In another forum, I mentioned a catastrophic failure with my dripless stuffing box. Patrick of Birch Bay Washington asked that I explain more behind the event. But before I do, I will mention that I eventually reinstalled a new dripless and, despite the following, wouldn't change anything. I much prefer a dry bilge and the dripless stuffing box, if you're a little bit more diligent than I was, is still a great way to go. For those who haven't seen one, a dripless stuffing box has a flexible rubber piece with a machined surface on one end that seals to a metal "donut" on the shaft. The flexible rubber presses against the donut, producing a dripless connection. My Hunter 290 is relatively unique among smaller Hunters in that it has a blower in the engine compartment with a white 4" hose (exactly like your home clothes dryer) which meanders above the shaft until its final exit aft. The hose has a wire that spirals within it to keep its shape. The blower has no flange, so the hose is simply clamped onto it. We ran it occassionally to disperse heat from the engine. No problem for three years. One unfortunate day, we were returning to our slip with the iron genny running when the hose finally fell off the blower. And onto the shaft. Whereby the dozen feet of white hose turned into a hundred feet of wire and wrapped itself around the shaft. But first it sliced open the soft rubber seal on the dripless stuffing box. Water came pouring in. The wire continued to wrap itself around the shaft until....believe it or not....it actually resealed the shaft. By this time I killed the engine, noticing that something had created a major vibration and went below to find white hose, wire, water and an enormous mess. We limped to our slip. The boat stayed in its slip for a day while I made arrangements to get it hauled; the wire had so completely wrapped itself around the shaft and stuffing box that I only had one or two drips every minute, just like the old stuffing box. We pulled the boat and the shaft and unwound what seemed like a mile of wire and had her back in the water with the old stuffing box. Hunter responded promptly and replaced the dripless stuffing box. I installed 4" flexible metal hose from the blower to a point aft of the shaft, were I transitioned back to new white hose. The only real reason for this post, other than to share a story, is to warn everyone to be watchful and more diligent with the dripless shaft. As I said, I much prefer the dry bilge, but the dripless shaft has a soft rubber seal which can be torn open far more easily than the tough, traditional stuffing box. Sailors should make sure there's absolutely nothing that can come in contact with the shaft, which is obvious, but look for anything that might fall or otherwise come lose and possibly damage the dripless stuffing box. Happy sailing.
Dripless Stuffing Box - a story...
- Thread starter PHitchcox
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Also have blow
I have the blower and white hose in engine compartment on my 2001 290. I think some one else had the same thing happen maybe a few years ago,I think the hose fell off where it slipped onto the blower when I first got my 290,I did recheck the white hose and added some more things to make sure it would not come loose and fall down. But thanks for the warning. Have you made any changes or added anything that might have inproved its sailing or any type of inprovements,I have the full roach main. nick
I have the blower and white hose in engine compartment on my 2001 290. I think some one else had the same thing happen maybe a few years ago,I think the hose fell off where it slipped onto the blower when I first got my 290,I did recheck the white hose and added some more things to make sure it would not come loose and fall down. But thanks for the warning. Have you made any changes or added anything that might have inproved its sailing or any type of inprovements,I have the full roach main. nick
Piece of garbage dryer hose.
I had the infamous white dryer hose come off and wrap around the shaft stoppinf the boat. Tokk half a day with wire clippers to remove wire from the shaft. To say the least..the hose is gone and will never be reinstalled on errant wind. This happened in the harbor and was able to hang on to a moored vessel when the problem happened. Will not leyt myself get in thios predicament again. Had the boat 4 years and have never had a reason to turn the blower on.
I had the infamous white dryer hose come off and wrap around the shaft stoppinf the boat. Tokk half a day with wire clippers to remove wire from the shaft. To say the least..the hose is gone and will never be reinstalled on errant wind. This happened in the harbor and was able to hang on to a moored vessel when the problem happened. Will not leyt myself get in thios predicament again. Had the boat 4 years and have never had a reason to turn the blower on.
