I'm currently sitting in a cove out at Catalina. The bilge kept runing on and off durning the night. When I started to investigate where the water was coming from, I found that there is water coming in from the shaft that connects to the transmission. I've included a link to a picture that I just took (wireless internet) and the water is leaking from the bottom of the green coupling (I'm sure this isn't the normal color)The leak is about 5 drops per second. Is there anything that I can do to slow down this leak? Is it time to head home? Don't have many tools here with me. Vice grips, Channel locks, socket set and a few screwdrivers. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks, Robert
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Robert, the green coupling in your photo...
is the bronze stuffing box. Not to worry. Finish out your cruise. Normally, they do not leak when the prop shaft is idle, and a drop every five to eight seconds when the shaft is spinning. Even the rate you mention is no big deal as long as your bilge pump continues cycling to remove the slow build up of water. Depending upon when the box stuffing was last replaced, you can either: 1. Tighten the box a flat or two to adjust the drip to the rate mentioned above, or 2. Replace the stuffing the next time you haul the boat. Some have replaced the stuffing while the boat is still in the water. I prefer to do it on the hard. Either way you should be just fine until then. In order to break loose the stuffing box lock nut you need two service wrenches large enough to fit the stuffing box flats and lock nut flats. I believe mine are 2 3/16th inches and 2 1/8th inches. Adjustable nor pipe wrenches did not work in my case because of limited access. Liquid Wrench helped penetrate and loosen the corrosion, making the job a bit easier. Check the archives on this site for several articles on repacking the stuffing box. Good luck. Terry P.S. Our stuffing material is four years old. I plan on replacing it next year when I haul the boat.
is the bronze stuffing box. Not to worry. Finish out your cruise. Normally, they do not leak when the prop shaft is idle, and a drop every five to eight seconds when the shaft is spinning. Even the rate you mention is no big deal as long as your bilge pump continues cycling to remove the slow build up of water. Depending upon when the box stuffing was last replaced, you can either: 1. Tighten the box a flat or two to adjust the drip to the rate mentioned above, or 2. Replace the stuffing the next time you haul the boat. Some have replaced the stuffing while the boat is still in the water. I prefer to do it on the hard. Either way you should be just fine until then. In order to break loose the stuffing box lock nut you need two service wrenches large enough to fit the stuffing box flats and lock nut flats. I believe mine are 2 3/16th inches and 2 1/8th inches. Adjustable nor pipe wrenches did not work in my case because of limited access. Liquid Wrench helped penetrate and loosen the corrosion, making the job a bit easier. Check the archives on this site for several articles on repacking the stuffing box. Good luck. Terry P.S. Our stuffing material is four years old. I plan on replacing it next year when I haul the boat.
Stuffing box
Robert, I feel your pain and frustration. The apparent culprit is the stuffing box. There are two large nuts that need to be tightened. The turns will be in opposite directions. If you don't have the two wrenches to do this, ask around your anchorage. A sailboat should have some for you to borrow. When you get home, change the packing material. This needs to be done at least yearly. My wife and I were in Avalon last weekend. Good luck, John Richard s/v Jack's Place
Robert, I feel your pain and frustration. The apparent culprit is the stuffing box. There are two large nuts that need to be tightened. The turns will be in opposite directions. If you don't have the two wrenches to do this, ask around your anchorage. A sailboat should have some for you to borrow. When you get home, change the packing material. This needs to be done at least yearly. My wife and I were in Avalon last weekend. Good luck, John Richard s/v Jack's Place
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