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Lots :
I think you are wrong on the rudder needing to come off to take out the prop shaft. Typically, there is a wee cut-away in the rudder to allow the prop shaft to come out. Classically, you don't need to take out the prop shaft in order to change the cutlass bearing.... if you take off the prop, the cutlass bearing just slides over the end of the prop shaft.
Even if the prop shaft could come out with the rudder on there, you normally have a big propshaft coupling on the inboard end of the propshaft, and you have to get that off first. I don't think you have to though.
What is commonly called the "stern tube" is vital to the prop shaft being supported. Don't let anyone take a hacksaw to it. The stern tube is normally threaded on its outboard end and on my ship, a big bronze plate threads to that. On other ships, there is a wee housing on there that holds the cutlass bearing.
Have you got a wee picture?
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