272 owner's manuals andstuffing box flax size

[samphire]

Need help from someone who owns an owners manual. My manual says to use 3/16" flax for the stuffing box, but some owners of 272s say the manual is wrong and that it should be 1/4". So I'd appreciate hearing on this imprtant matter from other owners who have a manual -- I do not want to launch and then find I have installed the wrong flax. Has anyone used 3/16 on a 272?

 

[Brian5035]

Manual is wrong.

The manual is definitely wrong, I went through the same exercise two years ago. As a matter of interest I used a teflon (ptfe) loaded stuffing material plus a good silicone grease and have not seen a drop of water. The trick is not to have the gland too tight that would cause friction and heating. Make sure that you get all the old packing out and the new will be tight to put in. Good luck and happy sailing. Brian

 

[samphire]

Thanks Brian

I just picked up your response to my message on the other posts. Sorry to be so slow. But thanks again. It is great to have the dilemma solved.