OJ XPC Strut Bushings

Although my boat still runs very smoothly with almost zero vibration at any speed, I can feel a little play in my prop shaft if I move it around by hand. With the amount of hours currently on the boat (350-450ish) and the fact that there is some play in the shaft, I'm planning on replacing the strut bushings this spring. This is a pretty involved project as it involves dropping the shaft and rudder, as well as separating the coupler from the prop shaft (single taper shaft, too). However, like most boat projects, I just can't wait to jump in and do it once it warms up around here.

I noticed that OJ offers special Vesconite strut bearings, which apparently offer longer life, less friction in the drivetrain, and increased drivetrain smoothness. They are just about the exact same price as the old rubber and brass strut bearings that would be the stock replacement on this boat, so I thought I would give them a try. At first glance they seem very solid and lightweight, and they even lack an outer brass casing- the whole thing is just solid Vesconite. They also feature 4 deep channels for water flow rather than the more numerous channels found on the rubber variants. Other than that, they look like a white strut bushing! I can't wait to get these things installed and feel what they have to offer.

I'll update this review once I install them this spring so stay tuned!

UPDATE: The strut bushings are in! They were pretty easy to install once I got the old ones out. I used a hand hacksaw to cut the old brass/rubber bearings out of the strut, and I used a length of threaded rod with fender washers and nuts to press the new ones into the strut. The boat drives noticeably smoother, and the best part is that this probably won't have to be done again for another 20 years!

XMP Bushings installed