What is the issue?
You discover you have a cutless bearing that has become badly worn causing the prop shaft to vibrate a lot. Your holidays are about to be ruined because you have to haul out the boat to fix that, right?Why address this?
Your family or friends won't be too happy spending their holidays in a boat yard. Relationships are important, but so is the safety and smooth running of your boat. What you need is a "get out of jail free" card, and here it is.How to address this?
Go to an electricians suppliers and get a bunch of plastic cable ties. Dive down under the boat and pass these longitudinally through the failed bearing and tie them tight. This creates an emergency water lubricated bearing.
Standard cable ties available from most computer or hardware storesPhoto: Courtesy of Secure™ Cable Ties
The credit for this idea goes to a South African guy who sailed around in the Aegean for two months using this fix.
With thanks to:
Conrad - S/Y CHICAHow to replace a cutless bearing
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