My stuffing box is leaking like crazy and has not been repacked in the 10 years I've owned the boat. I did add a layer of stuffing several years ago and it worked great. Now I need to make a decision whether to remove the old stuffing and replace it or go with a dripless. I've heard good pros and cons of both, but thought I would pose the question here... Traditional stuffing or dripless? Thanks!
Traditional Stuffing or Dripless?
- Thread starter gfroch
- Start date
I replaced the 'plastic' stuffing box with a LasDrop Gen II dripless shaft seal. It has been leak and problem free for years. The old stuffing boxes, preferably bronze, have been around forever and can be repacked easy enough, but they will always leak a little bit. The 'dripless' seals are just that. I've read where they can have catastrophic failures but I've never known anyone that has experienced that.
I just finished doing some research on both. The dripless are expensive to buy, expensive to rebuild and can be catastrophic when they fail. The ones without burp tubes need to be manually burped. @Tally Ho reported that he finds air in his Volvo seal pretty much every time he goes for a sail. That's enough to tell me that there's potential for a short shaft life if I forget to burp it, which I will. My last boat was off the dock in 10 minutes and I'd like to keep it that way.
Because of these factors I ended up going with Gore GFO packing. It only drips a few times per minute when the engine running and none at all when the engine is off. Nautiqueparts.com has the cheapest prices and reasonable shipping. Here's an excellent article regarding this subject
Because of these factors I ended up going with Gore GFO packing. It only drips a few times per minute when the engine running and none at all when the engine is off. Nautiqueparts.com has the cheapest prices and reasonable shipping. Here's an excellent article regarding this subject
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I replaced the original bronze stuffing box with new bronze stiffing box an 6 ply hose. The packing is GFO Gore Tex, naturally lubricated. It drips a little as it is supposed to only when the shaft is turning. Very happy with it. It had been 5 years since I replaced the packing.
I vote for bronze stuffing box.
Visit Stuffing-Box | Catalina 36 MKII Album | Sail La Vie Home
I vote for bronze stuffing box.
Visit Stuffing-Box | Catalina 36 MKII Album | Sail La Vie Home
Replacing the packing is cheap and has works well. In my opinion there is no need to spend a lot of money on a dripless system. I just did this on my boat this winter. Just don't buy graphite impregnated braided material. I learned from Nigel Calder's Boat How To marine diesel coarse (great coarse by the way I highly recommend it) that Graphite is high on the galvanic series table. In the presence of salt water, it can generate significant galvanic corrosion, especially with stainless steel propeller shafts. The ABYC specifically forbids the use of graphite impregnated packing (“Graphite impregnated packing material shall not be used because of the possibility of galvanic incompatibility with the shaft material”)
I've been down both roads, dripless and traditional packing. When I changed from a traditional stuffing box to a PSS the main reason was access to the stuffing box. It was a challenge to access the stuffing box, the PSS was a once in 5 or 6 year event not an annual event. A vent is necessary to avoid burping the bellows.
I do know a person who had a PSS bellows fail. He was able to get the boat out of the water before it sunk.
I do know a person who had a PSS bellows fail. He was able to get the boat out of the water before it sunk.
The one MAJOR reason why I have not gone with a mechanical seal is the requirement to replace the rubber bellows every 7 years or risk the consequences.
Too much hassle with removing the shaft or trusting a split coupling to remain true. And I LOVE tinkering with my engine and associated parts.
Too much hassle with removing the shaft or trusting a split coupling to remain true. And I LOVE tinkering with my engine and associated parts.
I was also turned off by the 7-year replacement interval on the PSS. I ended up going with the LasDrop which does not have a bellows. Instead, it has a heavy-duty silicone 6-ply hose and it will last as long or longer than the rubber hose.
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I’ve been very happy with my Volvo seal which is now 10 years old and still does not drip at all. It does have a vent / water injection tube off the back of the heat exchanger. I lubricate it once per year with a pea sized amount of grease, and burp it once after launching. Grand total for that maintenance is about 5 minutes per year. It’s probably due for replacement soon by the book, and that will be a pain, but Maine Sail has recommended replacing a traditional shaft log hose every 7-10 years anyway.
Just replaced my Volvo shaft seal a few months ago, after 17 years (should replace at 10 years). Really looked good upon replacement; however, engine has low hours. Minimal maintenance & has never leaked nor dripped. As compared to the conventional "stuffing box" on my previous boat, the Volvo is more effective & easier to maintain. BTW, the Volvo replacement cost was approximately $130; I replaced it myself. If done properly it only requires "burping" when splashed after haul out.
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