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Article: Shafts and bearings.(propeller shafts and bearings)
- Article from:
- Yachting
- Article date:
- September 1, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 Bonnier Corporation. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The straight story on the tail end of your propulsion system
Hidden away under the boat, propeller shafts and bearings are easy to ignore until something goes wrong. They don't take much maintenance, but can't be totally forgotten either. Shafts corrode and break, and bearings wear out eventually, so when the boat's hauled out, or you're diving, take a moment to inspect the underwater hardware that gets you there.
The two most common causes of shaft failure are breakage and corrosion. Breakage usually occurs when the propeller strikes something, but can also take place in open water under full power. The break is often just forward of the propeller, and ...