Polymer Bearings
Elastomeric Polymer Water-Lubricated Bearing Systems
Thordon bearings are trusted worldwide for their reliability, long wear life, quiet operation and being pollution-free. They have approved certificates for all major classification societies including; Lloyds, DNV, ABS, BV, RINA and more.
​
Made from a durable elastomeric polymer, they perform exceptionally well even in abrasive conditions.
​
Thordon offers a range of water-lubricated systems — COMPAC, XL, SXL, Thorplas and Composite — ideal for propeller shafts, rudders, and deck equipment in new builds, refits, or repairs.
​
Our team is available to assist with measuring, bearing design and installation.
​
We supply Thordon to many other industries including Watercare, Waste Water Treatment, Water Pumps , Hydro-power generation, Forestry , Earthworks.
​​​​​​​​
Click the links below to see more information:
We carry a large range of raw Thordon tubes so can machine most sizes at short notice:
Propeller Shaft (Cutless) Bearings
Pleasurecraft (all types), Commercial, Navy, Super Yachts:​
​​​
Thordon SXL bearings are high-performance, water-lubricated polymer bearings designed for propeller shaft applications where low friction, quiet operation and long service life are critical.
​
Manufactured from a homogeneous, wear-resistant material, SXL bearings offer excellent abrasion resistance, dimensional stability, and consistent performance under high load and low-speed operating conditions.
​
Their oil-free operation makes them well suited to commercial and workboat installations seeking reliable shaft support with reduced maintenance and environmental impact.
​
​
​
​
 SXL bearing installed on a high-speed Sports-Fisher |  Housings machined and bearings installed for this Workboat |  All machining done on Henleys CNC lathes |
|---|---|---|
 SXL bearings supplied with 2205 SS housing sleeves |  SXL custom bearings |  SXL in Super yacht |
 Flanged gluefit SXL bearings |  SXL sleeved with Henleys Easiflow GRP |  Split bearing |
 Split bearing |  |  |
 |  |  |
COMPAC bearings
Commercial, Navy, Super Yacht and Workboat applications:​
​​
Thordon COMPAC bearings are water-lubricated elastomeric polymer bearings widely used for propeller shaft support.
​
COMPAC designed bearing can be installed in a 2:1 length to shaft diameter ratio where as a standard SXL prop shaft bearing would in 4:1 in the same location. Because of this these bearings are very well suited to larger diameter shafts.
​
Designed for high load capacity and long service life, they operate without oil or grease and are suitable for both new installations and retrofits.
​
​
​
​
 Ready to be installed with Liquid Nitrogen |  Full set of COMPAC |  Machining is done in our workshop on CNC lathes and milling machines. |
|---|---|---|
 P bracket installed |  P bracket installed |  Sterntube installed |
Installation videos
Henleys offer all of the equipment as part of our "Liquid Nitrogen Install kit".
- 4L or 10L liquid nitrogen dewar (container).
- Poly box.
- Cryo-gloves.
Henleys sell suitable marine 2 pot epoxy glue.
​
​
Reliability, long wear life and superior customer service have made Thordon Bearings the first choice for pollution-free, water-lubricated propeller shaft, rudder and deck equipment bearing solutions for repair, conversion or new build projects around the globe.
​​
Thordon is an elastomeric polymer that provides exceptional wear life, particularly in abrasive operating conditions. Thordon’s proven performance in vertical pumps led to its very successful adaptations as propeller shaft and rudder bearings.
​​
Thordon’s open, water lubricated system choices are COMPAC, XL, SXL and composite; each offering specific advantages in different environments.
Thordon’s grease-free rudder bearing systems are operating smoothly and pollution-free on thousands of vessels around the world.
​​​
Thordon SXL (off white) has excellent dry start capability and a lower coefficient of friction than the other Thordon elastomeric grades.
-
Low coefficient of friction (typically 01.0 – 0.20)
-
Higher dry PV (Pressure Velocity) rating than XL
-
Higher resistance to abrasion than XL in wet applications; good abrasion resistance operating dry
-
Dry start up capability as a vertical pump bearing
-
High resistance to shock loading and vibration
Thordon XL (Black) is used in a variety of industrial applications and has similar abrasion resistance compared to SXL
-
Low coefficient of friction (typically 0.2 – 0.25)
-
High resistance to abrasion in dry applications
-
High resistance to shock loading and vibration
Thordon Compac (orange) is a premium and lowest friction bearing for Marine blue water applications in propeller tail shaft bearings.
