Packing a stuffing box while off the boat

[Rodd]

Wondering- I removed my stuffing box from the boat to take home and clean up. (I had removed the shaft in order to replace the cutlass bearing). I have the shaft at home, and the stuffing box. Does it make any sense to pack the stuffing box nut at home rather than on the boat? It seems a lot easier to work with the shaft on horses and the stuffing box nut easily accessible. Question is, if I pack it at home, then remove the nut to reassemble the whole thing on the boat once shaft is in place, will the packing stay put in the nut so that I could slip the packed nut over the shaft when I get everything back on the boat.

Hope this is not too confusing a question!

Thanks.

 

[Maine Sail]

Wondering- I removed my stuffing box from the boat to take home and clean up. (I had removed the shaft in order to replace the cutlass bearing). I have the shaft at home, and the stuffing box. Does it make any sense to pack the stuffing box nut at home rather than on the boat? It seems a lot easier to work with the shaft on horses and the stuffing box nut easily accessible. Question is, if I pack it at home, then remove the nut to reassemble the whole thing on the boat once shaft is in place, will the packing stay put in the nut so that I could slip the packed nut over the shaft when I get everything back on the boat.

Hope this is not too confusing a question!

Thanks.

I pre-pack all the time. Much easier...

 

[Rick]

Dont see why not. Fresh new minds and ideas. Perhaps a piece of copper tubing or pvc to shape the flax while packing at home.

 

[Chris Patterson]

I do this commonly. A piece of 1 inch stainless rail makes a good template for cutting. Then just leave the short piece in there during installation if you're worried about the packing falling out. But it shouldn't.

 

[Rodd]

Thanks all. Will pack at home!