While working on the stuffing box, I noticed that when engine was changed, it wasn’t properly aligned and so the shaft now rests on the stern tube. As a result the tube has worn out considerably and it is so thin at the bottom there are holes in it. Since where I livethere aren't any qualified marinas and resources are limited, I thought I’d slide a three-mm-thick sleeve over the inside and glue it with 4200 or 5200, then put a sleeve on the outside, glue it and secure it with some glass work. What do you think?
Rodrigo
Tom Wood responds:
A badly worn shaft log can sink a boat in no time. You've discovered one of the greatest emergency field repair products of all time in 5200—we never leave the dock without it, some MarineTex, and underwater epoxy putty. The procedure that you've outlined sounds like it would do the trick as a temporary repair. But by all means order a replacement stern tube and install it as soon as you can. You didn't mention any damage to the prop shaft, but it probably has been worn to the point of scraping.
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