Assistance Finding a Stern Tube/Shaft Log for a Beneteau 393

[SVBLU]

This is a follow up to my post about running over a fishing line and rotating my stern tube.

In the end, the tube was unsalvageable—it melted, twisted, and broke in half. I’m currently in the process of removing the top half. I’ve found installation instructions for a new stern tube, and while it’s a bit daunting, I’m confident I can handle it.

I’ve reached out to my local Beneteau dealer, but while I wait for a response, I wanted to check with the forum. Does anyone have a lead on where to source a new stern tube? I’m not sure if Beneteau still produces them, as their newer boats all use sail drives, but I’m hoping to get lucky.

I'm attaching photos of the lower half of the tube for your viewing please.

Best,
SV BLU

 

[jssailem]

Check out the folks at Fisheries Supply in Seattle. They will ship products just about anywhere.

 

[Davidasailor26]

It looks like you can get the tube from Beneteau through their spare parts site. You’ll need a dealer to respond to you to get access to the site, and that dealer will be the one that fulfills any order you make.

Assuming you have the Yanmar engine here’s what the part description looks like -

 

[BigEasy]

As @Davidasailor26 noted, you should be able to order a replacement through the Beneteau spare parts system through your local Beneteau dealer. Think that would be the best option. You don’t want to “reinvent the wheel” just to get it fixed. If all else fails, I did stumble across a manufacturer in Maine, RE Thomas Marine Hardware that that manufactures custom bronze & fiberglass stern tubes. They may be a valuable resource. Again, please keep us posted on your progress.

 

[SVBLU]

Thanks all. Can anyone tell me the exact dimensions of this stern tube? Or how I would go about getting them? My current tube is broken and in pieces so I'm looking for specific dimensions to send to custom fabricators. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[jssailem]

Your boat is beautiful. Is the 3 or 2 cabin model?
Your quest for design specifics may be difficult to resolve. Beneteau says 600 total were built between 2002 and 2007 and the model is discontinued. Your best bet might be to contact Beneteau to see if they have the specification for the stern tube.

If no success you will need to try and reconstruct the parts of your tube and attempt to identify the specifications from the parts. You are looking for the outer and inner circumference, and length of the tube. I would make or buy a tube that is a little long so that you can cut it down to th esize you need. Your shaft log hose ID can give you an approxmate OD for the tube.

When dealing with 23 year old boats one has to become creative.

 

[Davidasailor26]

From the brief description on the spare parts site I’m guessing the ID is 30mm, OD is 48mm, and length is 1150mm. What I’m not sure about is how the metal part of the tube joins the fiberglass and what that does to the dimensions.

 

[BigEasy]

From the brief description on the spare parts site I’m guessing the ID is 30mm, OD is 48mm, and length is 1150mm. What I’m not sure about is how the metal part of the tube joins the fiberglass

Dave,
I believe the shaft diameter on the 393 is 30mm (on my boat the shaft is 25mm)seems that the internal aspect of the stern tube would be larger than the shaft. Perhaps @SVBLU can section the damaged tube that he removed to obtain the internal diameter.

 

[jssailem]

Perhaps @SVBLU can section the damaged tube that he removed to obtain the internal diameter.

That is what I would do.

When there is a plane wreck they reconnect the parts to try a figure out what happened. This is similar.