Stuffing Box and Exhaust concerns

[Peter]

Hi All,
I've been looking at an Albin Vega and today I did a more
thorough 'survey'. My only negative findings (so far) have been under
the cockpit. Thank goodness there is a removable floor!

My #1 concern is the old exhaust system. The engine is a Yanmar 2GMF
that is fresh water cooled. The picture below shows it's linkage to
what appears to be the original Albin gas engine exhaust, which
consists of an outer rubber hose and an inner metal (I assume) pipe.

http://www3.telus.net/sailing/ex2.jpg

From what I can see the exhaust gasses pass through the metal pipe,
and the raw cooling water from the heat exchanger runs over the pipe,
inside the rubber tube, to exit at the other end, then each going
their separate ways to meet again at the transom exit. As you can see
in the picture below the thing has a leak. The red hose on the left
is from the cockpit drain, starboard side. The black 4 inch
corrugated hose is the bilge blower exhaust.

http://www3.telus.net/sailing/ex1.jpg

My #2 concern is the stuffing box (I think this the correct term,
after all, I am an 'outboard guy')
The two pictures below, as well as showing more of the old exhaust
system, show the stuffing box and green stains from the spinning
shaft. The drip rate is about 2 per second, and it seems to remain
constant whether the engine is in gear and reved up or just idling.

http://www3.telus.net/sailing/ex3.jpg

The white 1 1/4" plastic line is from the manual bilge pump.

http://www3.telus.net/sailing/ex4.jpg

As the broker pointed out, there's nothing there that money won't
fix. My only question was "whose money?"

Bottom line is I like the boat and am willing to fix the problems,
but I need to know #1: what's involved with fixing the stuffing box,
and #2 what expense am I faced with for parts for a new exhaust, and
what would be the best system to use?

As always, any and all opinions and advice are welcome

 

[bbach1949]

Hello: I have the same engine in my Vega, but none of the corrosion
problems shown in the pictures, mainly because of fresh water sailing. Nonetheless,
that really doesn't look all that bad to me. You'll need to add an exhaust
elbow (Yanmar part), exhaust hose, and waterlift muffler. Check West Marine
for prices. My exhaust hose exits into the standard copper loop at the
transom, cut shorter of course. My biggest concern would be what the inside of
the exhaust manifold looks like. If there was an internal leak in the exhaust
that allowed salt water into the exhaust manifold and thus to the valves,
there could be corrosion problems. On the other hand, the water leakage could
be just external. You really need to take it apart to see.

The stuffing box and shaft flanges are easily renewable, but the shaft needs
to be pulled with the boat out of the water. The green or blue staining on
the hull looks more like teflon dripless packing than anything else.
Regardless, it sounds like the packing needs to be replaced. I'd suggest you pick
up Don Casey's book "This Old Boat". Bill Bach V 1071

 

[pjacobs55]

Bill: Thanks for the information and advice. I was just reading a
Good Old Boat article

http://www.boatus.com/goodoldboat/Marine_exhaust.htm

that indicates the raw water should be entering the exhaust at least
4" BELOW the bottom of the exhaust manifold. 'My' installation
picture shows the water entering ABOVE the manifold.
Hmmmm.... a lot more reaserch required here.

Peter.

 

[bbach1949]

Well, not exactly. The exhaust elbow I was referring to has the water
mixing with the exhaust such that it can't back up into the engine. What you have
is a water jacket exhaust - very different. I could take some pictures for
you of my set up, but not until the weekend at the soonest. Boat is on a
trailer next to the barn, but it's pouring rain and I heard predictions for 12
inches over the next two weeks! Bill

 

[pjacobs55]

Thanks Bill, a picture would be good, whenever you can get to it.

Peter.

 

[pjacobs55]

Bill:
After re-reading your note and looking at my pictures again I think I
understand the difference in our systems. In 'mine' (still not a done
deal yet) the raw water never enters the exhaust stream, just cools
the pipe from the outside,... unless it's leaking near the
manifold :-(

From a previous post I read on this forum (message 7183) repairing
the existing system is not the smart thing to do, so an upgrade to a
wet system seems the only way to go. Doesn't sound too bad at all.

Peter.

P.S. This forum is one of the main reasons I'm Vega shopping ... many
thanks to all!