Shaft Repacking Recommendations?

[Tom L]

At the end of my last sail for the season back in November, I noticed the drive shaft on my '94 Hunter 29.5 was dripping and I had too much water in the bilge. OK, the bilge pump needs to be replaced but I am worried about the shaft seal dripping so I am going to have it serviced. The tech from the company that was recommended to me to do the service work said he could repack the cutless bearing but he asked me if I would like to replace the seal with a "dripless" one. He is going to go look at my boat first and send me an estimate for both options but I wanted to ask here for recomendations and to get an idea what is best and what its all about? Thanks, Tom
p.s. The boat is now on land for the winter.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

This is Without a Doubt ............................

.................. the most frequently discussed topic on this forum.

There are many opinions as to wet or dry stuffing boxes and just as many opinions on mechanical seals, both pro and con.

Your best source of information is to search the forum archives for all opinions on this subject and then make your decision.

The one personal opinion I will put forward here is "do not let tech insist the boat has to be pulled if he intends to simply repack the gland". If he tells you this, he's probably a failed squeegy kid .

 

[Bill Roosa]

A dripless will cost around $300
A new set of packing will cost $10
Assuming you will get 3 years out of a set of packing that would mean (30x3) 90 YEARS to break even cost wise. I could understand if your packing gland was in a horrible spot and you don't want the hassle but most glands are accessible

 

[Stu Jackson]

Tom, RUN do not walk away from this guy.

One does NOT "repack a cutlass bearing!!!"

Here's some stuffing box info with a link to Maine Sail's excellent writeup, too.

http://www.c34.org/wiki/index.php?title=Stuffing_box_packing

 

[Tom L]

Stu, the reference to repacking the cutlass bearing is my mistake. I just don't know what I am talking about and am trying to learn enough so that I know how to talk about it. The tech probably said repack the stuffing box. Your reference is a help as have the past posts in the archives. I now see what a PSS dripless thing is. I think I remember seeing something that looked like one on the shaft. Now I have to get back to the boat and check out what I have.

Bill, Thanks, a good ballpark idea of costs is a big help.

Thanks to all of you I have a little better idea what I am looking at. Tom

 

[Mike Culik]

I repacked my old style "nylon" stuffing box (Morse) with the new graphite/Gore product. For the $15 to our local store and a few new hose clamps, I'm tickled pink to report no leaking whatsoever and the stuffing box has been cool to the touch!

Mike

 

[jtm]

I've been using the gortex engineered fabric in my packing for about the last decade- I'm pleased with it. You should get familiar with this and/or the dripless type which has a different set of issues/maintenance I heard/read the latter needs to be "burped"among other points to know. You will need to be able to adjust these perhaps when shore help & their tools are not available, so study up on it.

If you go for the gortex fabric, know that it needs to find its setting as it saturates and will leak during this period - you will need to further adjust it to appropriate compression/tightness" in the water" and then run the engine in gear, observing the drip rate over several hours, adjust during the first couple hours of saturation & operation. It may take 2-3 subsequent readjustments. Just don't drop the boat in the water and assume its good- it can eventually leak and you could take on water- as some people have found out! If you over tighten it will get hot and you will defeat your purpose. Its better to initially hand snug it up, with further tighten ups as needed rather than over initially over-tighten it.
Have someone knowledgeable at the marina guide you thru your first experience with it - and have your own proper wrenches to do future adjustments yourself. Rigid makes a great off-set flat jaw adjustable for this purpose- about $30 at HD- plumbing dept.. I used to use 3 rings staggered 1/3 of the way around - now i use 4 rings staggered 1/4 the way around.

 

[Dave Groshong]

We offer the PYI shaft seal for $216, the correct size for a Hunter 29.5 is 1 inch shaft x 1.75 inch stern tube. They are highly rated and very popular.

http://shop.sailboatowners.com/pss/detail-pss.htm