Hunter 33 Stuffing Box dripping

[Two Sails]

My 2005 H33 has been slowly accumulating water in the bilge over the course of the winter. We are in the lower Chesapeake so she isn't hauled out - just winterized in the slip. After confirming the bilge water is salty, I traced it back to the stuffing box. I would say it drips 2-3 drops per minute at best (not running - engine is winterized), around the underside of the threaded portion of the stuffing box, just before the stuffing box nut. I've been told by local dock neighbors this stuffing box uses shaft seals and not flax packing. I'm hauling the boat out for bottom cleaning, zincs and overall inspection and was going to dig into the stuffing box while it is on the hard for 2-3 days. Does anyone else have a 2005 H33 and have details on their stuffing box makeup? The shaft is 2 1/2". Thanks!

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Since you aren’t using the boat now, simply tighten the box. Replace seals in theSpring.

 

[Calif. Ted]

That certainly appears to be conventional to me, clean the threads and nuts using brass wire brush and soak with penetrating oil for a day or two. Loosen lock nut while holding packing nut in place then tighten packing nut just a little, 1/8 of a turn maybe. Retighten lock nut while holding packing nut in place.

 

[jssailem]

This is not unique to Hunter owners.
It is universal to all boats no matter brand or maker that use a stuffing box to stop water from rushing in and drowning your boat.

To your rescue MaineSail has prepared a very complete discussion on his site that he shares with all sailors.

Here you go.
Re-Packing A Traditional Stuffing Box

Welcome to the adventure of sail boat ownership.

 

[Two Sails]

This is not unique to Hunter owners.
It is universal to all boats no matter brand or maker that use a stuffing box to stop water from rushing in and drowning your boat.

To your rescue MaineSail has prepared a very complete discussion on his site that he shares with all sailors.

Here you go.
Re-Packing A Traditional Stuffing Box

Welcome to the adventure of sail boat ownership.

Thank you everyone for the advice. The article above looks like exactly what I need. She will be hauled out mid-March and will tackle then.

 

[Stu Jackson]

The article above looks like exactly what I need.

Here's another resource:

Stuffing box - c34.org

c34.org

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

I've been told by local dock neighbors this stuffing box uses shaft seals and not flax packing.

I'm going to suspect these dock neighbours of yours are power boaters. Not the sharpest knives in drawer.

Never heard of "shaft seals" before but that's as typical a packing gland as you're going to find on a Hunter. Read the articles posted above and you're in business.

Following post #2 will give you peace of mind until haulout.

 

[Alan Gomes]

I've been told by local dock neighbors this stuffing box uses shaft seals and not flax packing.

Your dock neighbors told you wrong.

 

[Johnb]

The shaft is 2 1/2". Thanks!

Check - it may be 2 1/2" across the flats on the nut but not the shaft itself.

 

[Justin_NSA]

Check - it may be 2 1/2" across the flats on the nut but not the shaft itself.

I thought it was just me....

 

[Tom J]

I've been told by local dock neighbors this stuffing box uses shaft seals and not flax packing.

I believe that would be a dripless gland. Different animal. As mentioned already, yours is a conventional packing gland.

 

[Justin_NSA]

A dripless seal may be something to consider when you do the haulout. Plenty of discussion and testimony on the board.

 

[Two Sails]

Shaft diameter is 1". After reading the posts and the article on MaineSail, I'm going to clean the threads and nuts and tighten the stuffing box nut 1/8 of a turn to determine if this stops the dripping while in the slip. If so, I may leave it alone. While the boat is 17 years old, it has not had much use with 560 hours total on the engine so I'm wondering if it just needs a little tension.

 

[Tally Ho]

Shaft diameter is 1". After reading the posts and the article on MaineSail, I'm going to clean the threads and nuts and tighten the stuffing box nut 1/8 of a turn to determine if this stops the dripping while in the slip. If so, I may leave it alone. While the boat is 17 years old, it has not had much use with 560 hours total on the engine so I'm wondering if it just needs a little tension.

Good plan. Exactly what I would do. And repack it ( or install dripless seal) when you haul out next.

I like the GFO packing.



i just replaced my old traditional stuffing box with a Volvo dripless stuffing box. Anxious to see how it works. My shaft was fairly new, and I was able to remove the shaft coupling pretty easy. If your shaft and coupling are old, seized and rusty, installing a dripless becomes a much larger job (usually involving replacing the shaft and coupling).



Let us know after you snug up the stuffing box…I am sure it will stop the leak.

Greg

 

[jssailem]

The beauty of a stuffing box is the immediate feed back it gives. It works or it does not.
YODA would love stuffing boxes.

There are a lot of thoughts on the type of flax to use. After researching the options and reviewing the complaints, I ended up using the standard inexpensive waxed flax stuffing material. Has given me no issues for the past 4 years. On the next haul out, I'll replace and go again. Just get the correct size and follow the procedure laid out by MaineSail. you'll have many happy days of sailing before you need to do again.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

just replaced my old traditional stuffing box with a Volvo dripless stuffing box.

Talk about luxury. You've got enough room in there to have TWO packing glands . Lack of space is always the #1 complaint when working on glands and yet you've got it in spades but don't need it.

Life's a bitch and then you die !

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

I ended up using the standard inexpensive waxed flax stuffing material.

Didn't know waxed was still around. Teflon impregnated seems to be most common in the chandelries I hang around.

Worth a couple of dollars at most.

The last time I changed mine, it was 5 years old and looked like new. This time I'm going for 7+ years just to beat @Terry Cox who boasts 7 year between changes.

 

[jssailem]

Just about enough to do two repacks.

My shaft size is 1.375". Circumference is about 4.3". With 3 turns to fill the stuffing box, that leaves me about 11"s for the next packing. 2 packages should last 15 years for me, you or Terry it would be a life time.

 

[BigEasy]

Shaft diameter is 1". After reading While the boat is 17 years old, it has not had much use with 560 hours total on the engine so I'm wondering if it just needs a little tension.

Yes, if hasn’t been adjusted in past, it may only need to be tightened w/o replacing packing.

 

[BigEasy]

i just replaced my old traditional stuffing box with a Volvo dripless stuffing box. Anxious to see how it works.
Greg

Have had a Volvo shaft seal on my boat for 15 problem free years; has never leaked. Just lubricate it with Volvo grease annually. Mine is overdo for replacement now.