Thomas,
There was no insult intended, only good advice. Building or restoring a boat
will involve a lot of learning and gathering of skills you probably do not
have yet, but to do that is a lot of fun, if you can afford the time
investment and I wish you all the success possible. On your original
question, a cutlass bearing is a metal tube with a fluted rubber insert
through which a propeller shaft extends. Typically this bearing is supported
by a strut which is fastened to the bottom of the hull. Cutlass bearings are
"Limited Duty" bearings found mostly in inboard engined pleasure boats. They
must be lubricated by water flow, hence their mounting in struts in clear
open water. They may also be mounted in the deadwood of full keel boats, but
if mounted there, some provision must be made to provide adequate water
flow. This can be done by scoops or by engine driven pump as by the outlet
of an engine heat exchanger. Commercial craft typically use oil or grease
lubed plain bearings. Cutlass bearings will wear the propeller shaft, so
they are rarely used in commercial craft. Stuffing boxes are used where the
shaft enters the hull. They very often are mounted in a rubber bellows which
makes them self aligning, but they can be mounted hard to the hull as well.
They are not designed to provide bearing function only that of a water seal.
Very often there will be a grease fitting or oil feed arrangement to keep
them lubed. They too will wear the propeller shaft, so they are not used in
modern commercial craft. The modern replacement device for this function is
a ceramic face, spring loaded water seal, which only require occasional
inspection. The cutlass bearing or equivalent, provides propeller shaft
support at the propeller end. Typically the inboard end of the propeller
shaft is supported by the tail bearing of the marine gearbox. This bearing
also provides propeller thrust support as well by transferring drive force
to the engine mounts. This bearing must be oil lubed and cooled. In some
craft there will be a separate bearing mounted firmly to the hull that
provides the thrust function, but they will be separately oiled and cooled.
If used, it allows the engine to be mounted on vibration absorbing flexible
mounts for sound isolation reasons. I hope this explanation helps.
Steve


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

"Steve Lusardi" wrote in message
...
Tom,
I have been watching your other posts as well as this one and it is
pretty clear you are in the beginning stages of consideration for boat
ownership. I'm going to lay out some facts of life you probably won't
want to read, but do need to know.

1) Building a boat is not cheaper than buying one.
2) Owning a boat, using a boat, insuring a boat, establishing a place for
a boat is expensive.
3) Boat maintenance will take most of your free time.
4) If you are married, a boat will be the least popular thing you could
undertake with your other half.
5) The boat hull is 20% of the investment.
6) The majority of boat building attempts fail. The larger the boat, the
greater the failure rate.
7) Number one reason for failure in building is underestimating the total
cost in both money and time.

There are more, but your posts indicate to me that you do not have the
available money, the skills or the tools to either build or own a boat in
the class you are considering. Building a boat is very rewarding and I do
not wish to discourage you, but reality is alive and well. My advise to
you is to build a small day boat first. Get your feet wet. Failure is
affordable and success is just as sweet.
Steve


"Thomas Wentworth" wrote in message
news:huBtf.1992$zJ3.65@trnddc04...
If you know a good site for info about this part of boat ??

Or, can you explain it here.

So far I know ,,,, hole in boat for shaft to go through from engine.
Is the cutlass bearing what lets the shaft turn and not let the water
in?

What and where is the stuffing box?



------------------------------------------

Dear Steve ,,,,,,,,,, oh contraire, my friend. I have actually owned and
sailed three [3] full keel, sailboats.

In fact, one of them was quite famous. But ............... and here is
the BUT part ;;; it was 20 plus years ago.

I think I have forgotten more than I ever knew. As I look into returning
to the high seas, I find that certain aspects of boat owning, maintenace,
repair, operation, cost, etc have either changed dramatically or I can't
remember the method, or procedure to follow. In some cases, such as the
Cutlass Bearing ... I just never had to deal with it as the marina did the
maintenance. That is one difference now; I plan on doing most of my own
work. I have the time ...

I also have two sons who are interested in sailing. At least today they
are.

As for the money ... to be honest, I could go out and purchase a sailboat.
I don't wish to. Why? I want to do it my way. I want things set up for
me. I want a boat that reflects my personal approach to life. I have
been on the fancy piece of fiberglass with all the blocks and sails and
the gear that never gets used. I've sat on boats that never leave the
harbor. I've talked to owners who think of sailing as writing a check.
Ever hear of the New York Yacht Club.

They are to be avoided at all cost. When Wall st goes sailing
................ you don't want to be there.

So,,,, before you make assumptions ..................

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 ....

I'm almost ready for my first "MARINA BILL"..


TALLY HO.