Last of winter sail

forbin · Mar 20, 2017

LeslieTroyer said:
But it was great day to be out on the water

Definitely was! I took a few friends and visitors out for a couple hours later afternoon around the downtown area. Nearly perfect conditions.

Terry Cox · Mar 20, 2017

LeslieTroyer said:
Went out about noon and headed in around 4:30.

Yesterday was my running day around Mukilteo. While out about the time you were enjoying the water I viewed a few sail boats, probably you and others, hoping here to soon be back on the water. Spring break coming up the second week in April. Woohoo.

Terry Cox · Mar 21, 2017

LeslieTroyer said:
We were tacking up the whidby side of hat Island and catching up to another Cat 36 out pointing higher and slightly faster. I have to keep reminding myself I'm not interested in racing and this boat is my cruiser.

No interest in racing here either. But our flotilla includes a Freedom 32 noted for its speed. In light wind he could most always out pace me, but otherwise, not. On our way to the next anchorage I would be constantly tweaking trim to either keep up or outpace, as I kept telling myself, not racing here, not racing.

jssailem · Mar 23, 2017

Some of the boats you saw may have been members of the Milltown Yacht Club returning from their race/cruise to Port Ludow and back. It was a rabbit race. All start at specified times. Everyone you pass you beat. First one home wins.

While you guys were having fun, I was frying the new fuse trying to start my engine. Fortunately Les stopped by on Monday and help figure out the issue. Putting too many amps through too small of a fuse for the 50HP Perkins I have on board. With his insight we got the engine running. Next good day I can do a start of season test sail... Oh boy am I ready. Now if the weather would just warm a bit so I can install the two, new to me, self tailing winches and auto pilot.

Terry Cox · Mar 25, 2017

jssailem said:
Now if the weather would just warm a bit

Made plans to head out for a weekend cruise. Weather forecast looked uncertain. Went to the boat Friday amidst a blow and it remained most of the night. Awoke to rain and more rain. Rained most of the day. Decided to not go out in this miserable weather.

Instead I spent over two hours finally, finally, finally getting the stuffing box adjusted. Grr. Last time out I could not get the locking nut to move; the box rotated, but I had to get the lock nut to loosen so that I could tighten the box. So soaked it in Liquid Wrench and left for another day. That day was Friday night. Bound and determined to make it happen. Tapped and more Liquid Wrench, then tapped again. Then alas a slight movement when I turned it counter clockwise. So, back and forth, back and forth until I was able to obtain a complete rotation. Now I have a no drip box again while the shaft is turning.

My question for the day is, what anti-seizing compound works for you? Our local Harbor Marine had several choices, but before I did, pose the question here for opinions.

Working on this creature is a PITA. Have to crawl in over the engine arms first, hang over the engine in order to reach in far enough to get the wrenches on. Even with wrench handle extenders could not get that nut to budge. But persistence prevailed.

jssailem · Mar 25, 2017

I have been using "Corrosion Block" comes in a spray and a lube gel.
My rigger likes Lanakote.

Terry Cox · Mar 25, 2017

jssailem said:
My rigger likes Lanakote.

Almost bought the Lanakote paste version. Probably go that route. Corrosion Block was recommended by the store guy. Also looked like it might do the job.

Terry Cox · Mar 25, 2017

LeslieTroyer said:
I would look for a copper based anti-seize.

Did not check on whether the Lanakote was copper based. I'll check again.

Thanks Leslie/John.

justsomeguy · Mar 25, 2017

Terry Cox said:
what anti-seizing compound works for you?

Oil and soap, AKA grease?
Disclaimer, I don't have a stuffing box.

Michael Davis · Mar 25, 2017

I thought a stuffing box was supposed to drip with a turning shaft. It uses water as a lubricant. Or have I been wrong all these years?

Terry Cox · Mar 25, 2017

Michael Davis said:
I thought a stuffing box was supposed to drip with a turning shaft.

Hi Michael, perhaps others will weigh in here. I've read that it is not so much that water is the lubricate, but that water contains oxygen and that the absence of oxygen around SS induces a corrosive affect upon it. No metallurgist here, just passing along comments from those who claim to know...

Michael Davis · Mar 25, 2017

Hi Terry
We always set up pumps in the paper-mill to drip when running so I've always done my stuffing box the same way. I would have thought that the shaft would over-heat, maybe change the temper, if no drip. I always thought SS had to "breathe" as well but I noticed this week that some boats were painting their shafts with anti-fouling paint. Maybe some new alloy?

Mark Maulden · Mar 25, 2017

I always let em drip about one drip every 30 sec. see how warm it gets under cruising load (by feel). Should not be much warmer than static. Permatex makes a nice copper antiseize. I use it on my injector bodies

Terry Cox · Mar 26, 2017

Mark Maulden said:
Permatex makes a nice copper antiseize.

Hi Mark, thanks for the tip. Permatex a trusted brand, IMHO.

Terry Cox · Mar 26, 2017

Michael Davis said:
I would have thought that the shaft would over-heat, maybe change the temper, if no drip.

Hi Michael, perhaps a concern appropriate with the plain flax packing, but the new PTFE stuff with teflon acts as a very low friction material. Even with no drip while the shaft spins, box is cool to the touch.

Michael Davis · Mar 28, 2017

Thanks Terry, that's good to know. Not sure about a dripless or a repack this fall.