First, thanks to Stu who came by my boat this morning. His visit was very helpful, but - surprise, surprise - it led to another question. We were talking about replacing the packing on the shaft. I was looking at this message board as well as reading the tech notes from the C36 association and have gotten two contradictory points of view on one issue: Is it necessary - or strongly advisable - to haul the boat out of the water in order to replace the packing? I understand that I'll get a fair bit of water coming in if it's in the water, but I can deal with that if need be. What do people recommend? (Naturally, I'd prefer to avoid the cost of hauling it if I can.)
replacing packing
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First, thanks to Stu who came by my boat this morning. His visit was very helpful, but - surprise, surprise - it led to another question. We were talking about replacing the packing on the shaft. I was looking at this message board as well as reading the tech notes from the C36 association and have gotten two contradictory points of view on one issue: Is it necessary - or strongly advisable - to haul the boat out of the water in order to replace the packing? I understand that I'll get a fair bit of water coming in if it's in the water, but I can deal with that if need be. What do people recommend? (Naturally, I'd prefer to avoid the cost of hauling it if I can.)
What I have been told
I have been told by those I respect that it can be done w/boat in the water, though have never done it. I suppose, that while pulling the old stuffing out, if the inflow got too bad, you could cram some new in and tighten it down. Not good for running, but good for staying afloat.
I have been told by those I respect that it can be done w/boat in the water, though have never done it. I suppose, that while pulling the old stuffing out, if the inflow got too bad, you could cram some new in and tighten it down. Not good for running, but good for staying afloat.
What I have been told
I have been told by those I respect that it can be done w/boat in the water, though have never done it. I suppose, that while pulling the old stuffing out, if the inflow got too bad, you could cram some new in and tighten it down. Not good for running, but good for staying afloat.
I have been told by those I respect that it can be done w/boat in the water, though have never done it. I suppose, that while pulling the old stuffing out, if the inflow got too bad, you could cram some new in and tighten it down. Not good for running, but good for staying afloat.
save your money
John Just make sure you have the correct tools such as something to remove the old packing and pre-cut the new stuff so as to save time while it is leaking and you can save yourself the cost of a short haul. What water does come in will be less than that which even a small bilge pump can easily handle.
John Just make sure you have the correct tools such as something to remove the old packing and pre-cut the new stuff so as to save time while it is leaking and you can save yourself the cost of a short haul. What water does come in will be less than that which even a small bilge pump can easily handle.
save your money
John Just make sure you have the correct tools such as something to remove the old packing and pre-cut the new stuff so as to save time while it is leaking and you can save yourself the cost of a short haul. What water does come in will be less than that which even a small bilge pump can easily handle.
John Just make sure you have the correct tools such as something to remove the old packing and pre-cut the new stuff so as to save time while it is leaking and you can save yourself the cost of a short haul. What water does come in will be less than that which even a small bilge pump can easily handle.
I did it on my 36 and
I am glad I did. There are some nice packing wrenches for sale on the 36 Assc. site. I would get them and the almost dripless packing. Get some small picks from the auto store and a pair of medical forcepts. Don't try Stu screw idea. I know it works in the Navy but not on our boats, not mine away. If you need more help, just ask. I go all my advice on the 36 Assc. site.
I am glad I did. There are some nice packing wrenches for sale on the 36 Assc. site. I would get them and the almost dripless packing. Get some small picks from the auto store and a pair of medical forcepts. Don't try Stu screw idea. I know it works in the Navy but not on our boats, not mine away. If you need more help, just ask. I go all my advice on the 36 Assc. site.
I did it on my 36 and
I am glad I did. There are some nice packing wrenches for sale on the 36 Assc. site. I would get them and the almost dripless packing. Get some small picks from the auto store and a pair of medical forcepts. Don't try Stu screw idea. I know it works in the Navy but not on our boats, not mine away. If you need more help, just ask. I go all my advice on the 36 Assc. site.
I am glad I did. There are some nice packing wrenches for sale on the 36 Assc. site. I would get them and the almost dripless packing. Get some small picks from the auto store and a pair of medical forcepts. Don't try Stu screw idea. I know it works in the Navy but not on our boats, not mine away. If you need more help, just ask. I go all my advice on the 36 Assc. site.
If you don't mind going for a swim, take some clay with you. Pack it around the shaft - no leaks. When you motor out the next time the clay should fall away from the shaft and you'll be good to go. If you don't want to go for a swim, do what the others have suggested. It works too. Paul
If you don't mind going for a swim, take some clay with you. Pack it around the shaft - no leaks. When you motor out the next time the clay should fall away from the shaft and you'll be good to go. If you don't want to go for a swim, do what the others have suggested. It works too. Paul
You can do it in the water. I have not.
