Bottom bearings may be configured to bear the weight of a vertical shaft. In some implementations, a bottom bearing may include a first half-cylinder including a first shoulder and a first inside surface. The bottom bearing may also include a second half-cylinder including a second shoulder and a second inside surface. The first shoulder and second shoulder are configured to bear the weight of the vertical shaft by exerting an upward force on a sleeve affixed to the vertical shaft. A method of manufacturing a bottom bearing may include the steps of forming a cylinder from an ultra-high-molecular-weight (UHMW) polyethylene, wherein the cylinder includes a shoulder, an inside surface, and a central axis. The method may further include cutting the cylinder along the central axis to form the first half-cylinder and the second half-cylinder.