Rudder post packing gland ????

woodster

woodster

.
Sep 15, 2009
6,244
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
ok i am close to a launch after being on the hard for 7 years and a total refit....i have r an r the rudder post stuffing box and put in new teflon coated flax...but i am wondering how to set the packing so it will not leak when put back in the water...this place is very hard to get to and i would like to just set it before launch so it does not leak...my thinking is to tighten it until i feel some change in the movement at the wheel and just lock it there is this acceptable or is there more to this...i have 3 layers of flax set at 120 Degrees of each other ...the water line and the packing nut are very close to the same plane/level
 
Charles Erwin

Charles Erwin

.
Jan 30, 2012
1,150
Nor'Sea 27 "Kiwanda" Portland/ Anacortes
Woody

This is way great after your dedicated stick to it efforts.

I will venture a suggestion. Tighten the clamping nut - the one that crushes the packing - hand hand tight only. Then take a wrench an move it 1/4 flat more. Then stop altogether. This is not a propeller shaft - you just want to keep the water out and you don't need to balance rotation and temperature like you would if it was a propeller shaft. In this case less tightness is plenty.

If it seeps then small adjustments only. Remember you cannot un-tighten a packing.

Maine Sail probably has a photo series on this subject.

Charles
 
woodster

woodster

.
Sep 15, 2009
6,244
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
thanks Charles...i was thinking the same thing about it not being a prop shaft..... but was not sure how much resistance to creat on the rudder shaft...that is a large nut back there compared to the prop shaft nut
 
Charles Erwin

Charles Erwin

.
Jan 30, 2012
1,150
Nor'Sea 27 "Kiwanda" Portland/ Anacortes
Right - grab it with your hand and tighten - no wrench to begin with. I would not judge proper 'tightness' by the resistance at the wheel/rudder. Instead hand tight then tighter in baby steps until no or very few seeps.

I hope others will express opinions. Meanwhile just remember it is way easy to overtighten and you can't take it back.

By the way - how is the rain in your country about now?

Charles
 
woodster

woodster

.
Sep 15, 2009
6,244
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
Charles Erwin said:
Right - grab it with your hand and tighten - no wrench to begin with. I would not judge proper 'tightness' by the resistance at the wheel/rudder. Instead hand tight then tighter in baby steps until no or very few seeps.

I hope others will express opinions. Meanwhile just remember it is way easy to overtighten and you can't take it back.

By the way - how is the rain in your country about now?

Charles
Click to expand
i am inland about 2 hrs from charleston and have had rain steady here all week but nothing like Charleston and Hilton Head have ....it has cooled down here to the low 60's at night but its supposed to warm up and be sunny in the next day or so and if my trucker is on target i will be in the water this coming weekend ...had a date for 10 sept but that got set back ....i have the slip lined up and the marina for the launch and mast stepping ...just hoping my well laid plans come off without a hitch ...guess time will tell ...the delay has been ok because of the named storms...but i am getting very anxious...needless to say ...have been spending most of my days packing and repacking the boat till i get it right ....i can't believe how much stuff i think i need on board...lol
 
sailaway78

sailaway78

.
May 11, 2005
3,431
Seidelman S37 Slidell, La.
woodster, have you sailed the S2 before. I have to wonder how good it is. I had an S2 28, before I bought the Seidelman, and it was a hell of a good boat.
 
woodster

woodster

.
Sep 15, 2009
6,244
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
sailaway78 said:
woodster, have you sailed the S2 before. I have to wonder how good it is. I had an S2 28, before I bought the Seidelman, and it was a hell of a good boat.
Click to expand
From all I have heard from the older sailors it's a great boat and fast too so I have heard but I am not experienced enough to know the difference I do know she is pretty solid for a 36 year old boat but I may have bogged her down with all the changes I have made
 
sailaway78

sailaway78

.
May 11, 2005
3,431
Seidelman S37 Slidell, La.
My 28 was solid as a rock. Never let me down, or gave any problem. And I sailed that puppy to hell and back. Only reason I sold it was I wanted a bigger boat. The 28 was just not big enough to carry enough junk. I wanted to be able to be self sustaining for more than a few days. I like to stay out and gone for two or three weeks or longer. Just not enough storage on a 28 to do that.
 
