So it's been 10yrs on Witz since I redid the drive train (Engine mounts, Cutlass bearing, damper plate, packing). It's time to replace the cutlass bearing and packing again. She gets pulled every year for the winter and runs in fairly silty mostly fresh water, I'm guessing the silt provides enough abrasion to act on the cutlass negatively. I've got the bulk head out now and engine ready to raise to get the shaft out. While sliding the shaft aft for inspection after detaching the coupling from the trany, I noticed that the original bronze shaft had considerable pitting only where the cutlass bearing contacted. This surprised me as being on a mooring and no AC any where near (solar charged). My zinc gets depraved by ~2/3 every year. I will now need to replace the shaft. Catalina direct wants ~$518 for a Aqualoy 17 (basically SS304) + faced coupling. Deep Blue Yachts wants $514 for the same except it is Aqualoy 22 (much better corrosion resistance).
So Why do I want to go with Catalina Direct?
So Why do I want to go with Catalina Direct?