290 Improvements
Nick, I'm constantly in search of improvements; we went with the in-mast furling, which really is unnecessary for such a small boat, but is wonderfully convenient. However, performance suffers significantly. A faulty sail plan provided by Hunter incorrectly showed approximately the same sail area for both the in-mast and standard options, supposedly incorporating a larger jib. A few years later we were told the diagram was in error. Adding a Gori folding prop and Doyle APS asymmetric this year. We are also looking for a vertical batten mainsail but haven't made that commitment. Any additions at your end? Happy to share my progress.
Nick, I'm constantly in search of improvements; we went with the in-mast furling, which really is unnecessary for such a small boat, but is wonderfully convenient. However, performance suffers significantly. A faulty sail plan provided by Hunter incorrectly showed approximately the same sail area for both the in-mast and standard options, supposedly incorporating a larger jib. A few years later we were told the diagram was in error. Adding a Gori folding prop and Doyle APS asymmetric this year. We are also looking for a vertical batten mainsail but haven't made that commitment. Any additions at your end? Happy to share my progress.
Yo! PHitchcox
If you're looking for an effective bowsprit for the asym spin, try the link below. By the way, why do you have a hose blower anyway? I've got an 18 Yanmar on my 29.5 and never heard of such a thing.
If you're looking for an effective bowsprit for the asym spin, try the link below. By the way, why do you have a hose blower anyway? I've got an 18 Yanmar on my 29.5 and never heard of such a thing.
Blower came stock
The blower in the engine compartment is to remove heat buildup,only use during hot summer months,it came with the boat from hunter so I use it only because it's there. I hav'nt really made any inprovements as far as performance go's ,I would like to get some type of spinnaker but don't know what's the best for me yet. Have only added things like gps,extra battery,small inverter,will be adding the radar dome to my chartplotter plus radar and ST60 wind in a few weeks,I have been very happy with the boat and just enjoying sailing her. nick
The blower in the engine compartment is to remove heat buildup,only use during hot summer months,it came with the boat from hunter so I use it only because it's there. I hav'nt really made any inprovements as far as performance go's ,I would like to get some type of spinnaker but don't know what's the best for me yet. Have only added things like gps,extra battery,small inverter,will be adding the radar dome to my chartplotter plus radar and ST60 wind in a few weeks,I have been very happy with the boat and just enjoying sailing her. nick
Thanks for the details
It should be instructive to all. I have thought about making some kind of shield to help protect the bellows and to keep anything from anything hitting it. Anyone else have any input on that idea?
It should be instructive to all. I have thought about making some kind of shield to help protect the bellows and to keep anything from anything hitting it. Anyone else have any input on that idea?
Thanks for all the comments
Patrick, I think you can go back and edit/delete your posts, if you want to change or get rid of the double-post. No idea why. The idea of a protective cover makes all the sense in the world. Nick, the ST60 wind is great; installed it last year with the mast up. The Top Climber is great and the only way I could pull it off alone. (I know, shouldn't go up a mast without a buddy around, but I did have an audience.) Bill, the blower makes little sense; having come over from a power boat, I knew it wasn't needed to clear gas fumes. But it does help clear out any diesel smell and a little heat and keeps the admiral happy.
Patrick, I think you can go back and edit/delete your posts, if you want to change or get rid of the double-post. No idea why. The idea of a protective cover makes all the sense in the world. Nick, the ST60 wind is great; installed it last year with the mast up. The Top Climber is great and the only way I could pull it off alone. (I know, shouldn't go up a mast without a buddy around, but I did have an audience.) Bill, the blower makes little sense; having come over from a power boat, I knew it wasn't needed to clear gas fumes. But it does help clear out any diesel smell and a little heat and keeps the admiral happy.
