Stern tube advice. Please

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Sen020

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Hi, I have just purchased a Vancouver 34 pilot. The boat is on the hard and being pre pared for launching. When inspecting the stern tube from the outside, there appears to be a bronze sleeve around the shaft which rotates with the shaft. Please see photo. I am not familiar with this type of arrangement. Is the purpose of the sleeve to prevent wear to the shaft and what maintenance if any is required. Many thanks in advance.
 

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From what you say and from the picture it sounds/looks like the cutless bearing is rotating with the shaft. The cutless bearing slots into the stern tube and is held in place by a number of grub screws (which may be hidden by filler/antifoul). They may have come loose/worn. You don't want the cutless bearing to rotate as it will wear the stern tube. How much play do you have from side to side on the prop shaft and is the play between the bearing and the tube and/or the prop shaft and tube?
 
Hi, happy new year and welcome to the forum. Vancouver 34 pilot, that's a nice boat congratulations, is it your first? As neilf39 says if the cutless bearing is rotating with the shaft that shouldn't be happening so clean everything up first and see where you are. Replacing the cutless bearing if that's necessary is easier on some boats than others (e.g. if the rudder is in the way) but is a job that you could do yourself and involves unattaching the shaft, sliding it out, fitting the new bearing and refitting the shaft...
 
I would ask your surveyor. If it is what it looks like that the cutless bearing is loose within the stern tube it would be something he /she would have noted.

Ink
 
Thanks for your replies and welcome. I was concerned that it should not be rotating with the shaft but thought to seek advice. The boat has been out of the water for a number of years and before that hardly used. I think it is likely a case that the cutlass bearing has welded itself to the shaft through lack of use. I will definitely get it sorted before launch. It is not my first boat but my first Vancouver. I renovated a Jeanneau 452 and sailed it to Greece a few years back but then decided to sail nearer home and the Vancouver was top of my list for the UK weather. The type of sale did not allow me to get a survey but I am happy to take on most jobs. I will get a survey prior to launch.
 
Yes,I would regard that as a potentially serious problem. Definitely needs investigation and rectification. That shouldn't be, basically, too difficult unless your bpat has a p-bracket not visible in your picture. That might complicate the work.
 
The cutlass bearing usually has a vulcanised rubber/plastic grooved bearing that sits on the shaft. Yours does not appear to have one.
 
Its good that your cutlass bearing protrudes from its housing, it enables you to get hold of it with mole grips or similar and wriggle it out.
But first locate those grub screws and slacken them off, make sure there tighter when you put the cutlass in.

Plank
 
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Sen020 said:
Hi, I have just purchased a Vancouver 34 pilot. The boat is on the hard and being pre pared for launching. When inspecting the stern tube from the outside, there appears to be a bronze sleeve around the shaft which rotates with the shaft. Please see photo. I am not familiar with this type of arrangement. Is the purpose of the sleeve to prevent wear to the shaft and what maintenance if any is required. Many thanks in advance.
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Hi have you actually turned the shaft by hand to prove the cutless bearing is turning with the shaft. Put a magic marker line through cutless bearing and stern tube (lengthways) , turn propeller, if line separates then cutless bearing is turning. oops.
 
Sen020 said:
Thanks for your replies and welcome. I was concerned that it should not be rotating with the shaft but thought to seek advice. The boat has been out of the water for a number
Sen020 said:
Hi, I have just purchased a Vancouver 34 pilot. The boat is on the hard and being pre pared for launching. When inspecting the stern tube from the outside, there appears to be a bronze sleeve around the shaft which rotates with the shaft. Please see photo. I am not familiar with this type of arrangement. Is the purpose of the sleeve to prevent wear to the shaft and what maintenance if any is required. Many thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

of years and before that hardly used. I think it is likely a case that the cutlass bearing has welded itself to the shaft through lack of use. I will definitely get it sorted before launch. It is not my first boat but my first Vancouver. I renovated a Jeanneau 452 and sailed it to Greece a few years back but then decided to sail nearer home and the Vancouver was top of my list for the UK weather. The type of sale did not allow me to get a survey but I am happy to take on most jobs. I will get a survey prior to launch.
Click to expand...
 
I have had my eye on that boat for some months. Congratulations on your purchase and you obviously have a lot of work to do . I had a look at the cutless bearing yesterday when I was in the marina. Usually the problem is removing the bearing from the stern tube but from the way it is rotating that should not be a problem . The rubber of the cutless Looks very thin but not worn.
My boat a HR 34 is berthed in Mercury and I look forward to meeting you as you bring this boat back to life.
 
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