Skeg Bearing

[tufty]

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.

[Keith 66]

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.

[jezza]

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.