Vesconite for prop bushings

[sdowney717]

http://vesconite.com/

Great price, I got 2 new bushings for 23 dollars a piece and 5 dollars shipping. So 51$ for 2 new bushings.
This is another new wonder material you probably never heard of.
Slippery, lasts much longer than rubber bushings and a great price.

[Thad Van Gilder]

sdowney,
You may be putting some crazy polymers on you hull, but this stuff does look to be a decent product. especially for people who haul out every winter. I Think that is what is the roughest on rubber bearings. Possibly this plastic stuff would deal with that cycling better... Not that rubber bearings don't last that long...but maybe this stuff lasts even longer.

-Thad

[carioca1232001]

sdowney,
I still need to look up the link you provided for Vesconite.
However, a somewhat unconventional and independent sailor told me that he has been machining his own POLYPROPYLENE (dirt cheap !) bushings for more than 10 years - and they outlive the nitrile rubber ones by a long shot.

[sdowney717]

Could be true, In Europe Visconite has a good reputation for durability. I was pleased with the cost factor. Price of a conventional bronze rubber bushing was close to $160 for 2, so I saved over $100 on these.
Visconite is self lubricating and in water, if the shafts are not rough will last a long time and wont wear the shafts at all. They also say the bearings can fit tighter and cuts down on vibration, dont know if that is a problem or not.

[sdowney717]

FWIW,
You can also get these setup as a sliding fit into your housing. And then simply epoxy glue or loctite them into place. Sort of makes it much easier to replace bushings instead of having to pay someone to press them out etc...