Split Stuffing Box

[Roger Magill]

Amongst the few hundred jobs I needed to do before putting the boat over the side, one of the more pressing was to re-pack the stuffing box. This accomplished, I proceeded to tighten the nut down, by hand, and after making a few turns the threads stripped and slipped! What a bummer. This is on a 1990 35.5 and appears to be the original (plastic) stuffing box put on by Hunter. The process of removing the flange on the shaft end has accomplished nothing, yet; but during the hours spent on attempting to loosen it and wondered if there exists a "split" stuffing box - one which would be mounted around the shaft, much like an anode. If there is such a beast, it would allow for mounting, without the need to remove the flange. Is anyone out there aware of such a thing?

 

[Carl Reitz]

Big pipe wrench

I spent half-a-day last week getting the coupler off of the prop shaft on our 1987 h40. What finally turned the trick was a pipe wrench on the coupler and a 2x4 between the prop and hull. Of course one must first take out the key between the prop shaft and coupler.A split stugging box sounds like a better mouse trap. I seriously think you should submit a design to the Patent Office.Carl ReitzS/v Windrose