My stuffing box is attached to the sterntube by a 12" hose. This hose has been soaking in diesel fuel that leaked from my tank and the outer skin is mushy. Is the inner core impervious to diesel such that I can trust it not to fail until I can get it to a yard 5 hours away where I will have it replaced? Is this hose a special order, or can I find it at West Marine, an auto store or elsewhere?
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Special hose
Not sure about how it holds up to diesel but that is a special hose for that purpose. It is not radiator or exhaust hose as I have seen on some boats. Buy the right stuff for a few more bucks. I bought mine at a local WM. One of the differences is that it comes in single pieces that is not coiled like the other hoses I mentioned. A hose coming off a coil would not line up properly. It also has extra reinforcement. Tim R.
Not sure about how it holds up to diesel but that is a special hose for that purpose. It is not radiator or exhaust hose as I have seen on some boats. Buy the right stuff for a few more bucks. I bought mine at a local WM. One of the differences is that it comes in single pieces that is not coiled like the other hoses I mentioned. A hose coming off a coil would not line up properly. It also has extra reinforcement. Tim R.
Bill...
You have what I believe to be a real "Hobson's Choice" here, that is, no choice at all. IMHO, starting out on a 5 hour trip (I assume a lot of that would be under power)with a "mushy" packing gland could be dangerous enough to threaten you and your boat. The upside of this difficult situation is knowing you have a potentially serious problem beforehand. I would get that hose replaced quickly whether you start this trip or not.
You have what I believe to be a real "Hobson's Choice" here, that is, no choice at all. IMHO, starting out on a 5 hour trip (I assume a lot of that would be under power)with a "mushy" packing gland could be dangerous enough to threaten you and your boat. The upside of this difficult situation is knowing you have a potentially serious problem beforehand. I would get that hose replaced quickly whether you start this trip or not.
Now why ?
Why in the world would you motor 5 hours , for such a major repair , there are no lifts closer ? This should only take several hours at most . You can previous to departing to a closer lift , break loose each bolt at a time to assure being able to disassemble as well as the coupler removal ......clue us all in ?
Why in the world would you motor 5 hours , for such a major repair , there are no lifts closer ? This should only take several hours at most . You can previous to departing to a closer lift , break loose each bolt at a time to assure being able to disassemble as well as the coupler removal ......clue us all in ?
5 ply minimum, exaust hose
If you have to motor 5 hours make sure you have a good manual bilge pump plus the muscle on board to manage it. A few rolls of duct tape would not hurt.
If you have to motor 5 hours make sure you have a good manual bilge pump plus the muscle on board to manage it. A few rolls of duct tape would not hurt.
Do it in the water!
You're in Florida! Get the hose, cut it to length,disconnect the shaft and move it back so it's nearly out the hole in the stuffing box (maybe dive over and tie a safety line to the prop first) Dive over the side and tie a couple of plastic bags around the cutlass bearing or whatever you have where the shaft goes into the boat and around the shaft with zip ties. Get your electric pump and strong friend on the manual pump ready for action, loosen the clamps and go for it! The water will push the plastic bags into the opening. It won't be completely dry, but it will be manageable. Put new packing in the stuffing box while you're at it. Don't over tighten the stuffing box. Run the motor a few minutes with the new packing tight enough so it drips a couple of drops a second, then tighten it with the engine running so it drips once every 10 seconds or so. After a half hour or so, tighten it the way you like it. Keep some rags handy to stuff in the shaft tube while you get the stuffing box out of the old hose and into the new one. Keep the stuffing box loose so the shaft will go in easily.
You're in Florida! Get the hose, cut it to length,disconnect the shaft and move it back so it's nearly out the hole in the stuffing box (maybe dive over and tie a safety line to the prop first) Dive over the side and tie a couple of plastic bags around the cutlass bearing or whatever you have where the shaft goes into the boat and around the shaft with zip ties. Get your electric pump and strong friend on the manual pump ready for action, loosen the clamps and go for it! The water will push the plastic bags into the opening. It won't be completely dry, but it will be manageable. Put new packing in the stuffing box while you're at it. Don't over tighten the stuffing box. Run the motor a few minutes with the new packing tight enough so it drips a couple of drops a second, then tighten it with the engine running so it drips once every 10 seconds or so. After a half hour or so, tighten it the way you like it. Keep some rags handy to stuff in the shaft tube while you get the stuffing box out of the old hose and into the new one. Keep the stuffing box loose so the shaft will go in easily.
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