Dripless or Packing gland?

Meriachee · Apr 3, 2014

A quick search for PSS will reveal an awful lot of threads, and a lot of opinions, both for and against. There does seems to be a correlation between those who will tell you that you are going straight to the bottom if you install one, and a lack of direct exposure to the product.
Being in the PSS camp, and knowing a bunch of people who are as well, we'd never go back.
If you buy this product, get the retention collar. A little insurance is never a bad thing.

Cheers
Gary

py26129 · Apr 3, 2014

I had one on my previous boat and had absolutely no issues for 12 years. When the time comes, I will put one into my current boat.

Don Lucas · Apr 3, 2014

With the modern packing if I had a stuffing box I would keep it and just change the packing.

I had a PSS and the boot start leaking. Turns out you are suppose to replace the boot every 6 years and it just seems a weak link of you being screwed (I wrapped mine with rescue tape and that held till my next haulout). I replaced it with a Lasdrop generation 2 seal as I feel the seal has a better hose (same as a packing box would use) and the rotating part clamps onto the shaft instead of those set screws on the PSS that they to not reuse.

Rob38 · Apr 3, 2014

I've been PSS dripless since 1996. Just remember the older units required "burping" after a haul out allowing sea water to displace any trapped air; the newer units have a hose that comes up above the water line from the coupler to accomplish same. Dry bilge is high priority for us cruising on the Chesapeake Bay.
When we bought our 2005 Hunter 38 I noticed (in the several boats we looked at) that the stock packing gland from Hunter would allow dripping water to splash onto the Yanmar transmission housing. Every boat we previewed had salt water corrosion on motor mounts and housing bolts. Reason enough for me to stay dripless.

Bill Roosa · Apr 3, 2014

You are going to pay for the dry bilge. my calculations are such:
$300 + install for the dripless
$50ish avery 4-5 years for maintenance parts

or $10 + install every year for new packing

I figure the dripless never actually pays for itself given you have to keep doing maintenance at more than $10/year but if you discount doing maintenance then it will only take 30 years to break even.

FWIW

Bill Roosa · Apr 3, 2014

also, the issue of "splashing salt water causing corrosion" was brought up. If you have spray coming out of the gland you don't have it adjusted right. It should only drip when running and not at all when stopped.

Meriachee · Apr 4, 2014

Bill Roosa said:
You are going to pay for the dry bilge. my calculations are such: $300 + install for the dripless $50ish avery 4-5 years for maintenance parts or $10 + install every year for new packing I figure the dripless never actually pays for itself given you have to keep doing maintenance at more than $10/year but if you discount doing maintenance then it will only take 30 years to break even. FWIW

Cost/benefit on a sailboat? Really?

Terry in Naples · Apr 5, 2014

After the first few boats and packing and drips I have had several dripless. Right now i have a lasdrop unit on my c34. They are great if you don,t want to have water dripping in your boat all the time. By the way, when I ordered mine i looked up several manufacturers. One was having a sale. I asked this co. To match the price and saved about $100. If you are already hauling out this is a good time to do it.

smoothsailing · Apr 6, 2014

If you are going to PSS check out MAIN SAIL web page for the install

http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/boat_projects

harv · Apr 6, 2014

Try Gortex packing-you will have minimum or no drip for several years. On the first day of launch, give it time to swell up. Use an infrared themometer to check gland.

Dripless or Packing gland?

ttac

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Meriachee

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py26129

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Don Lucas

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Rob38

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Bill Roosa

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Bill Roosa

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Meriachee

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Terry in Naples

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smoothsailing

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harv

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ttac

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