Voyages of Liberte

26 December 2012
25 March 2012
25 March 2012
25 March 2012
25 March 2012
25 March 2012
25 March 2012
25 March 2012
03 March 2012
03 March 2012
27 February 2012
27 February 2012
27 February 2012
27 February 2012
27 February 2012
27 February 2012
27 February 2012
27 February 2012
27 February 2012

Of Mark Twain and cutlass bearings

03 December 2010
I have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.
- Mark Twain

I'm with Capt. Clemons on this one. I've had more nightmares about cutlass bearings - reading the literature made them sound like you'd have to tear the boat apart to get 'em out or in. I know for a fact my friend Pete had to drop his rudder - and dig a big hole to do so. The online chatter was ominous. I sweated this thing no end.

Turns out like many things, it's not quite what you'd expect. And in the case of replacing Liberte's cutlass bearing, that's a good thing. Boom, off came the prop, bang, out came the old bearing, wham, in went the new one.
Thank you naval architects Berret-Racoupeau and Beneteau for that. For a boy who'd just like to get his boat in the water, it's nice to cross that one off the list.

Why replace it? 10 years on the original part, and a bit of play in the prop shaft. There was also some shimmy in reverse. New part was $33 and a quick bit of work in the boatyard.

Another day in "boat school" - escuala de barco.

We launch at high tide.
Comments
Vessel Name: Liberte
Vessel Make/Model: Beneteau 361
Hailing Port: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, USA
Crew: David and Rebecca Kilmer
About: We circumnavigated Vancouver Island in 2009 and then headed south "where the weather suits our clothes." We're cruising the warm waters in season, always interested in the next new port of call.
Extra: Here's where we are: http://goo.gl/uI4dST

Who: David and Rebecca Kilmer
Port: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, USA