Del, At 07:28 03/13/2001 -0800, you wrote: >------------------------------------------------- > >Many years ago -- even before Joe's and my time, back during the steamship >age -- lignum vitae was used to fabricate the shaft and thrust bearings >for propeller shafts. It was impervious to water -- its density is >something like 1.05+ and has quite a lot of natural oil which protects it >from decay and deterioration under water. Not that many years ago, Del. The last ship I was on, built in 1961, had lignum vitae bearings in the propeller struts. (The ones underwater just in front of the props) I saw them when we were in drydock. The inboard shaft bearings were babbitt (metal). I doubt that the thrust bearings were wood. There would be no reason to be since they are also inboard. Ours were in the engine room between the reduction gears and the aft bulkhead. Thrust bearings back at the prop would tend to lift the stern. Conrad Hoffsommer - Music Technician -mailto:hoffsoco@luther.edu Luther College, 700 College Drive, Decorah, Iowa 52101-1045 Voice-(319)-387-1204 // Fax (319)-387-1076(Dept.office) Education is the best defense against the media.
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