Compac 27/2 Cutless Bearing Question

[Connie Meadows]

Hi All.  I purchased my 1988 27/2 Compac in Sept. 03 and love my boat.  She and I have become best friends.  I currently have her out of the water getting a new bottom job and the boat yard has advised that her cutless bearing needs replaced.  The problem is they have not seen one like this and are not sure how to get it off to replace.  They say they cannot get to the bolts. Does anyone have any knowledge regarding this issue that can steer me in the right direction for these guys?  
Thanks So Much.  She will only be out of the water about another week.
Connie

[spaul]

Hi Connie, I too have a new to me 27/2. When I bought her the surveyor found the cutlass bearing worn as well. Boston Boat Works did the work and the mechanic was Niger who is terrific. That said, why don't you call ComPac in Clearwater and discuss with them. If you need it I can send you here or offline the names and emails etc for Boston Boat Works. They are terrific people. I do remember they had to order the parts as you say they were'nt quite off the shelf in their parts inventory. Do have it fixed, if bad enough the prop and shaft will come out when you go into reverse leaving the bilge pump to run until the batteries go dead.
I can send pictures of mine, she is out of the water for the winter but I do know that 4 bolts hold the bearing into the keel from the propeller side. It appears they just fasten into the keel. If I'm wrong I'd like to know if anyone disagrees.
Gerry Hutchins can and will help you find the right person for this. Go to the Com Pac web site or email him at  Gerry945@gate.net  , the phone number is 727-443-4408. I just found Boston Boat Works # it is:
Mike Moes, 617-561-9111 or email him at mikem@bostonboatworks.com. Mention my name and boat if you need to, he's a great guy with a great team.
Steve
cp27/2 "IM PAUL SIVE"

[Connie Meadows]

Steve thank you very much for the information.  I will contact Compac and if need be, then also contact your people.   He told me it would probably make it at least 1 more yr, however, while it is out of the water, I would prefer to have it done.
Being in Florida, I have the advantage of sailing year around.  Pixie Dust stays in the water and I do not have to go through the withdraws of having her on land for a few months.  Bet you spend a lot of time looking at Sailing Magazines.  Thank you again for your response.
Connie

[spaul]

You're welcome Connie. Yes, lots of sailing mags in my house. What to do with them is a problem.
I had to replace my shaft since my bearing had been bad for awhile before I bought the boat. Recommend you change it as soon as possible to avoid extra expense. Good luck. Be sure to let me know what you find, all of this is just extra knowledge to this great forum. By the way, what year is your boat?
Steve

[Connie Meadows]

She is a 1988. The previous owners took very good care of her so she is in excellent condition.  They found some blisters on the keel when I had her pulled for the bottom job.  The boat yard doing the work will be closing end of Dec, so I opted to leave them alone for now, since they were on the keel and it is concrete.  They seemed to think this would not be a problem.  Have you had any problems with blisters on yours?
It had been 5 yrs since her bottom had been done and she was amazingly clean.  Only barnacles were on the bottom 4 " of keel where occas. with low tide, that area is in the mud.
I will let you know outcome.  I have sent Gerry an email and left a Compac dealer here in town a message too.
Thanks again.
Connie

[spaul]

Hi Connie, I've not had problems with blisters yet. Fortunately my bottom has an epoxy barrier coating applied long before I bought the boat. Do have your blisters fixed when you can and barrier coat the bottom. Anxious to hear how your bearing comes out.
Steve

[matt]

Last Fall when my brothers 27-2 1987 came out of the water I saw the shaft seal was rotted out and the shaft would wobble about an 1/8 of an inch from side to side....He also always has some water in the bilge.
I have taken off the prop and removed both of the bolts holding the silver cover with the seal. My thought was that silver cap would be a seperate piece but when I started pulling it off the cap appeared to be inserted into the hull a good six inches. That is where I stopped removing it and went on board and looked in and saw that I was sliding the drive shaft out along wth the cap with the seal. I was easy able to slide it back in.  I now sense he needa a whole new cutlass bearing which is actually the cap I am trying to remove or does anyone know if the seal can be replaced seperatly...It runs just fine. Is 1/8 inch play telling me he needs a new cutlass bearing?

[spaul]

Yes,
The cutless bearing can actually be removed without taking the shaft tube off the boat. Since you've broken any seal there I suggest you remove the shaft tube.
Remove the packing behind the transmission or in front of the tube. Then remove the two bolts and the prop. Slide out the shaft tube and then replace the cutless bearing. You can find many books on how to do the cutless bearing but there are only two easy ways.
1. using a hacksaw blade cut perpendicular and from the insid to score the cutless bearing brass portion. Then use a screwdriver or small chisel to drive it towards the center and then it should slide out.
2. Use a puller to pull the bearing out of the shaft.
I suggest Nigel Caulder's book "Boat Owner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual". It is excellent and covers practically all questions you might have on many, many subjects including this one.
Yes, when the bearing wears out the pro starts wobbling and it can only cost more money in the end. Replace it now.

Regards,
Steve
cp27/2 Nashville, IN