"Cutless" or "Cutlass" bearing?

[SailormanDan]

I need the wisdom of the crowd: What is the correct spelling of the bearing that is in the strut near the end of my prop shaft that allows the shaft to spin freely? I've always spelled it with an "e", cutless, but I've also seen it spelled with an "a", cutlass. Google is no help, there are actually pages where it is spelled both ways on the same page by reputable sites.
My apologies in advance if I've opened up a can of worms here.

 

[SailormanDan]

And maybe "sleeve bearing" would skip the agonizing...
I like this link: http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?292702-CUTLASS-or-CUTLESS-BEARING
...and I guess answered my own question.
Thanks everybody!

 

[py26129]

Here is a link to Mainesail's article:

Replacing a Cutlass Bearing (Sleeve Bearing)

"Before we move on I should address the issues of the words cutlass vs. Cutless®. The word Cutless® is a registered trademark of Duramax Marine® LLC. It is a BRAND NAME for a sleeve or stave bearing."

 

[shemandr]

Then what is the correct spelling for the small sword?

 

[DAVA390]

Dagger?

 

[MitchM]

it is in fact spelled as cutless bearing not a cutlass bearing. my source may be biased however: my hundreds of back issues of the british sailing mag, 'practical boat owner' has a number of articles about cut less bearings and none about cut lass bearings. (i've been subscribing to that mag since the 80's on the off chance i will ever need articles about how to cast my own replacement lead keel on a beach in a sand mold, from melting many kilos of old 'tyre' weights...)

 

[Gene Neill]

Cutless

 

[justsomeguy]

Cutlass.

 

[Johnb]

My understanding is it is a cutless bearing because it is designed to not cut into the shaft.

Off topic but once upon a time the shaft log was literally a wooden log, the grain being oriented parallel to the shaft and designed to soak up water, expand and fit the shaft snugly whilst being cooled and lubricated by the water.

 

[Ted]

"Cutlass" that's the way Oldsmobile spelled it.
Actually I've seen it spelled both ways by the companies who manufacture those bearing thingies.

 

[SailormanDan]

@py26129 - Thanks for the link!
The link I found also talks about the registered trademark, I'm going to use "sleeve bearing" to avoid any confusion, or get dinged for trademark infringement.

 

[Ron20324]

Then what is the correct spelling for the small sword?

My Websters says cutlass for a short, thick, curved sword.

 

[Ron20324]

.... my source may be biased however: my hundreds of back issues of the british sailing mag, ...

You can't go by the British magazines. Crimy, they don't even speak English A neighbor is from London, and sometimes he uses some weird sailing terms that I am used to , so translate them to other folks.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

I spelled it "cutlass" for years...until a marine surveyor friend who was a stickler for the correct spelling, pronunciation and terminology of everything nautical told me "cutless" is the correct spelling.

Another term that's often misspelled is "gunwale," pronounced "gunnel." You'll see it spelled "gunwhale" by people who at least try to get it right, but more often spelled as it's pronounced.

And then there's "saloon" vs. "salon." "Saloon," originally defined as "the public area on a ship," was the correct term for any similar area on a boat until the 1980s when boatbuilders started building floating condos instead of boats. They didn't think the buying public was smart enough to know that "saloons" aren't only places that sell booze and starting calling it a "salon."

 

[shemandr]

So since the 80's you can get a mani-pedi on board?

 

[Maine Sail]

I would suggest reading the link in post #3.

Vetus Cutlass Bearing

Vetus has been calling them "cutlass" bearings for decades and despite Duramax challenging them that cutlass is too close to their branded trade name Cutless®, Vetus still calls their bearings Cutlass bearings...