"Edgar" wrote in message
...

"Capt. JG" wrote in message
easolutions...
Well, it's been 3 years and the diver who checked it for me said it
felt
fine. I'll check it myself, but I'm pretty sure it's ok. There's no
vibration I can feel on the wheel.

It's one of those things that are better replaced before they need it.



While true, I'm not going to replace something that is perfectly fine.
I've seen boats that had some play in the bearing, that went another
three years on the advice of the yard manager in agreement with a
surveyor, the former of whom who certainly had incentive to change it.

If you are not using the boat in sandy water these bearings should give
very little trouble but if your boat is cleaned by a diver you should make
sure he knows that it is vital that all marine growth that might impede
the free flow of water through the slots on the cutlass bearing should be
carefully removed and that in doing so he does not push any of the crud
into those slots.

True enough... The SF bay is mostly mud (and rocks). I don't have the bottom
cleaned between haulouts. It just isn't necessary. I'll know when it gets
hauled the extent of the growth, but the diver thought it looked pretty
good. He didn't charge me for looking, since he was right next door.

I'm getting excited to see her in a sling. I'm going to vid the haul if I
can remember to bring the camera.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com