" - Someone mentioned that since only the outside bearing is
covered by the Buddy, that the back (inside) bearings are
still open to getting water into them. Is that right and if so
is there some solution to that?

It isn't the "bearing" that has the bearing buddy, it is the hub. The
whole point of the bearing buddy is that it pressurizes the entire hub via
the spring loaded plunger. As long as there is a positive pressure inside
the hub, water will not leak in.

It is the seal on the axel that must hold this pressure, and this is where
the system may eventually fail. Over a period of years, the seal will
eventually lose its ability to hold the pressure for very long and then
things get to be a greasy mess. A seal in good shape will allow the bearing
buddies to hold pressure for multiple trips. When it gets to the point that
you have to regrease the system just before you launch it is time to
consider changing the seal.

Which brings up a good point: if the plunger on the bearing buddies isn't
pumped up when you back the trailer into the water, it won't be doing its
job. Carry the grease gun with you, and check the bearing buddies just
before you back down the ramp.



- Someone else mentioned Oil Filled bearings. I am looking at
a picture of one in the West catalog. What are the pluses &
minuses of this (other than price which I can figure)?


Pluses: An good oil bath will definately keep the bearings better
lubricated and would also provide better cooling.

Minuses: A contaminated oil bath does NOT do a good job lubricating the
bearing. Having all the oil leak out doesn't lubricate the bearings at
all.

When you back the trailer into the water there are two things that will
create a pressure differential between the inside of the hub and the
surrounding water. The first is simply the depth, which will be about 1/2 a
PSI per foot of water depth. The second is the fact that the hubs could be
hot, and the water is cold, causing the air inside the hubs to contract. It
is certainly possible that you could end up with a couple of PSI pressure
differential. If the seal leaks, water gets in.

Rod