Advantages/disadvantages of Non Metallic Cutless Bearings

[jwsbrae]

I have managed to remove my old bearing by splitting it with a sawzall and driving it out of the stern tube. It was a bronze cutless fiberglassed into a fiberglass tube.
Now I wonder whether to replace the bearing with a traditional bronze housed bearing or should I use a "non-metallic" one if it will be fiberglassed in place.
What are the advantages/disadvantages of the 2 types of cutlass bearings?

Eric

[Rockter]

Is the bearing surface not rubber anyway?

[Valiente]

I have something called a "Thordon Elastomeric Bearing" in my stern tube (no cutless bearing like a fin keeler, because it's a full-keel boat). I have had no problems with this bearing and suspect that when I install both an Aqua-Drive universal-joint coupler and a packless shaft seal, I will essentially improve the system as far as I can go.

Here's a page with a load of product PDFs and engineering specs:

http://www.thordonbearings.com/brochures.html

[Sasha_V]

I have replaced the cutless bearing with vesconite (A self-lubing plastic) and the rudder bearings as well....err...also I have made the masthead sheaves out of it...And placed washers of it into the top screws of the sheet and halyard winches to smooth their travel and keep them from popping up slightly at the cap.
Sheaves in the traveller car have been replaced with...vesconite!

Can you tell I like the stuff?

It works very well and is made by Vesco Plastics. they have websites for distributors all over the world.

Sasha