Propeller Shaft Bearings
Water lubricated rubber lined bearings for prop shafts and rudder shafts. Shaft Bearings are designed to be water lubricated and are also known as Cutlass Bearings or Cutless Bearings. They are installed in the stern tube, or bearing housing and support the propeller shaft.
The Drive Force range of water lubricated shaft bearings includes:
Naval Brass cased shaft bearings
GRP cased shaft bearings (non metallic)
Special shaft bearings for Beneteau & Jeanneau yachts
Water lubricated shaft bearings are available, made from a synthetic nitrile rubber inner with a naval brass case or GRP case. These traditional bearings are suitable for most general purpose marine applications. Beneteau and Jeanneau shaft bearings consist of a rubber sleeve with a collar at one end with no outer casing.
Modern materials and advances in cathodic protection have enabled boat builders to select the bearing material most suited to the application. Most bearing inner liners are made of tough synthetic nitrile rubber for best all round performance. Vetus shaft bearings are lined with polyurethane rubber. Other materials are available to order. A new brass shell shaft bearing should have a clearance of 0.15mm per 25mm of shaft (0.006" per 1" of shaft). The casing of GRP shaft bearings or composite cased shaft bearings will not swell.