will supply plain grp tubes but to retain your outer bearing probably better to use bronze. Suggest you also use a Volvo stern seal then you won't need a greaser.

How long a piece of tube do you need, I have 500+mm left from my job I used the bearing end from a Vetus stern tube 25/1000? Looking for 20 beer tokens plus postage

 

[Bodach na mara]

I had to renew mine because the outer bearing "Cutless" holder came away with the threaded end of the tube broken off in it. The tube itself is a plain tube with threaded ends. The inner end carries a short rubber tube which holds the inner gland and greasing point. The Cutless bearing threads on to the outer end. The tube is not glassed in but is put in place with polysulphide sealant. Before this goes off, the inner end is threaded on and the flange attached to the shaft and connected to the gearbox output flange. Then the outer bearing holder is threaded on and bolted through to the threaded plate on the inside. I did this several years ago and have had no problems since. Reading this description, I cannot understand how I did the job as I was working on my own. How the hell did I stop the tube from turning???

 

[alahol2]

If, as mine, the stern tube is threaded into a flange at each end it would be far easier and cheaper to get another piece of steel tube threaded up. If it lasts another 40 years it will probably outlive you. You could always go for a piece of bronze tube if 40 years is not long enough.

 

[Bodach na mara]

If, as mine, the stern tube is threaded into a flange at each end it would be far easier and cheaper to get another piece of steel tube threaded up. If it lasts another 40 years it will probably outlive you. You could always go for a piece of bronze tube if 40 years is not long enough.

This post now reminds me that here is an inner flange which locates the inner end of the tube. Because I did not wish to remove the skeg, the tube had to be put in place with the shaft in situ. The shaft was being renewed at the same time and the outer cutless bearing holder had to be renewed with one cast to order. The tube is bronze and the shaft is stainless. The whole process started when I went to renew the worn rubber cutless bearing because the housing came away in my hands after I removed the bolts. As far as I remember, the whole bill for parts was over £300.

 

[Westerly Jetstream]

Ken can you remember where you got your bronze threaded tube from and did it have to be made specially or was it off shelf your 300 quid price seems to good to be true can you have a lok back through your old receiptd.
Thanks.
PS Are you a member of WOA they are trying to put together a Renown register at moment?

 

[alahol2]

T Norris do stern tube, looks like £41 per half meter + £11 per threaded end. See here http://www.tnorrismarine.co.uk/documents/1TNPriceListFEBRUARYa2013_000.pdf

 

[Bodach na mara]

Ken can you remember where you got your bronze threaded tube from and did it have to be made specially or was it off shelf your 300 quid price seems to good to be true can you have a lok back through your old receiptd.
Thanks.
PS Are you a member of WOA they are trying to put together a Renown register at moment?

I have PMd you with what details I can remember. As alohol2 states, the material is available and not unreasonable in price.

I am not in WOA but will have a look.