What is stern tube?

Question

What is stern tube?

Answer 1

Torpedo tube at the rear of a submarine.

Answer 2

The stern tube is a tube that houses the prop shaft bearing where the shaft passes through the hull of an inboard powered boat or ship.

Answer 3

The propeller shaft goes from the engine, through the hull to the propeller. It passes through the stern tube on it's way outboard. It is water proof and lubricates the shaft passing  throught it.

Answer 4

The stern tube is the tube through which the propelor shaft runs as opposed to a craft with an outboard or strendive.

Answer 5

Something              Howard invented  LOL

Answer 6

The propeller shaft answer is correct.

http://www.tpub.com/engine3/en33-21.htm

On small boats people may refer to it it as a "Stuffing Box".