Long Stuffingbox Hose

[Ralph18414]

While servicing the stuffing box on my Pearson Wanderer for the first time (on the hard) I was appalled at how unnacessable the thing was. A cockpit drain prevented me from getting both hands on the stuffing box. I wound up cutting the cockpit drain off (I'll reatach with radiator hose) so that I could get my shoulder into the bilge (I was hanging upside down from a hatch). Even after all those gyrations I still couldn't get the needed leverage to crack the lock nut. I wound up removing the shaft and taking the stuffing box out of the boat to a vice where I had no difficulty with the lock nut. I repacked the stuffing box and put anti-seize on the threads. Now for the question.The stuffing box hose is only 4" long. A longer hose would greatly improve the accessability of the box so that I would be able to adjust the stuffing box while in the water. I special-ordered a 12" hose from Fawcetts. I am tempted to leave the hose at 12" when I reinstall the stuffing box. Does anyone anticipate any problems that may result from using a 12" stuffing box hose?ThanksRalph

 

[Ross]

as long as you have room

and if the hose is straight you should be alright. Put a little liquid soap or K-Y jelly on the hose when you assemble the pieces it will go together easier.

 

[Warren Milberg]

Im not sure...

... how you access the stuffing box on your Pearson Wanderer so not sure this suggestion will help. I used to own a wonderful Catalina 27. While it had good access to the front and starboard side of the engine, getting to the transmission and stuffing box was pretty difficult. I wound up cutting the wall separating the engine compartment from the starboard quarter berth bunk and enlarging the small access port there to about 5x its original size. It was an easy job with a recip saw and a few barrel bolts to hold the "new" access panel in place -- and it made it a LOT easier to get to the aft end of the engine. If you can find a similar way to improve your access to your stuffing box, life will be much easier.

 

[NYSail]

My old boat

Was a Cal 34....access to the stuffing box was bad, however I could grab the thing and kind of manipulate it. The hose, however was about 12" long, which added to the ability to work the thing, while in place. In my new boat, a 1986 Pearson P36-2, I bought a new stuffing box with a hose of about 5" long....but this boat has great access to the stuffing box. I think shorter is prefered, however a longer one can be ok if the clamps are on good.Greg