Friction and steering...
Hi Ed,
What kinda bearings are there now? Our O-34 has no separate bearings inside the tube, FWIW. We just have the usual hard-to-reach grease fittings. I do know of a '90 O-34 that had Harken bearings. They fractured and were replaced quite a few years ago -- that particular boat was sold up to the puget Sound region and the owner has not stayed in touch.
Are you looking at going with roller bearings or ball bearings?
Let us know what you find out and decide...
I have talked to the yard about converting our boat, but they say the old FRP tube has to be cut out and a larger ID tube glassed in (big $$) with room for them fancy bearing races.
Now IF you talking about the top bearing at the top of the transom, that is indeed a metal caged bearing of some sort on our boat. I can see the bottom of it from inside the back end of the boat, and just barely reach the zerk fitting, but it is quite difficult to get in there.
Can you post a picture or two?
Best,
Loren in PDX