Alternative Prop Shaft stuffing/Packing material

[syoun10]

My 2006 Hunter 33 bilge always has some water in it, and I've thought that that is the norm. However I'd like to have it dry, and eliminate the occasional drips from the stuffing box. I recently saw this in Boat US magazine:-

"Traditional stuffing boxes can be made almost watertight by replacing most of the packing material with self-lubricating Drip-Less Moldable Packing. While several times more expensive than flax packing, this clay-like substance conforms to the shape of the stern tube and all but eliminates drips."

Does anyone used this? What is the experience? Where can you get it? Does the boat need to be hauled if you take out the old stuffing to put new in?

Do other H33 owners have dry bilges?

 

[timtheboatguy]

I have installed goretex packing in a couple of customer's boats with reports of little to no leaking and very long life of the packing. Not too expensive either, I have seen it on ebay.

http://www.gore.com/en_xx/products/sealants/packing/gfo_packing_fiber.html

Tim

 

[Rick D]

I tried that in my 32 Vision. I had a plastic stuffing box, and had to replace it with bronze to accommodate the drip less packing (per recommendation). I could not get a complete seal on it, so the next haul I replaced it with a PSS. I have now had a PSS Shaft Seal on two boats for 21 years and am fully satisfied. Your results may differ; there are plenty of people who have used it who are very satisfied.

 

[Mike Culik]

syown10,
I don't know what type of stuffing box you have....but I am one with the OEM plastic (Moore) stuffing box and I installed the GTU Gore Shaft Packing (available at WestM) and I am very pleased with the results- no leaks

 

[Jake N Eggs]

My bilge is completely dry. The stuffing box should be adjusted so there is no leak when the shaft is not turning. There should be a slight leak when the shaft turns, about 3 or 4 drips a minute. I make the adjustment every year. If we motor for an extended time we will get some water in the bilge area where the through hulls are but we just sponge it dry when this happens.

 

[Cherie320]

I have no experience with the plastic stuffing box so take care. There are two types of - dripless packing. The clay you referenced and the teflon impregnated packing. At our last packing we used both products. The clay product was about $60 and the teflon packing material was about $15. The clay type product is enough to do two or maybe three boats, so the per pack cost is reasonable. A ring of the teflon packing is required in front and in back of the clay and there is a lube for the assembly. Do not use too much clay or the backing ring will not fit. We did it in the water and used a rag to slow the water flow while packing the gland. Prep included manual bilge pump with second person to operate or serve as a runner. Primary water control was the electric bilge pump. Took a lot of digging to get the old packing out. Experience with the repack has been good. Some water accumulates when running, but very little to none when sitting. Needed adjustment at run in and have adjusted twice in two years. It's about time to do it again. Good luck - you too can have a dry bilge, but YMMV.......

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Slowly, Ever so Slowly ..........................

........................ the boating community comes to the realization that conventional stuffing boxes on slow moving sailboats DO NOT need to leak in this modern age of teflon. Our bilge is bone dry and it's used to store the toilet paper. I vacuum out the dust every spring as part of the annual housecleaning.

Maybe I'm a little cheaper than others here in that I'm using teflon-impregnated flax for my drip-free, dripless, no- drip, or whatever you want to call it type packing. I just replaced it last fall after three years of bone dry running and this time I'm going for a personal best of, count them now ................. five years running without a drip. Using some of the more exotic packing materials like GFO or Gore would probably give even longer service.

This is a note which I posted here a few months back on running your stuffing box BONE DRY:

http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=872589&highlight

Additionally, I recently noticed that Western Pacific Trading (suppliers of teflon impregnated packing) also recommends that the packing be JUST tightened (and no more) until it no longer leaks while the shaft is turning. Yes, while the shaft is turning. And for sure it won't be leaking when it's not turning.

http://www.wptinc.net/wpt_tech.html#wptc

I see that most manufacturers of packing materials continue to blanket themselves in all-encompassing dire warnings to absolutely, positively, and most definitely ensure that the gland leaks at least 2 - 3 drops per minute. It's the only was they can ensure that boaters don't overtighten the gland nut. I mean, c'mon, this is a big nut and needs lots of manly torque to properly tighten it up, right ? Wrong ! No, they don't need to leak but it's the only way they can keep people from overtightening them until they burn, scorch, score, carbonize and quite possibly worse.

Now please understand, a leaking packing gland is strictly a personal preference. If it leaks, one is perpetually dealing with a wet, stinking, bilge and its effect on the surrounding cabin space. On the other hand, choosing to go with a dry packing gland, you're stuck with vacuuming the dust out of the bilge with every spring housecleaning but no musty smell in the cabin :stirthepot:.