Cutless vs cutlass bearing: what's the difference?
Cutless and cutlass describe the same kind of part: a water-lubricated, rubber-lined bearing that supports a boat's propeller shaft. The difference is in the name. Cutless is a brand, and cutlass is the generic word most boat owners and yards use.
Where the names come from
Cutless is the trademark Duramax Marine uses for its Johnson Cutless bearing range. The name is often used for any bearing of this type, the way a brand name can become the everyday word for a product. Cutlass is the generic spelling, and it is the word Exalto uses for its bearings.
You will also see cutlas, cuttless and cutlass bush. Drawings and yard quotes often name the same part by where it sits instead: a stern tube bearing, strut bearing or P-bracket bearing.
The names compared
| Name | What it usually means | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| Cutless | Duramax Marine's trademark for Johnson Cutless bearings, also used loosely for any rubber-lined shaft bearing | Johnson Cutless part numbers and drawings, and everyday conversation |
| Cutlass | The generic name for a water-lubricated, rubber-lined sleeve bearing, including Exalto's | Catalogues, yard quotes and this website |
| Cutlas, cuttless | Misspellings of the two names above | Searches and forum posts |
| Stern tube, strut or P-bracket bearing | The same type of bearing, named after where it is fitted | Drawings, survey reports and yard quotes |
| Skeg bearing | Either a propeller-shaft bearing in a skeg or a bearing in the rudder assembly | Check which one before ordering: see the skeg bearing guide |
Replacing a Johnson Cutless bearing with an Exalto bearing
A matching name does not make two bearings interchangeable, and a different name does not rule one out. What matters is whether the replacement suits the installation. Compare these points before changing brands:
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Nominal shaft diameter | Each bearing is made for one shaft size, in metric or imperial units. |
| Outside diameter and its tolerance | These set the fit in the housing. Exalto sleeve bearings are made to be a light interference fit in the specified bore. |
| Length | It has to suit the housing and the support the shaft needs. |
| Shell material | Brass, phenolic, GRP and all-rubber designs suit different housings. Exalto does not recommend a brass shell fitted directly into steel or aluminium. |
| Bore tolerance | It sets the running clearance on the shaft. |
| Retention | The bearing must be held the way the housing was designed for, such as with set screws. |
| Units | Some bearings pair a metric shaft size with an imperial housing, so confirm the units of each dimension. |
Read any code on the old bearing or in the boat's paperwork, and take the three dimensions as described in the measuring guide. Then search the cutlass bearing size chart by dimension rather than by name. If you are unsure, send us the code and measurements and we will check them against the Exalto range.
The brand we sell
We sell genuine Exalto cutlass bearings made in the United Kingdom. We do not sell the Johnson Cutless range; Duramax lists it on its product range page. New to these bearings? What is a cutlass bearing? covers how they work and how to tell when one is worn.