Was just informed via a buyers survey (I'm the seller) that the cutlass bearing on my OC400 is simply GONE, and that the locking collar that holds the setscrews is no longer there. Not sure how this came about, but it may be related to the line in the prop last year. Not much use of the boat in the last 18 mo. but now I gotta get a 2 or 3000 dollars repair before I can sell. Any one else have a similar cutlass bearing problem and what was your solution?
Cutlass bearing repair
- Thread starter larryw
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That seems very high a price for replacing the cutlass bearing. I think Mainsail has a good article on how to replace the cutlass bearing yourself. http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/replacing_a_cutlass
and another article:
http://www.diybob.com/diyCutlessBearing.htm
and another article:
http://www.diybob.com/diyCutlessBearing.htm
I believe the OC400, as well as many other Beneteau's, doesnt have a 'strut' and the cutless is in the butt end of the stern tube. Typically the propshaft has to be removed to affect cutless bearing replacement for this configuration.
$2-3000.00 seems quite high even for such an involved job. I'd shop around as
$2000 to $3000 divided by $70 per hour = is 30 to 40 man-hours of work which is preposterous to remove a shaft and replace a cutless.
Suggest you find a good yard that is 'hungry' for work if you dont want to tackle this yourself.
$2-3000.00 seems quite high even for such an involved job. I'd shop around as
$2000 to $3000 divided by $70 per hour = is 30 to 40 man-hours of work which is preposterous to remove a shaft and replace a cutless.
Suggest you find a good yard that is 'hungry' for work if you dont want to tackle this yourself.
Most boats
On most boats it is much easier to replace the cutlass bearing with the prop shaft removed, so that should make not having a strut be no different. But that amount of money seems to me to be outrageous. The going rate here for pulling the boat is 10 bucks per foot. A cutlass bearing is well under 100 bucks. The rest is labor. Find some place else.
On most boats it is much easier to replace the cutlass bearing with the prop shaft removed, so that should make not having a strut be no different. But that amount of money seems to me to be outrageous. The going rate here for pulling the boat is 10 bucks per foot. A cutlass bearing is well under 100 bucks. The rest is labor. Find some place else.
i have a formosa 41 ketch with a cutlass bearng and shaftlog thru the hull at stern for 2-2 1/2 ft...i need to replace mine --shaft log as well as cutlass bearing--i was estimated at 8,000usd in san diego--and i was advised i can get it done much much less expensively elsewhere, so i will do that option--i only have to sail my boat 1200 miles to get to the yard i will be using for the haul. i believe the hourly rate PER WORKER in sin diego is 85 dollars per hour, that was more than a yr ago--could be up to 100 ... i am not going to support that. not everyone owning boats is filthy rich with no qualms about spending a lot of money to get things replaced/repaired. yipes...that seems to be the attitude here.
Could be me BUT im NOT seeing it happen without pulling the motor OR droping the rudder
Bothe ways take a LOT of time
Bothe ways take a LOT of time
- Dec 30, 2009
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In order to change my cutlass brg, or stuffing box, I have to pick up my engine to slide the shaft forward. It cannot come out to rear even without the trans coupler because of the rudder post. Center cockpit style, has 65" shaft, it must go forward. Great french design...If this is the case between haulin the parts it sounds a little better..Red
If I can lift the engine, I can disconnect the battery, fuel lines and water lines, disconnect the throttle and transmission cables and the connection to the instrument panel and the coupling in two or three hours. Goes back in the same. Pull the prop and the shaft and you can change the cutlass bearing. Two days labor tops for a mechanic and a helper.
Edit to add: Now in doing all of that I am bound to find other things that need attention that are going to be extra to the job.
Edit to add: Now in doing all of that I am bound to find other things that need attention that are going to be extra to the job.
Do you know what the estimate includes? Did the potential buyers come up with this number or was it an estimate you received? Do they have to drop the rudder to get the shaft out? Was there damage done to the shaft as a result of the missing coupling?
We had ours done this past off season (boat was new to us). After getting everything put back together, there was still a small amount of play between the shaft and cutlass (maybe 1/8"). Turned out the bronze shaft had worn slightly over time so we decided to replace it with SS. After everything, it added up (removing prop/cleaning, dropping rudder, new cutlass, new SS shaft, new coupling, fit and finish, engine alignment and re-assembly). Do you have to haul your boat again or is it still on the hard? I think $3K is high, but maybe half that would be reasonable depending on what's involved.
We had ours done this past off season (boat was new to us). After getting everything put back together, there was still a small amount of play between the shaft and cutlass (maybe 1/8"). Turned out the bronze shaft had worn slightly over time so we decided to replace it with SS. After everything, it added up (removing prop/cleaning, dropping rudder, new cutlass, new SS shaft, new coupling, fit and finish, engine alignment and re-assembly). Do you have to haul your boat again or is it still on the hard? I think $3K is high, but maybe half that would be reasonable depending on what's involved.
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