Pearson 303 Rudder Packing Gland

[jrezab]

I need to replace the packing material in the packing gland of the rudder & engine drive shaft. Does any person 303 owner know if the material is 3/16 or 1/4 inch thick.

Jerry
New Bern, NC
Hull # 314

 

[SVCarolena]

I need to replace the packing material in the packing gland of the rudder & engine drive shaft. Does any person 303 owner know if the material is 3/16 or 1/4 inch thick.

Jerry
New Bern, NC
Hull # 314

We were led to believe that our P303 took 3/16. I installed three rings and it seemed fine, but leaked like a sieve once we went out for a test run. I removed it and replaced with two rings of 1/4, and she is running like a top. Moral of the story - it could be either. Get both, it isn't that expensive. I do suggest using the new Gore packing. It runs cooler and eliminates most of the drips. We've always had a problem with a wet bilge due in part to the keel stepped mast, but the new packing helps.

 

[jrezab]

Thanks for the reply. I thought it should be 1/4" not 3/16" packing gland material. I previouly owned a Pearson 28-2 which had the same size 1" shaft and I used 1/4" packing which had minimum to no leaks. I am surprised the bilge does leak in water since the only drain to the bilge is the ice box. I have a project to find the other sources of incoming water. My thought is their should be none.

Jerry (hull #314)

 

[SVCarolena]

Thanks for the reply. I thought it should be 1/4" not 3/16" packing gland material. I previouly owned a Pearson 28-2 which had the same size 1" shaft and I used 1/4" packing which had minimum to no leaks. I am surprised the bilge does leak in water since the only drain to the bilge is the ice box. I have a project to find the other sources of incoming water. My thought is their should be none.

Jerry (hull #314)

My apologies - I was thinking of the shaft packing, not the rudder. We have not had to replace the rudder packing.