Stern tube

[abrownsmith]

I just bought a 1978 Hunter at an auction last week knowing that the shaft, prop, strut, and stern tube were all busted. At the time I just figured I would remove the shaft and glass it up and put an outboard on the back. However everyone has told me since it has a Yanmar SB-8 in it, try to fix it all. The strut is a problem no one makes them so I will need to hit the local welding shops. The prop no problem I can get that at a prop shop. The one thing that confuses me is the stern tube, I am new to this so if I am using the wrong name sorry.
The tube that connects to the stuffing box and hull is broken and I have a gaping hole in the bottom of my boat. I am wondering what this stern tube used to look like. Attached to my stuffing box now is a broken fiberglass tube and on the outside of the boat it looks like square metal flanged piece going into the hull. I guess I am wondering if anyone knows how I would go about replacing the thing. Some say it's a fiberglass tube going all the way through the hull to the stuffing box. So do I need to fiberglass a tube through the hull? Or can I use a bronze tube like they sell on some of the marine supply websites? Really I just want to know what the thing looks like because mine is so busted up. Please help, my wife is begging not to put what she calls an ugly outboard on the back.

 

[Steve Dion]

I believe that Southeastern Foundries makes the struts.

A yard can give you advise on how to repair the tube. It should be a less expensive to fix the tube than to purchase an o/b motor.

 

[abrownsmith]

Yeah and southeastern foundries doesn't make vee struts, the strut that I need.

 

[Paul F]

I had the stern tube replaced years ago by a diver. It broke in the water and almost sunk the boat. I think he got a replacement at Admiral C&B Propeller as I have seen stern tubes on their shelf. You should be able to find them in some marine stores. Here is their link, scroll down the page and you will see the underwater gear:
http://www.discountprops.com/machine_shop.htm

 

[amcmahon]

Here's a pic of '84 h27. Shows back of trans, prop shaft flange, stiffing box, ~5 inch long propshaft hose connecting stuffing box to glassed tube thru hull. Hope this helps.

 

[Bill Roosa]

Stern tubs antics

Hey abrownsmith
I'd recommend taking a look at some boats that are out of the water, on the hard. A stern tube is pretty much a stern tube. you can then have a feel for what you are getting yourself into.
don't forget to incorporate a cuttless bearing that is replacable.

 

[abrownsmith]

This is great thanks for all the help

 

[joelbus]

I had to replace the stern tube a couple of years ago. As you can see form the pictures, it broke and fortunately I caught it in time so there was no significant damage. The hard part was to take out the shaft. They had to cut a grove to allow it co come out. A new log was put in (it was in the boat when I bought it), the grove was patched and everything work fine now. I hope this helps.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Excellent photos for those who have never worked on a stern tube. A really scary problem to have.

 

[DianaOfBurlington]

I prefer to keep this as all-fiberglass as possible for as long as possible. At Cherubini we started using pre-made impregnated-'glass tubes (available in 3-ft lengths) permanently 'glassed from the prop bearing to the stuffing box. On such a boat as this with such a narrow deep keel, access is very limited. Use of the no-maintenance extended tube brings the 'business' end to within about 12" of the butt end of the engine = very ideal.

I would not replace an old system with a bronze shaft log for all the tea in China. It will only have to be replaced some day in the future. Best of all (as at Cherubini) the 'glass tube can be reinforced and totally bonded to the inside of the hull, shaped to fit, cut to fit and made effectively permanent and watertight.

See McMaster-Carr for the tubes; but there is a guy in Michigan who is cheaper.