We pull our boat out of the water each winter over here on the 'right' coast (NE) so there is always time on the hard for this task. I forget where I read this but you can use the toilet bowl wax ring material and jam it in around the shaft by the cutlass bearing (outside and under the boat). This may stem the flow a bit while you are working inside the cabin. Of course this assumes that you are willing to go under water and under the boat to find the shaft cutlass bearing. You could try jamming the wax in around the shaft on the inside but I would think the water pressure might prove too much and push the wax right back out. I think Don hit the nail on the head: pre-cut the new packing material before you attempt to loosen the stuffing box nuts and have all possible tools and supplies on hand before starting. If any of your shaft is showing behind the engine you can use that to measure your cuts of new flax packing. Have a look at MaineSail's nice website on re-packing the box: http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/stuffing_box&page=1
We pull our boat out of the water each winter over here on the 'right' coast (NE) so there is always time on the hard for this task. I forget where I read this but you can use the toilet bowl wax ring material and jam it in around the shaft by the cutlass bearing (outside and under the boat). This may stem the flow a bit while you are working inside the cabin. Of course this assumes that you are willing to go under water and under the boat to find the shaft cutlass bearing. You could try jamming the wax in around the shaft on the inside but I would think the water pressure might prove too much and push the wax right back out. I think Don hit the nail on the head: pre-cut the new packing material before you attempt to loosen the stuffing box nuts and have all possible tools and supplies on hand before starting. If any of your shaft is showing behind the engine you can use that to measure your cuts of new flax packing. Have a look at MaineSail's nice website on re-packing the box: http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/stuffing_box&page=1
You can do it in the water. I have not.
We pull our boat out of the water each winter over here on the 'right' coast (NE) so there is always time on the hard for this task. I forget where I read this but you can use the toilet bowl wax ring material and jam it in around the shaft by the cutlass bearing (outside and under the boat). This may stem the flow a bit while you are working inside the cabin. Of course this assumes that you are willing to go under water and under the boat to find the shaft cutlass bearing. You could try jamming the wax in around the shaft on the inside but I would think the water pressure might prove too much and push the wax right back out. I think Don hit the nail on the head: pre-cut the new packing material before you attempt to loosen the stuffing box nuts and have all possible tools and supplies on hand before starting. If any of your shaft is showing behind the engine you can use that to measure your cuts of new flax packing. Have a look at MaineSail's nice website on re-packing the box: http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/stuffing_box&page=1
We pull our boat out of the water each winter over here on the 'right' coast (NE) so there is always time on the hard for this task. I forget where I read this but you can use the toilet bowl wax ring material and jam it in around the shaft by the cutlass bearing (outside and under the boat). This may stem the flow a bit while you are working inside the cabin. Of course this assumes that you are willing to go under water and under the boat to find the shaft cutlass bearing. You could try jamming the wax in around the shaft on the inside but I would think the water pressure might prove too much and push the wax right back out. I think Don hit the nail on the head: pre-cut the new packing material before you attempt to loosen the stuffing box nuts and have all possible tools and supplies on hand before starting. If any of your shaft is showing behind the engine you can use that to measure your cuts of new flax packing. Have a look at MaineSail's nice website on re-packing the box: http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/stuffing_box&page=1
and yet another question
That link to Maine Sail's web site explanantion was great. Thanks for that. But it leads to another question: On his site, he says the rubber hose at the aft end of the packing box should be replaced every seven to ten years. My boat is almost ten years old, so I guess it's time. But looking at it, it seems that the boat would have to be hauled and the shaft pulled for this job. Is that right?
That link to Maine Sail's web site explanantion was great. Thanks for that. But it leads to another question: On his site, he says the rubber hose at the aft end of the packing box should be replaced every seven to ten years. My boat is almost ten years old, so I guess it's time. But looking at it, it seems that the boat would have to be hauled and the shaft pulled for this job. Is that right?
and yet another question
That link to Maine Sail's web site explanantion was great. Thanks for that. But it leads to another question: On his site, he says the rubber hose at the aft end of the packing box should be replaced every seven to ten years. My boat is almost ten years old, so I guess it's time. But looking at it, it seems that the boat would have to be hauled and the shaft pulled for this job. Is that right?
That link to Maine Sail's web site explanantion was great. Thanks for that. But it leads to another question: On his site, he says the rubber hose at the aft end of the packing box should be replaced every seven to ten years. My boat is almost ten years old, so I guess it's time. But looking at it, it seems that the boat would have to be hauled and the shaft pulled for this job. Is that right?
That's true..
