I posted this yesterday without any responses. I did check the archives, and I believe the correct size would be 3/16". However, the Gore/GFO website ordering information indicated something different. I know it is overkill to replace this stuff every two years, but I know I sleep better knowing a few dollars and some elbow grease will keep my boat afloat and running well. I have used the Gore GFO Packing for several years and try and replace every two. I am due and I believe I have always used 3/16" for a 1" prop shaft which is what I believe is found on a 89 Catalina 30. When I went to order this morning the chart on the website indicated 1/4" for a 1" shaft. The boat is still covered and I broke my toe a few weeks back, so climbing into the boat is not going to be easy. I know exactly where the old package is, but will not be able to get to it until the weekend. So, is it 3/16" or 1/4"? I want to get the stuff ordered so I can launched on-time.
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Don't...
Do not listen to the Gore site. That measurement is a standard measurement but not ALL boats with a 1" shaft use 1/4" packing. Many Catalina's use 3/16" inch packing but on occasions their supplier of stuffing boxes ran dry so they would use another brand in the interim and as such the occasional Catalina has a 1/4" packing. If you've been using 3/16", and it's been working, replace it with 3/16". There is NO way for Gore to know your boat and what it has for packing. The only way to know for sure is to measure the ID of the stuffing box nut, with calipers, and then subtract your shaft diameter.. P.S. Two years really is overkill for GFO unless you motor 300+ hours per season in silty waters..
Do not listen to the Gore site. That measurement is a standard measurement but not ALL boats with a 1" shaft use 1/4" packing. Many Catalina's use 3/16" inch packing but on occasions their supplier of stuffing boxes ran dry so they would use another brand in the interim and as such the occasional Catalina has a 1/4" packing. If you've been using 3/16", and it's been working, replace it with 3/16". There is NO way for Gore to know your boat and what it has for packing. The only way to know for sure is to measure the ID of the stuffing box nut, with calipers, and then subtract your shaft diameter.. P.S. Two years really is overkill for GFO unless you motor 300+ hours per season in silty waters..
I have been using the 3/16" GFO packing as recommended for the 1" shaft on my 2000 H340. However, the packing must have different crush characteristics from the regular flax packing. When I first installed three rings of the GFO, I found that I had to tighten the packing nut many turns in order to get the stuffing box to barely drip. That left little room for further adjustment. The following season, I added an additional two rings of packing (for a total of 5) and I have been happy with the drip rate and the ability to adjust. This Spring, I had to tighten the box another 1/8 turn to be drip free with the engine off. There was a similar discussion about this in the HOW archives perhaps a year or so ago.
I installed the GFO packing on my Catalina 30TR last season for the first time. The boat went in the water last week and to my surprise it required a lot of tightening to get it to stop dripping at rest. In years past with regular flax packing this was not the case. I wonder if others share this problem.
Hey Chief....
You can always order 2 or 3 sizes, return what you can't use (in new condition), you'll only have a bit of return postage http://shop.catalinaowners.com/detail.htm?fno=20&group=951&cat=2612
You can always order 2 or 3 sizes, return what you can't use (in new condition), you'll only have a bit of return postage http://shop.catalinaowners.com/detail.htm?fno=20&group=951&cat=2612
Packing
Thanks to all who responded to my question. As usual a mixed bag of responses. Some have found what I have which is the stuff works great, but needs to be adjusted down faily tight. That was my experience last season when I splashed. Others feel that replacing after only two years is overkill, however I am at the point where if I splash in a few weeks, and water is dripping at an alarming rate I have no where to go on the packing nut. It does seem from some of the posts that they have found similar situations as I have described. When I repack, I might try and add a few more rings. This might help extend the life, and leave me more room to adjust each year.
Thanks to all who responded to my question. As usual a mixed bag of responses. Some have found what I have which is the stuff works great, but needs to be adjusted down faily tight. That was my experience last season when I splashed. Others feel that replacing after only two years is overkill, however I am at the point where if I splash in a few weeks, and water is dripping at an alarming rate I have no where to go on the packing nut. It does seem from some of the posts that they have found similar situations as I have described. When I repack, I might try and add a few more rings. This might help extend the life, and leave me more room to adjust each year.
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