-
Smooth quiet operation at all speeds
-
No high frequency squeal common with rubber bearings at low shaft RPM’s like trolling speeds
-
Lubricants in the polymer formulation reduce start up friction
-
Absorb more misalignment and deflection from impact than other materials
-
Available in a wide variety of sizes to suit size housings or shafts
Thorplas® (blue) is a non-elastomeric, homogenous material developed by Thordon specifically as a full form high pressure bearing.
-
Maximum dynamic working pressure to 31.0 MPa (4500psi); static pressures up to 45.0 MPa (6500 psi)Thorplas®
-
Easily machined without affecting low coefficient of friction (typically 0.1 – 0.17)
-
Very low wear in non-abrasive environments
-
Maximum continuous service temperatures of 80°C in water and 110°C dry
-
Excellent dry start capability as vertical pump bearing
-
Reasonable abrasion resistance – less than Thordon elastomeric grades, but better than bronze, epoxy phenolics and many other non-metallic bearing materials
-
Improved chemical resistance in most chemical product categories compared to elastomeric grades
Thordon Composite (yellow shell, black wear surface is GM2401) is a two-component bearing formulated specifically for use in very abrasive environments.
-
Used in rotating applications in abrasive water conditions such as pump and dredge bearings
-
Outstanding abrasive resistance – two more times that of rubber
-
Significantly lower coefficient of friction than rubber
-
Higher resilience and stiffness than rubber
-
Available either yellow polymer or metal bearing shells
Thordon HPSXL (grey) is designed for higher pressure applications as the bearing component in HPSXL TRAXL bearings (HPSXL bonded in a metallic shell)
-
Maximum dynamic working pressure to 15.0 MPa (2175 psi) in limited motion as a homogeneous materialThordon HPSXL
-
HPSXL TRAXL has maximum dynamic working pressure to 55.0 MPa (8000) psi in limited motion
-
Lowest coefficient of friction (typically 0.6 – 0.12)
-
Moderately abrasion resistant (lower abrasion resistance than XL or SXL)
-
High resistance to shock loading and vibration
Pump Bearings
​Why use Thordon Pump Bearings?
-
Long Wear Life & High Abrasion Resistance
-
Dry Start-up Capability
-
Low Friction – No “Stick-Slip”
-
Fully Customizable for Any Shaft and Housing Combination
-
Easily Installed with Freeze Fit, Press Fit, or Bonded Fit
-
High Resilience & Impact Resistance
-
Reduced Starting Torque
-
Easy & Safe To Machine
​
​
​
Benefits for pump operators:​​
-
Long wear life and lower maintenance costs mean predictable, lower life-cycle costs
-
Self Lubrication allows dry start-up for bearings, eliminating pre-lubrication systems
-
Global availability provides superior customer service and quick turnaround
-
Full system bearing design and technical support including sizing, machining, installation and
after-sales service -
ThorPlas-White has been listed by the NSF International Certification and WRAS for
NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 Drinking Water System Components, as well as is classified as an
accepted material by CFIA.
​
Benefits to pump manufacturers:
-
Fully Customizable: To suit any shaft and housing combination
-
Dry Start-up Capability: Allows elimination of pre-lubrication systems
-
Sizing Flexibility: Provides an easy design experience
-
Easy to Machine: No harmful dust
-
Easy to Install: Freeze fit, press fit or bond fit.
-
Thordon material is homogeneous – easily machined to suit shaft and housing sizes
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
XL Propeller Shaft Bearings – are available in a full range of shafts from 3/4″ to 40″. These bearings have their water grooves moulded in. They are designed as direct replacements for bronze/rubber Cutless type bearings. XL Propeller shaft bearings are available fully-finished, ready to install,and semi-finished for machining to suit specific shaft and housing dimensions. Semi-finished bearings are designed with a small amount of extra material on the inside and outside so that they can be machined to accommodate minor variations in shaft and housing dimensions. Rudder Bearings are available in tubular form up to 40″ diameter in either XL of SXL grades. Thordon rudder bearings have provided superior performance to conventional materials such as bronze of phenolic resins in VLCC’s, bulk carriers, container ships, and many other types of vessels. SXL is the recommended grade if the bearings will run dry under certain vessel loading conditions, of if design pressure is more than 500 psi. (3.45 N/mm²
THORDON XL bearing
installed in Henley’s
EASIFLOW tube.
Composite Bearings are especially designed for extremely dirty conditions such as river boat propeller shafts and suction cutter head bearings on dredges. Composite bearings have proven their ability to last at least twice as long as any conventional bearing material in the worst operating conditions. Thordon Composite Bearings have proven their value on some of the world’s largest dredges, and on tugs or tow boats in silt laden rivers such as the Rhine and Moselle in Europe, and the Mississippi in the USA.
