Corrosion-resistant rod ends in the rowing rods

When building the Seascape 24, the engineers orientated themselves on single-handed offshore racers with easy handling, among other things. The steering system has twin rudders that allow full control even at high speeds. A reliable connection between the tiller, drive shaft and rudders is required for the steering to function precisely. The connecting parts each had to enable 3D movement with minimum friction, high service life and maximum zero clearance. Metal spherical plain bearings were out of the question for the engineers. The problem here: They corrode on contact with salt water, seize up, increase the load and wear out the connecting pins, which leads to more clearance in the system. On top of this, there is a risk of rust dripping out and permanently staining the white cockpit floor.

At igus®, the engineers found the best technical and cost-effective solution: igubal ® spherical plain bearings from the KARM series. They are made entirely of high-performance plastic, are corrosion-free and ideally suited for use in wet environments, with salt water, weak acids and alkalis. The housing is made of a particularly robust, long fibre-reinforced polymer. The spherical ball made of iglidur® W300 material is characterised by the lowest coefficient of friction and extremely low stick-slip tendency. The bearing works reliably, with very low backlash and without additional lubrication. This saves time and effort for maintenance.