I've also been confused by the term, but I have seen it applied to the
strut/bearing carrying the shaft outboard of the hull.

Roger

http://home.insightbb.com/~derbyrm

"Thomas Wentworth" wrote in message
news:iJStf.2010$WX3.1725@trndny09...

snip

Now ............ back to the Cutlass Bearing ...

Let's see ,,, the shaft goes through a shaft log,,, and it is held in
place by a Cutlass Bearing and then there is the stuffing box ....