Compac Bearings – Thordon Bearings Inc. research department spent several years studying propeller shaft bearing design for water lubricated operations. The result was Compac. Compac features a length diameter ratio of 2:1, half of the standard bearing length. It also features the low friction SXL grade, and special groove design with no grooves on the bottom for better hydrodynamic film generation. The result is a cost effective bearing with significant low friction performance advantages. Builders of sport and racing boats around the world are beginning to specify Compac because of its unique low friction advantages. To read more about compac bearings please follow this link, “Thordon helping to catch Marlin in sports fishing yachts”.
​
Henley’s Propellers recently received an award from Thordon for its innovation of the Kiwi Shaft Seal. Please visit our site for more info www.kiwishaftseal.com.
Our bearing expert Vic Dempsey pictured in alarge compact bearing destined for one of NZ’s Navy frigates
Largest Sloop Ever Uses Thordon
Mirabella V will break new technological barriers as the largest single masted yacht ever constructed. With a carbon mast nearly 90 m (300 ft.) high,the sailing yacht will be built in composite materials that will stun the world in both looks and performance. American yachtsman Joe Vittoria formerly CEO and Chairman of Avis (car rentals) has commissioned UK warship builder, Vosper Thornycraft Shipbuilding to build the 75.2m (245ft) long super yacht. Because of the vessel’s size, much of the machinery and many of the fittings of the yacht have been developed uniquely for Mirabella V. One of the biggest production challenges was the custom built retractable keel designed by Ron Holland Design of Ireland. The keel weighs 150 tonnes (330,600 lbs.) with a 6m (20ft) reach and is raised by a powerful hydraulics in order to reduce the vessel’s draught. The seven minute cycle to hoist the keel to its up position reduces the draft to 4m (13 ft.) allowing the vessel to go anywhere a 25m (80ft) race boat can go.
​
“The vertical lift keel was totally different than the swing keels, traditionally used in this application”, says John Stott, Naval Architect with Ron Holland Design. “In order to design the keel support pads, we searched for materials that had very specific requirements, specifically high load carrying capability and good wear resistance,” says Stott. After reviewing some composite materials, Stott discovered Thordon and made contact with Thordon’s Chief Design Engineer, Dr. Keith Laskey. “Dr Laskey supplied me with some possible approaches for the design methodology of these pads which were very helpful,” says Stott. Given the bearing pressure design criteria, Thordon SXL wear pads were specified for the lateral guide components of the keel, as well as Thordon SXL bearings for the front and back guide components.
​
After the initial design work of the keel was passed on to Vosper Thornycraft, the builder reviewed more bearing applications with Thordon’s distributor in UK, Stephenson Engineering. This led to specifications for Thordon SXL TRAXL bearings including Thorseal, a self-lubricating polymer lip seal, for the location ram bearings in the keel locking arrangement. “SXL and TRAXL is able to withstand high operating pressures and absorb impact making them more resistant to damage than stiffer bearings and the Thorseal internal lubricants reduce the cylinder wear”, says Chris Beech, Sales Manager of Stephenson.
​
Beech added, “Noise was also a concern for Vosper when the 150 tonne keel is raised and lowered. Since Thordon dampens and reduces operating noise compared to metals, the guests aboard Mirabella V won’t hear any sliding metal noises, when that keel moves up and down.”
​
Mirabella V has been designed for performance, ocean going voyaging. Her sail inventory includes the world’s largest sail – a 1,900m² (20,450ft²) reacher. She can, however, in addition to power at 16knots with her twin MTU’s driving the 1.5m (5ft) KaMeWa Ulstein XF5 controllable pitch propellers. The propulsion system supplier, Rolls-Royce KaMeWa, specified Thordon’s water lubricated COMPAC propeller shaft bearings making Thordon’s oil and grease – free bearings quite prevalent throughout the dynamic vessel. Delivery of Mirabella V is scheduled for winter 2003.
Strong Naval Performance Continues
The following is a documented performance of a Thordon bearing material that Henley’s supply: Blohm & Voss GmbH of Hamburg, Germany hasrecently ordered Thordon COMPAC water lubricated propeller shaft bearings for a number of MEKO frigates they are currently contracted to build. COMPAC bearings have been supplied to many Navies worldwide with impressive wear results.
​
Recent data in from Canadian Navy Patrol Frigate Montreal indicates total average bearing wear of 0.76 mm (0.030″) in just over 9 years of operation.
​
Thordon COMPAC bearings were specified by the Canadian Navy in 1992 after problems with the rubber stave bearings originally specified for the 12 ship project were encountered during sea trials. COMPAC successfully met the Navy’s strict acoustic and friction requirements and the Navy report that they continue to be quite happy with Thordon’s performance on all 12 ships over the past 10 years.