"Protective" Cover
Patrick - I added a cover for my shaft seal for to protect the boat from any flying erant water from the shaft seal. Since I don't have my donut set really tight against the bellows I occasionally get a few drrops that leak (fly) out. Also, the bellows needs to be compressed slightly from time to time, or, because sometimes the shaft vibrates such that one can get a small amout of spray from the shaft seal. Anyway, if there are any drops they are sprayed by the spinning shaft in a radius around where the seal is, eventually drying and leaving a salt deposit. My budget 5-minute fix was to take a plastic gallon water bottle and cut it so that it fits over the shaft and the seal. It's not a thing of beauty but it justs sits there and does the job. The shaft and donut can rub against the plastic a bit but so far the same fixit has lasted for several years with no problem. It would not prevent the problem the other folks have had with things that fall into the prop shaft area though.
Patrick - I added a cover for my shaft seal for to protect the boat from any flying erant water from the shaft seal. Since I don't have my donut set really tight against the bellows I occasionally get a few drrops that leak (fly) out. Also, the bellows needs to be compressed slightly from time to time, or, because sometimes the shaft vibrates such that one can get a small amout of spray from the shaft seal. Anyway, if there are any drops they are sprayed by the spinning shaft in a radius around where the seal is, eventually drying and leaving a salt deposit. My budget 5-minute fix was to take a plastic gallon water bottle and cut it so that it fits over the shaft and the seal. It's not a thing of beauty but it justs sits there and does the job. The shaft and donut can rub against the plastic a bit but so far the same fixit has lasted for several years with no problem. It would not prevent the problem the other folks have had with things that fall into the prop shaft area though.
dodger
How do you like your dodger. i have bimini and looking to purchase dodger. Noticed you have clear view panels on side...thinking of the same thing. Does your dodger flatten down so in nice weather you can get the breeze? Does it bang into the mast when flattened? Thanks for the picture.
How do you like your dodger. i have bimini and looking to purchase dodger. Noticed you have clear view panels on side...thinking of the same thing. Does your dodger flatten down so in nice weather you can get the breeze? Does it bang into the mast when flattened? Thanks for the picture.
John, you are the first person
who has made a shield that I know of. I was thinking of an inverted U shape (cross section) with flanges that fit into some cleats on the deck. The shield would just spring into place and be easy to pull off if access was ever needed. Am I missing anything?
who has made a shield that I know of. I was thinking of an inverted U shape (cross section) with flanges that fit into some cleats on the deck. The shield would just spring into place and be easy to pull off if access was ever needed. Am I missing anything?
Love my dodger
I love my dodger it has kept us warm and dry many times,it does fold down and no it doesn't come close to the mast,I also have the front clear panel unzip and roll up. nick
I love my dodger it has kept us warm and dry many times,it does fold down and no it doesn't come close to the mast,I also have the front clear panel unzip and roll up. nick
Gori folding prop ?????
I'd do some research in the archives, etc before I bought the Gori-they seem to have major problems with wear in the pivot pins,causing them to lose a blade, often at the wrong time!
I'd do some research in the archives, etc before I bought the Gori-they seem to have major problems with wear in the pivot pins,causing them to lose a blade, often at the wrong time!
Patrick - You got it!
Actually it may have been a gallon plastic milk container instead of a gallon water container. The plastic is pretty tough stuff and resists abraision pretty well. The cap end I cut off to just about where the handle starts and then cut the bottom off. Slit down the side and kinda 'snap' the piece of art onto the bellows with the handle facing aft. Our boat has a small fiberglass recess before any water would flow into the area under the oil pan of the engine so what little water we ever get usually just evaporates from the heat in the engine room. We're talking a few drops max. With this setup I don't have to compress the bellows really tight.
Actually it may have been a gallon plastic milk container instead of a gallon water container. The plastic is pretty tough stuff and resists abraision pretty well. The cap end I cut off to just about where the handle starts and then cut the bottom off. Slit down the side and kinda 'snap' the piece of art onto the bellows with the handle facing aft. Our boat has a small fiberglass recess before any water would flow into the area under the oil pan of the engine so what little water we ever get usually just evaporates from the heat in the engine room. We're talking a few drops max. With this setup I don't have to compress the bellows really tight.
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