Leaking Dripless Packing

[Tim]

Our 1990 Catalina 28 had a dripless packing gland installed before we purchased her in the summer of 2000. I do not know the brand as the boat is 3 hours away. We moved her to a lake in Arizona and she spends some time in the water; some on the trailer. The shaft has never leaked until last weekend. When I was inspecting the cooling water thruhull to be sure it was opened correctly I noticed leaks running up the shaft at the rate of a cup every 15 minutes or so. The bilge pump handled it easily. I presume the leak to be my "dripless packing". Could this be related to the fact the boat is stored on a trailer? Should I have been "burping" the bellows? I just learned that term by reading the archives. Could it be the jarring from the trailer ride down to the launch ramp? Something else? She is safely on the trailer at this time. I would appreciate your ideas. Thanks. Tim Prouty 520-323-5123

 

[Jim Willis]

My dripless packing is 8 years old- no leaks

WHen my boat was unattended over here in HI (I was living on mainland) the batteries got ruined and there was no power to the bilge pump.The boat could have sunk with regular packing gland!.Mine is also the bellows type and has never leaked. I wonder if the shaft has got pitted so that it no longer makes a good seal.I would contact the makers and get their advise. In meantime you could check for pitting etc and put silicone grease on the shaft - just a suggestion but the makes are the people to contact.THanksJim W