I've got an engineering question.  My 1 1/2"  shaft (2 sections about 18
feet long total) is supported in 2 places by bearings that are 6' apart.
Both of these bearing have a collar that is held on to the shaft with set
screws.  How does this type of a set-up allow fore and aft movement or
isn't there enough to worry about?  The engine is soft mounted, although I
don't know how soft, and there is a coupling between the shaft and
transmission that uses 4 rubber bushings.

Terry Hoy
Meridian
Wittholz 40
Kalamazoo, MI

Terry,

If the bearing housings are strongly secured to the hull - the shaft

collars my be installed to transmit  the thrust to these mountings - thus
limiting the amount of deflection of the engine - which allow the use of the
" soft " engine mountings - which reduces the engine vibration transmitted
to the boat via the engine mounts to the stringers .

Ken