Cutlass Bearings

[graham2]

In our transit of the Panama canal, one of the PCA employees tossed a big wad of monkey fist line behind our boat and the line got wrapped around our propeller. It gauged out about one and a half inches of rubber from our 6 inch long cutlass, as our shaft only sticks out a few inches from our full keel. It was a brand new cutlass, just a year ago and was in great shape. The shaft does not appear to have any wobble after this incident. Does the cutlass need to be replaced? What are the chances that there are rope fibers inside that will cause further damage? As far as we can tell, all the rope is gone. Are there any other potential concerns with leaving the cutlass as is?

[David M]

It should be okay for a while It is going to wear faster though. You defintely want to remove any rope fibers. You can check the wear by sending a diver down to give the shaft a shake. You will want to change it out at your next haulout.

[imagine2frolic]

Any chance the PCA can arrange for you to be hauled? After all it is their employee. Possibly no duty charged for the same reason. Better fixed now than encountering a problem where you can't fix it!......BEST WISHES in sorting it out....i2f

[graham2]

Any concerns with barnacle growth inside the cutlass (where the rubber is missing)? We just hauled out last month, and had been hoping to go about 2 years before our next haulout after crossing the Pacific.
Graham

[bmiller]

A while ago there was a tutorial on replacing the cutlass posted by someone, any idea who/where that is?

[David M]

No idea. At least with my boat, it takes a hydraulic press to change out my cutlass bearings.

[GordMay]

The good news is that Graham’s shaft doesn’t appear to have any play (movement) in the cutlass bearing.

The bad news is that the rubber liner, which carries the load of the shaft & prop & torsional loads (when turning) is damaged (gouged).

As long as the shaft to bearing interface is clean (no rope fibres, barnacles, nor other contaminants), you should be ok in the SHORT term, although I certainly wouldn’t attempt a Pacific crossing without replacing the bearing.

There are numerous on-line articles on Cutlass Bearing Replacement, including:

Replacing The Cutlass Bearing

Replacing the Shaft

Fantasia 35 Mk II Cutlass Bearing Replacement

Cutless-Bearing Replacement

A home made bearing puller (below):

[kevlarmike]

I Would not worry about it you still have 4 in. of bearing, Have replace hundreds of bearings.

[FSMike]

It probably wore out since 2008 anyway lol.

[kevlarmike]

FSmike when a shaft is lined true a bearing will last many years, i agree this has probably changed, in any case maybe that comment might help someone else, and as you well know knowledge can never be too late