Stuffing Box Repack

[bobcat30]

I was told that I need a repack on the stuffing box. I really don't know if
if is needed. THe yard does. They want to charge 424 labor plus parts and tax???Any experience or help would be great.
Is it a difficult job to do?
:dance:

 

[shipwreck66]

Not hard to do at all. Contact Stu with the Catalina 34, he has pics and detailed information on how to do it. Quite a few people on here are really helpful with tips on how to prevent water coming in while doing this, etc. $424 better include a haul out. Damn that's steep. It won't take a first timer an hour to do it. Basically it's just three rings of flax, looks like thick string. You unscrew the locking nut, back off the big nut until you can pick all the old flax out, insert new cut pieces one at a time, screw it back on and your good. Some guys make tools out of little pieces of PVC to set the flax in place. But you'll get a gazillion responses and tell your boatyard no. The flax costs about $10 a roll, of which you use about a dollars worth.

 

[Maine Sail]

I was told that I need a repack on the stuffing box. I really don't know if
if is needed. THe yard does. They want to charge 424 labor plus parts and tax???Any experience or help would be great.
Is it a difficult job to do?
:dance:

Repacking A Stuffing Box

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Keep Your Sox Dry ...................

................. when you're repacking the gland by temporarily sealing off the leak as shown.

There's definitely no need to haul your boat just to repack the gland.

 

[Stu Jackson]

http://www.c34.org/wiki/index.php?title=Stuffing_box_packing

Heavy text with a loop back to Maine Sail's article, too.

 

[Bad Obsession]

Can you wait to do it until you do your next haul out? I did mine at the last haul out and it was very easy. Mainesail's article on how to repack it is very helpful!

 

[mortyd]

did they bother to tell you why you need to repack vs. adjusting?

 

[Bob S]

Bobcat,

If you decide to do it yourself and it isn't difficult, determine whether you have 3/16 or 1/4" flax and pm me. I bought 3/16 GFO flax only to find out I had 1/4" so I have some lying around already cut for a 1" shaft that you can have. We're not too far apart that I can't get it to you somehow. We love our trips to Red Brook Harbor and lobster sandwiches at the Chart Room.

 

[shipwreck66]

Ralph, thanks again for that pic. Such a simple idea and works like a charm.

 

[bobcat30]

Thanks for your info. Bobcat is hauled. (Winter layup) I know that these yards need to
make a profit but I am tired of being ripped off. I will look up Stu.
Bob

 

[bobcat30]

Thanks. Great article.
BobCat

 

[Team118]

Mainsail's is the best resource, I used him when I did mine.

I won't include instructions, but I have some pics when I did it. I used Mainsail's tip about using a 3/4 pvc pipe as a 'pusher'

You can see the water "GUSHING" in as I made the change...not too bad actually, nothing 2 bilge pumps and 3 kids with buckets couldn't handle! Nah, seriously it was fine...

Good luck
Chris

 

[adirondackbob]

Chris, thanks for these photos. How did you get such great access to your stuffing box on your C30? The packing gland on mine is partially obscured under the cabin sole, and it's a bear trying to get wrenches on the nuts. Did you cut a larger hole in your cabin sole?

Bob

 

[shipwreck66]

Chris, excellent photos. This helps alot. A couple boat owners at my marina were going to photo this procedure, but you just took care of that. They got irritated when I did mine and didn't take pics.

 

[Team118]

Thanks guys.

The boat is in drydock for the winter, but she is a 1977 so perhaps the earlier models had a larger access port to the stuffing box.

I don't believe it's a modification.

Chris

 

[bobcat30]

Chris,
Thanks for the photos. If a professional charges $424 labor (4 Hours) he must be either drunk or sleeping. In the spring, I will take a look at my stuffing box and see if it is easily accessible. Looks like you don't have to be a rocket scientist to do this. BobCat30.
Bob H.
PS do you think you could email the pictures tome?

 

[Team118]

It was definatley MUCH easier that I thought it would be.

PM your email address and I will send you all of the pics I have of the changeout.

Chris

or just tell me via email team118@rochester.rr.com

 

[jrowan]

Did anyone else have trouble getting the packing nut to release? Mine is green with surface corrosion, & I couldn't get the nut to budge. I was afraid to force it, & break or strip the threading. Guess I could've tried PB Blaster, etc. I was just trying to tighten mine to reduce the excessive dripping but it it already way tight. Guess I'll be replacing my packing soon as well, if I can get the damn nut off!

 

[Stu Jackson]

You are aware of the locking nut, too, right?

 

[BillyK]

Did anyone else have trouble getting the packing nut to release? Mine is green with surface corrosion, & I couldn't get the nut to budge. I was afraid to force it, & break or strip the threading. Guess I could've tried PB Blaster, etc. I was just trying to tighten mine to reduce the excessive dripping but it it already way tight. Guess I'll be replacing my packing soon as well, if I can get the damn nut off!

i had the same problem with mine just last weekend... had to use two large pipe wrenches to get enough torque to break the corrosion free to get her to spin. remember.. Lefty Loosey!!!