It's true that your boat would need to be hauled for replacing the rubber hose. I also don't recommend repacking in water as a first timer. I've seen it get messy more than once. For me I like to use "Thera Band" (that stretchy rubbery excercise band that physical therapists use) or a bicycle inner tube and take a wrap wile you dig out the old and replace it. The problem on many of the C-36's is room! On many of the C36's you don't have a lot of room to slide the nut forward and clean it out especially after you wrapped the male end of the stuffing box to prevent water ingress.. You don't have to replace the rubber hose if you don't want to but I had one crack and split on a my 1986 C-36 back in 2000 so anything over ten years, I feel, is on borrowed time. Catalina is notorious for using non stuffing box hose on their stuffing boxes and it's usually much less robust than real stuffing box hose.. They did it to me on my 1977 C-30, my 1986 C-36 & my 2005 C-310! You can get stuffing box hose from Buck Algonquin or any reputable prop shop and it's usually MUCH thicker than what Catalina's ship with from the factory...
It's true that your boat would need to be hauled for replacing the rubber hose. I also don't recommend repacking in water as a first timer. I've seen it get messy more than once. For me I like to use "Thera Band" (that stretchy rubbery excercise band that physical therapists use) or a bicycle inner tube and take a wrap wile you dig out the old and replace it. The problem on many of the C-36's is room! On many of the C36's you don't have a lot of room to slide the nut forward and clean it out especially after you wrapped the male end of the stuffing box to prevent water ingress.. You don't have to replace the rubber hose if you don't want to but I had one crack and split on a my 1986 C-36 back in 2000 so anything over ten years, I feel, is on borrowed time. Catalina is notorious for using non stuffing box hose on their stuffing boxes and it's usually much less robust than real stuffing box hose.. They did it to me on my 1977 C-30, my 1986 C-36 & my 2005 C-310! You can get stuffing box hose from Buck Algonquin or any reputable prop shop and it's usually MUCH thicker than what Catalina's ship with from the factory...
That's true..
It's true that your boat would need to be hauled for replacing the rubber hose. I also don't recommend repacking in water as a first timer. I've seen it get messy more than once. For me I like to use "Thera Band" (that stretchy rubbery excercise band that physical therapists use) or a bicycle inner tube and take a wrap wile you dig out the old and replace it. The problem on many of the C-36's is room! On many of the C36's you don't have a lot of room to slide the nut forward and clean it out especially after you wrapped the male end of the stuffing box to prevent water ingress.. You don't have to replace the rubber hose if you don't want to but I had one crack and split on a my 1986 C-36 back in 2000 so anything over ten years, I feel, is on borrowed time. Catalina is notorious for using non stuffing box hose on their stuffing boxes and it's usually much less robust than real stuffing box hose.. They did it to me on my 1977 C-30, my 1986 C-36 & my 2005 C-310! You can get stuffing box hose from Buck Algonquin or any reputable prop shop and it's usually MUCH thicker than what Catalina's ship with from the factory...
It's true that your boat would need to be hauled for replacing the rubber hose. I also don't recommend repacking in water as a first timer. I've seen it get messy more than once. For me I like to use "Thera Band" (that stretchy rubbery excercise band that physical therapists use) or a bicycle inner tube and take a wrap wile you dig out the old and replace it. The problem on many of the C-36's is room! On many of the C36's you don't have a lot of room to slide the nut forward and clean it out especially after you wrapped the male end of the stuffing box to prevent water ingress.. You don't have to replace the rubber hose if you don't want to but I had one crack and split on a my 1986 C-36 back in 2000 so anything over ten years, I feel, is on borrowed time. Catalina is notorious for using non stuffing box hose on their stuffing boxes and it's usually much less robust than real stuffing box hose.. They did it to me on my 1977 C-30, my 1986 C-36 & my 2005 C-310! You can get stuffing box hose from Buck Algonquin or any reputable prop shop and it's usually MUCH thicker than what Catalina's ship with from the factory...
Oh, gosh
wished you'd asked while I was still there: see : http://www.c34.org/faq-pages/faq-stuffing-box.html I did "my first" in the water. We're still afloat. I wrote this before the e-marine gore tex was invented, so read up on Rod's great picture perfect better explanation.
wished you'd asked while I was still there: see : http://www.c34.org/faq-pages/faq-stuffing-box.html I did "my first" in the water. We're still afloat. I wrote this before the e-marine gore tex was invented, so read up on Rod's great picture perfect better explanation.
Oh, gosh
wished you'd asked while I was still there: see : http://www.c34.org/faq-pages/faq-stuffing-box.html I did "my first" in the water. We're still afloat. I wrote this before the e-marine gore tex was invented, so read up on Rod's great picture perfect better explanation.
wished you'd asked while I was still there: see : http://www.c34.org/faq-pages/faq-stuffing-box.html I did "my first" in the water. We're still afloat. I wrote this before the e-marine gore tex was invented, so read up on Rod's great picture perfect better explanation.
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