Does anyone know what kind of of packing gland this is? (I know it’s not the best pic). It’s on an Islander 34-2 1985. I need to drop the rudder and was thinking of replacing while its out (at the very least I don’t want mess it up)
Rudder packing gland
- Thread starter bob45
- Start date
It looks to be the same type used on the early Hunters. It operates the same way as the cutlass bearing on the prop shaft works, except it uses three bolts to tighten and compress the wax gland. If you need to service the gland, remove the bolts and slide the bronze ring up the rudder shaft.
It would be a false economy to not replace the packing and clamps while the rudder is out. Its 40 years old. Look at it! It needs to come out, be cleaned and rebuilt. Put a few people in the cockpit, it can go underwater and leak. Put it in vinegar for a few days, it'll shine up. West Marine will have packing and real SS hose clamps.
There are usually 2-4 packing rings in there. Pull them out, clean area, put new rings in - staggering the ends so any small gaps don't line up.
You won't have to do it again for 20-30 years!
You won't have to do it again for 20-30 years!
So that whole assembly (top and bottom) came off shaft tube once I loosened the hose clamp. Should the bottom half be affixed to the boat better? It looks like there may have been some 4200 or something at some point.
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I am pretty sure that, like the very-similar one on our rudder post, the builder glued it to the FRP tube. Usually with poly putty, but could have been sealant. Our was loosened when we bought our boat used and it was epoxed back into place. One you clean up the tube and post and the rest of that "out of sight and out of mind" part of your boat this work will be easier to plan and execute.
(All part of the joys of buying someone else's 'deferred maintenance ' )