Another Stuffing box question

[Solstice]

Mainsail,
I recently purchased a new boat and over the course of the season have monitored my stuffing box. I ended up needing to tighten it an 1/8 of a nut flat, however I didn't get a chance to do this until the boat was hauled 10 days ago. My question is, given that the packing does not have memory should I back it off to where it was before i hauled and wait to retighten in the spring when I'm back in the water? I have had PSS seals on my last two boats, but given the recent advancements with gore I thought I'd give the traditional a try for a couple of seasons even though access to the box is very difficult. Thanks in advance for your advice...

 

[Warren Milberg]

I'm not sure why you tightened the stuffing box after the boat was hauled, but I'd leave it the way it is and make sure you are there when the boat is launched in the spring in the event you need to make further adjustments. I don't think it's ever a good idea to loosen the packing nut unless you are intending to repack the gland or if the shaft won't turn easily by hand.

 

[Maine Sail]

Just wait until spring and make sure it's not running too hot..

 

[Solstice]

Thanks for the reply. I did it after hauling because of timing--The box wrenches I bought would not fit (handle length), and when I finally found something that would work, they hauled.
I knew I had to tighten since I was getting pretty regular weeping while the boat was at rest and I knew I had to adjust it. I wanted to experiment with how easy it was to adjust so I thought I'd do it while on the hard....

 

[Stu Jackson]

Catalina 355 Owners

Congratulations on your new boat!

I agree, don't back it off. Watch it when you get back in the water, 'cuz they can dry out, and wait til the water gets to it and re-expands it once you get back in.

As a new C355 owner, you may not be aware of this:

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,6522.0.html

The C34IA has welcomed all new C355 owners to join our group.

You also may be interested in Diane & Ed's Google group: http://www.catalina355.net/

Hope you will join us on our daily Main Message Board: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/board,11.0.html

 

[Solstice]

Congratulations on your new boat!

I agree, don't back it off. Watch it when you get back in the water, 'cuz they can dry out, and wait til the water gets to it and re-expands it once you get back in.

As a new C355 owner, you may not be aware of this:

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,6522.0.html

The C34IA has welcomed all new C355 owners to join our group.

You also may be interested in Diane & Ed's Google group: http://www.catalina355.net/

Hope you will join us on our daily Main Message Board: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/board,11.0.html

Thanks Stu,

I am a member of both groups--have been since I took delivery in June. Thanks to you and the 34IA group for welcoming us in. As you know many Catalinas have very similar systems (this is my 3rd), so it's great to be able to garner information from collective experience. Hopefully we will be able to build a strong base of 355 owners to the point where we can begin to develop a knowledgebase on the many items that are unique to our boat.