jwalka51
Captain
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2012
- Posts
- 903
- Likes
- 436
- Location
- Newport R.I.
- Boat Make
- 26' Webber Cove lobster boat.
I have a 26 webber cove lobster boat that I recently bought and am in the process of doing allot of work on. My engine is all the way up forward down below in the cabin so the shaft is just over 11' long. I have done away with the 1-3/8" shaft that came with the boat and have purchased a 1-1/2" shaft and all the hardware to go along with it. It currently has a pillow block just in front of the stuffing box. I want to get rid of the pillow block but I feel that the shaft needs some kind of support in the middle. So I am wondering if just adding a second cutlass at the inboard end of the shaft tube is the answer. Some people have told me that this is normally the way that it would be but I just want some more in put before I go ahead with it. I have purchased a two bolt, gland style stuffing box and have added a 1/4" hose barb to it that will be fed from my raw water before the heat exchanger, So I don't feel that lubrication/cooling of the second cutlass will be an issue. The only downside that I can see is that I will have a second cutlass to change when the time comes. Can you guys shed some light on this issue for me??? I'm just not sure if I am doing the right thing. Any help would be appreciated.