woodster

woodster

.
Sep 15, 2009
6,244
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
I hope I have planned well in my refit I did away with the starboard settee and made it a mechanical / storage/ refer cabinet but the quarter berth may end up being the back porch at times I will have my dodger and biminie made when I go to pcola I really like that ladies work
 
sailaway78

sailaway78

.
May 11, 2005
3,431
Seidelman S37 Slidell, La.
I'm too much of a geezer to be taking on any long term refits. There was a Tayana 37 available here a few years ago that was better than stealing. The hull was perfect and complete on the outside. Awlgrip, bottom paint, new stantions and life lines. Inside was totally gutted. Had all new tanks installed, new mast and sails, brand new diesel, still sitting on the packing pallet. New watermaker, new below decks auto pilot. Everything you would want or need except electronics. Boat sold for 10K. But I am not going to take on any major project at my age.
 
woodster

woodster

.
Sep 15, 2009
6,244
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
Hopefully this is last at refitting anything other than oil or fuel filter from time to time
 
Last edited:
woodster

woodster

.
Sep 15, 2009
6,244
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
its at the Fairhope municipal pier just of US 98 on the east side of the bay if you come let me know and we will go play on the boat ...if you don't know how to get to the pier just go to Fairhope Ave and go west and you will run into it at the bottom of the hill would be more than glad to have you come
 
sailaway78

sailaway78

.
May 11, 2005
3,431
Seidelman S37 Slidell, La.
I know exactly where it is. I have a friend, Capt. Chuck Creel, who keeps his boat at Fly Creek Marina, and have been into the marina at the Grand Hotel a few times.
 
woodster

woodster

.
Sep 15, 2009
6,244
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
man thats great i was trying to post a pic of the marina and i have found out i have some learning to do lol
 
M

MitchM

.
Jan 20, 2005
1,031
Nauticat 321 pilothouse 32 Erie PA
sailaway 78, i sure know that feeling. we passed on a beautiful 37 footer several years ago that had everything but would have been huge work. in our 35 years boating we've done a complete engine install, hot water heaters, refrigeration, air conditioning, too many pumps to mention, repair and install all new heads, radios, fans lights etc. . i am just tired of all the technical work it takes to keep the 'comfort' systems running. thinking of downsizing to an Alerion 28 with nothing but a porta john and some lights...

still sailing away at 68,

mitchm
nauticat 321 port of Erie PA
 
Y

yleegato

.
Apr 24, 2014
18
S2 9.2 brady mt resort lake ouachita
woodster said:
ok i am close to a launch after being on the hard for 7 years and a total refit....i have r an r the rudder post stuffing box and put in new teflon coated flax...but i am wondering how to set the packing so it will not leak when put back in the water...this place is very hard to get to and i would like to just set it before launch so it does not leak...my thinking is to tighten it until i feel some change in the movement at the wheel and just lock it there is this acceptable or is there more to this...i have 3 layers of flax set at 120 Degrees of each other ...the water line and the packing nut are very close to the same plane/level
Click to expand
hey don't want to steal your thread but I have a 1985 S2 9.2 aft cockpit have had it for 4 years now it is a great boat fast pretty easy to sail I love it I also get over to fairhope on occasion love to go to flycreek mite be back this fall if I am i'll send an e-mail be fore maybe we can all get together and sail
 
woodster

woodster

.
Sep 15, 2009
6,244
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
yleegato said:
hey don't want to steal your thread but I have a 1985 S2 9.2 aft cockpit have had it for 4 years now it is a great boat fast pretty easy to sail I love it I also get over to fairhope on occasion love to go to flycreek mite be back this fall if I am i'll send an e-mail be fore maybe we can all get together and sail
Click to expand
that will be great just let me know when you come
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

.
Feb 26, 2004
23,139
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Good luck on the splash Woody. Good advice about the packing...if you can remember back where this thread started! :doh::rolleyes:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Top Bottom