Shaft Seal on a 27 ft Catalina

[Sense of humor]

I have owned this boat less than a year. Recently my shaft seal started to leak excessively. Tried to adjust and could not get the nut to move, the whole assembly started to move. I need help with several questions. Should I be able to adust the seals in the water? How about adding seal material? What kind of seal material in normal installed. Any help would be appreciate. If you have experienced this problem and have fouund a fix, that would be greatThanks

 

[Grant]

shaft seal

I am assuming you are referring to the packing gland. It will take two wrenches(pipe wrenches work well) to torque it down or loosen as the gland is attached with a rubber seal. First you need to break the seal and see if you can tighten the gland. If it tightens and still leaks you'll probably have to repack the gland. It can be done in the water. Although I have not had to do it in many years. It might be worth having done by a pro, but thats your call. It's damn tight quarters down there and you'll need someone to hand you tools etc.

 

[Sense of humor]

still working packing issue

Thanks for the reply. I broke the locking nut from the gland nut. The threaded piece was still in place with a rubber boot around it. That I did not touch. I am assmuning that the packing goes inside the gland nut and the locking nut holds it in place. DO you know the size- I think it is 3/16. I tried installing the packing0 in one continous loop, the gland indicated is was over heating. Used the luberant recommended. I will have to repack due to heat build-up

 

[Jeff]

My experience

FWIW,Based on my recollection the preferred packing is 3 individual pieces the length of each as close to the shaft circumference as possible and the gap in each is about 120 degrees from it's neighbors gap. Worked well for my Cat27,lasted nearly 15 years before needing replacement. The manual on my C30 suggests thatthe gland nut be adjusted for an occasional drip (1-2/ minute if I recall) when the shaftis NOT rotating.Jeff