Vesconite Bearings has produced more than 80 daggerboard casing bearings for yachts and performance boats worldwide.

This is according to marine sales representative Leanre Coetzee, who has calculated the number of daggerboards that the company has manufactured.

These specialised bearings are known for their unique rectangular design, featuring a central hole shaped like a tail-less fish. This hole accommodates the retraction or lowering of foils or daggerboards, providing smooth and reliable operation.

These bearings are commonly used in racing and high-speed cruising yachts, where their functionality enhances performance by ensuring stability as boats move quickly across the ocean, sometimes becoming flying machines with the daggerboard foils the only contact that the boat makes with the water.

Vesconite is the material of choice for daggerboard bearings due to its exceptional hardness, low-friction, dimensional stability, machineability, and tight tolerances that result in rattle-free operation.

Engineered to exacting standards, Vesconite daggerboard bearings are highly customisable. They can be profiled and include drilled holes and design details tailored to clients’ specifications.

The bearings have been manufactured in a variety of sizes, ranging from 140 mm x 64 mm x 25 mm to an impressive 1094 mm x 214 mm x 82 mm. They have been supplied to resellers, boatyards, and yacht designers across the globe, including markets in the USA, China, New Zealand, South Africa, and Europe.

“Vesconite Bearings has been producing daggerboard bearings for over a decade, and their growing popularity reflects the trust of recreational boating enthusiasts and industry professionals,” says Coetzee.

“As the company continues to innovate, with the purchase of 5-axis CNC machines that can be used to create intricate daggerboard shapes, it remains committed to delivering quality products that meet the evolving needs of the marine sector,” she notes.
Source: Vesconite Bearings