Skeg Bearing

Has anyone used Delrin for the bottom bearing in the skeg instead of tufnol? I fancy giving it a go as I'm on a mud berth in the river Itchen. Just to try it out.

Tufnol was used originally, Delrin should also do fine for the job, bear in mind that some plasics can absorb water & swell noticeably. I had this on a yacht i built, Engineer who supplied the rudder tube & shaft fitted two nicely fitted nylon bearings, two weeks after first launching the rudder had locked solid. It was hells own job to get it out & involved lots of thumping with a big hammer. Replaced with tufnol & no problems.

Delrin is a trade name for acetal, which comes in grades approved for use with potable water. It should not swell by absorption. Personally, I'd stick with Tufnol.