prop

[dutchy]

Hi Steve, I put on a 15 X 12 stainless steel 2 blade and it worked really well. I got the revs I needed and does not vibrate. Seems OK. I have repacked a stuffing box on my old boat but it was on dry land, I just wondered if it was possible to do it in the water. Thanks for advice.

 

[Steve Dion]

Yup! They do it all the time. I would also suggest that you move up to a higher quality material. Some of the new stuffing materials allow you to have "no drip" when the shaft is turning. This will eliminate the issue with the engine bilge filling with water.

My Hunter 31 had a slatted panel in the companionway. It was made from solid pieces of teak. Even if the engine bilge spilled over, the water would drain down into the small bilge area forward of the engine bilge.

They really do not like the idea of your engine bilge being allowed to drain into the main bilge. If you have an oil leak, you will be pumping oil overboard.

 

[K7MX]

Dutchy- I re-packed the stuffing box in my Hunter 30 while in the water by packing the gland around the prop shaft outside the boat with modeling clay. Then I separated the stuffing box nuts inside the boat and picked out the old flax material. I had very little water enter the boat. I then re-packed the stuffing box with new 3/16 graphite strips, making sure that the joints were staggered and re-tightened the 2 nuts. The whole job only took about 30 minutes and was much easier and drier than I expected. Make sure you get all the old packing material out before putting in the new. Good luck.