[Public-List] shaft coupling parts in bildge

[Greg Wallis]

Hi

Recently purchased my first real sailboat "woodwind" hull 165.

crane-in in 5 days so i find myself in a bit of a pickle

i grabbed the propeller shaft and noticed it could be pulled out pretty
much as far as you can pull it. it hits the rudder if the rudder is
straight and if rudder is turned it can be pulled further out.

behind the gearbox is a 5 inch aluminum (i think aluminum) round thing that
the shaft terminates in.  this thing has 3 large holes. this thing was
wrapped in ducttape.  what goes in the 3 holes were found in bottom of the
bildge. 3 heavy steel round things that fit into the holes perfectly.  so i
gently hammered them back in and now the shaft seems to be holding.

questions

1. what is this 5inch aluminium round thing called? who makes it?

2. what are the 3 things that fill those holes called? they fill the hole
and also fill the opening in the shaft coupling inside

3. what prevents the 3 things that fill the holes from coming out?  it had
duct tape wrapped around it but with all the oil it seemed to come loose. i
am thinking of putting a fernco or pipe clamps on there from plumbing
department

thanks
greg