C30 stuffing bow info please.

Status
Not open for further replies.
Chris Patterson

Chris Patterson

.
Oct 17, 2011
2,809
Ericson 29 Southport..
C30 stuffing box info please.

Hello esteemed 30 owners. And Stu. I've gotta go look at a badly leaking packing on the cat 30 in the morning, and I was wondering if it was as bad to get at as I remember. I vaguely recall looking at one of those in the past, and as memory serves me, with that midship engine, the packing looked like a hairy bear to get at.
Any experiences with these in particular?

Oh yeah, just kiddin' Stu, haha..
 
Last edited:
jrowan

jrowan

.
Mar 5, 2011
1,294
O'Day 35 Severn River, Mobjack Bay, Va.
I'm assuming that you mean the prop shaft packing seal. Depending on the year of build, there is usually a plywood coverplate cut into the floor pan just aft of the galley sink. Under the cover there is surprisingly good access to the packing nuts. You will need a thin flat spanner wrench to secure the main packing fitting while you turn the outer packing nut to release it. Don't be surprised if it doesn't budge at first try. You will likely have to soak the packing nut for a while in penetrating oil or PB Blaster to release it. But don't let PB Blaster touch the new packing material as it is corrosive. Good luck.
 
Chris Patterson

Chris Patterson

.
Oct 17, 2011
2,809
Ericson 29 Southport..
Yep, the shaft packing is what I meant. I forgot to be more specific, I've been burning the candle at both ends lately.
I've done these several times, just not on a C30. I recollected it being very tight, and wondered if I needed to take anything special down there, chainsaw, etc..
 
CalebD

CalebD

.
Jun 27, 2006
1,479
Tartan 27' 1967 Nyack, NY
So, you've moved up to a C30 from a C22? If so, perhaps it is time to update your profile to reflect that.

As to the packing nuts, if you are at all concerned that they will be difficult to get them to budge then the first thing you should do is bring a can of PB Blaster with you and give the packing nuts a good spray of PB Blaster. Let it sit for a few days. You can repeat the spray/wait procedure a few times if you like.
Then have at it with your 2 wrenches. Sounds like the access is pretty good on the C30 compared to many other boats.
 
Chris Patterson

Chris Patterson

.
Oct 17, 2011
2,809
Ericson 29 Southport..
Well, long story, and the short of it is, I still have the 22', and several other boats, and have never updated this as it seems like more of a brag I guess...??I still use the 22 a lot, it's my little day boat, and I post there more often, and just let it be.
The other part is, I work on boats. What started out as a hobby, has turned into a seven day a week occupation, that I've considered hiring employees, and have used part time help before. The problem there is, I'm very meticulous and that's what most people want, and my standards are so high that I would be impossible to work for I think. I could hire painters by the dozen, but try and find somebody that KNOWS how to varnish.
A man could have worse problems.
Like said, I know how to repack a shaft per se, done it many times. But not a C30.
When I calm down some, I might post what went on down there this morning..
 
Bad Obsession

Bad Obsession

.
May 23, 2004
3,319
I'm in the market as were . Colonial Beach
Chris.....breathe in, breathe out, move on....No problems.

The Catalina 30 isn't bad at all to pack. I actually found a post that lead me to Mainesail's blog about re-packing a packing gland. It has very useful information, especially on a trick to remove the old packing.

I was a bit nervous when I re-did my packing gland. Looking back it was a very easy job. See if you can find the blog I was talking about and just go for it. You will be fine!

Oh, and as to it being tight....it is, but it is workable. Mine is a 1990 MKii and it should be similar to yours. I am surprised that someone hasn't designed a special packing gland wrench for the Catalina 30, but that being said I have done well with two normal plumbing wrenches that I bought cheap at a local hardware store.
 
ProjMan

ProjMan

.
Aug 17, 2009
25
Catalina 30 Mandeville, Louisiana
I assume this problem has been resolved. I that I would chime in anyway. This packing ended up being the root cause of multiple filers on my cat 30. I was able to replace my packing wet. I figured that I had taken on enough water a little more wouldn't hurt. That did stop the leak.

Later I had starting problems and I gave up on doing any more of the repairs myself. In an effort to stop the leak, before realizing the packing needed to be replaced, I had over tighten the packing nut, which cup the shaft. I ended up having to replace the shaft, cutlass bearing and oh yea, rebuild my engine due to the water getting high enough for the engine to take on water.

Long story short, don't hesitate to add or replace packing on your shaft. It will save a great deal of grief down the road. I should have all repairs done this coming week with the opes of being a happy sailor again.
 
Chris Patterson

Chris Patterson

.
Oct 17, 2011
2,809
Ericson 29 Southport..
Well, resolved yes and no. I managed to get it tightened down, but where it's located is tough. There's an access behind it, and lifting that one panel behind the engine gives you more or less access to the transmission, but the gland nut itself is located right under a piece of fiberglass flooring that is not removable. Yeah, it was a tight fit.
This boat is going to end up needing hauled before it's over with. Before I could get to it, water has ingress-ed the gearbox, and I don't know if that is the cause, but the rear trans seal is now pouring oil. I'm not sure what brand tranny it is, it's behind a little 2 cylinder Yanmar, as I think this boat has been repowered at some point. I can probably pull the gearbox where it sits I guess, but needing new packing in the stuffing box and all, I would sure love to do it on the hill. Probably needs a once-over on the hull anyway.
And honestly, I'm kind of afraid to pull the packing out at the slip. I may try it, depends on the owner.
 
ProjMan

ProjMan

.
Aug 17, 2009
25
Catalina 30 Mandeville, Louisiana
As stated earlier, I over tighten the packing and damaged the shaft. Since I wasn't sure of the packing size I bought all three and did trial fits before making a final commitment to get started. Once I knew I had the right size, I tighten the nut again and precut multiple strips. I didn't use all of them. I tighten it and the leak was finally resolved.
 
shipwreck66

shipwreck66

.
Apr 5, 2010
565
Catalina 27- 1984 Grapevine
ProjMan, my boatyard guy actually has a set of packing gland wreches from Catalina, cost him $200. I'll just stick with my pipe wrenches. Also, a little piece of PVC cut lengthwise will help push the new packing on before you tighten the nut. wrapping a fat shoelace around the exposed shaft openning will help keep the water out while you work.
 
jrowan

jrowan

.
Mar 5, 2011
1,294
O'Day 35 Severn River, Mobjack Bay, Va.
I like the idea about using the shoelace to help from taking on water while trying to change packing. I tried to tighten & loosen my packing nuts a while back & they wouldn't budge, even after using penetrating oil. I just decided to wait until then next time I haul out to change the packing. Or maybe I'll be able to afford one of those fancy new dripless shaft seals one day.....
 
T

tmiller1116

.
Sep 12, 2012
10
Catalina 30 PDX
shipwreck66 said:
ProjMan, my boatyard guy actually has a set of packing gland wreches from Catalina, cost him $200. I'll just stick with my pipe wrenches. Also, a little piece of PVC cut lengthwise will help push the new packing on before you tighten the nut. wrapping a fat shoelace around the exposed shaft openning will help keep the water out while you work.
Click to expand

No need to spend $200 on wrenches... http://www.shopping.com/Ace-Hardware-Ace-Slip-Nut-Wrench/info
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top Bottom