Steve Lusardi wrote:
Paul,
I must admit that I am confused. Stern tube? Cutless bearing? They do not go
together. The cutless bearing goes into a P bracket which supports the
propeller end of the shaft. I have assumed that this is center fin design
and if it is, the propeller is positioned between the fin and the rudder. In
that design, the stern tube supports a packing gland only, not a cutless
bearing. Please keep in mind that water flow lubricates a cutless bearing,
which dictates that the forward end of the bearing is exposed to the sea. If
your hull design dictates a propeller at the rear of the fin, then you must
use a grease lubed conventional bearing on the sea end of the stern tube.

Must take exception to the above.

My hull is a fin keel design if you want to call a 21 ft long keel a fin.

The stern tube exits the rear of the keel and contains the cutlass.

The stuffung box has a water injection port.

Cooling water from the raw water pump supplies positive pressure raw
water to the stuffing box to keep the stern tube filled and the cutlass
bearing lubricated.

HTH

Lew