Speak to me David - smooth-sil for bearing mount?

[Timothy L]

Mounting an oil-lite bearing in the “narrow pointy” stern of my Virginia can be done by meticulously carving from a hard styrene block. I am in that process now. However I see the resident luddite posting about a “Smooth-sil” product on FB to make small parts.
Would this product be applicable to “pour in place” in order to lock a stern bearing in place? I suppose it could be done just as easily by pouring some thickened West Systems epoxy around the bearing. However, I am curious if there are better products, more suitable than carving or pouring resin, to set pieces in place. If this question is unclear, no worries, I will go back to the drawing board lol. Thank you.
Tim

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Mounting an oil-lite bearing in the “narrow pointy” stern of my Virginia can be done by meticulously carving from a hard styrene block. I am in that process now. However I see the resident luddite posting about a “Smooth-sil” product on FB to make small parts.
Would this product be applicable to “pour in place” in order to lock a stern bearing in place? I suppose it could be done just as easily by pouring some thickened West Systems epoxy around the bearing. However, I am curious if there are better products, more suitable than carving or pouring resin, to set pieces in place. If this question is unclear, no worries, I will go back to the drawing board lol. Thank you.
Tim

No, pal. Smooth-Sil is tool making rubber. What you need is a rock-solid, stiff conforming resin. Epoxy laminating resin is perfect for this. What you're trying to accomplish is the 'in-place' encapsulation of the stern propeller shaft bearing. Look at the pretty pictures:

[Timothy L]

Gott it. In these two photos - am I looking at a stuffing box? Possibly the second photo shows the tube being used temporarily as a placeholder?
Thank you Daviid

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Yes, the tube is temporary. It is greased up and shimmed to run along the hulls longitudinal axis. The two bearings slide into place then the resin poured. Once the foundation is cured -- encapsulating the two bearing and forming the bore between then -- the tube is yanked out.