Irwin 38 mk2 center cockpit drive shaft info.

[J.morgan]

My wife and I lost our 1969 cc newport s, off the coast of Louisiana on April 10 2022. We purchased a used 1984 Irwin 38 mk2 center cockpit this summer. She is a project in need of love. I do need to replace the driveshaft and cutles bearing. Dose anyone know the length of the drive shaft or a link to a way to find the length. I need to have a new one made.

[OldManMirage]

I think you'll probably need to just go ahead and pull the old one to get the measurement you want. It would be the best way to make sure you end up with an exact replacement.

[Bill O]

OMM has the best advice for your drive shaft.

Another thing to possibly replace is your chain plates. Irwin's were embedded and difficult to inspect w/o special equipment (xray). Typically most do external chain plates.

[J.morgan]

I am in a time crunch so I am looking for a shaft lenth so I can order one. The yard is time and space restrictive. This means I need to get the shaft than haulout shape than go back in.

[Bill O]

So, how do you know you need a new shaft w/o pulling the boat?

Withing reason, a shaft can be repaired (if bent, etc.). If some scoring from a bad stern bearing (cutlass), a spacer could be added to extend the shaft a few inches.

If replacing the bearing, would look at a synthetic (Vesconite). Price was similar to a rubber, bronze bearing and most likely would never need to be replaced again. Only issue was the lead time shipping from South Africa, but considering we ordered a custom bearing, it was over all very speedy process.