Lately I have had a leak from the stuffing box. Luckily my bilge pump is working well and it has not been a problem. I have tightened the clamps (there are 4)with some improvement, but if I turn the shaft it leaks considerably. As it turns out the engine is going to be out of commission due to an unrelated problem, but I am afraid it will start leaking considerably. Can I change the packing while in the water??. Is it normal for water to leak at a considerably squirt when I unclamp the stuffing box?? (I re-tightened them again, afraid that the boat would flood). Is it easy to repack the stuffing box for someone who has not done it before or seen anybody do it?? any help would be appreciated. Last night at 0200AM i woke my wife to tell her I was going to the marina (12 miles away) to check the boat, as I am afraid it will start leaking and the pump will ssssstop working......nightmares. BTW, I own a 1981 30' Catalina. my first boat. have only had it for 1+ year adios bobby
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Stuffing
I just did it on my Catalina 30 and have done it before to other boats. I would get the stuffing removal tool(it makes it easier- screw on a flex handle) and a wax toilet bowl seal if you must do it in the water. You will have to dive into the water twice. If you unsure of yourself I would try to wait until she is out of the water if you can. Some people say they can do it quickly with a lot of towels, but I wouldn't try it.
I just did it on my Catalina 30 and have done it before to other boats. I would get the stuffing removal tool(it makes it easier- screw on a flex handle) and a wax toilet bowl seal if you must do it in the water. You will have to dive into the water twice. If you unsure of yourself I would try to wait until she is out of the water if you can. Some people say they can do it quickly with a lot of towels, but I wouldn't try it.
Whoah Bobby
You are confusing me. The shaft log has clamps, not the stuffing box. Not a good idea to take those clamps off while the boat is in the water. The stuffing box is on the forward end of the shaft log. See link to International C27 site for illustration. To adjust, put a wrench on the nut (forward end)and hold it while loosening the lock nut. Tighten the big nut. A little bit goes a long way. Re-tighten the lock nut. Should be a drop every minute or two static (at least wet) and a couple of drops a minute while running. If big nut will not turn, then it is bottomed out and the stuffing (flax) is shot. I have changed the flax with the boat in the water without any problem. I got a stream of water about the size of a pencil that the bilge pump could easily keep up with. Taking the clamps off the shaft log will get you a gusher that you probably won't like.
You are confusing me. The shaft log has clamps, not the stuffing box. Not a good idea to take those clamps off while the boat is in the water. The stuffing box is on the forward end of the shaft log. See link to International C27 site for illustration. To adjust, put a wrench on the nut (forward end)and hold it while loosening the lock nut. Tighten the big nut. A little bit goes a long way. Re-tighten the lock nut. Should be a drop every minute or two static (at least wet) and a couple of drops a minute while running. If big nut will not turn, then it is bottomed out and the stuffing (flax) is shot. I have changed the flax with the boat in the water without any problem. I got a stream of water about the size of a pencil that the bilge pump could easily keep up with. Taking the clamps off the shaft log will get you a gusher that you probably won't like.
Don's right...
..about the definition of the stuffing box compared to the shaft log. You CAN do it in the water, and he's right about the amount of water you get in when you do the stuffing box. Some people even wrap a plastic bag around the aft end and ducttape it on to avoid any water, but that's unnecessary. I did ours for the first time when I installed the dripless packing in the gland. In the water. Took five times as long as the next time I did it, since I didn't know what I was doing the first time. Do now. Boat's still floating. If you're doing it, buy the dripless material and you won't have to worry about your stuffing box for a long time, and keep all water out of the boat. Try the archives for stuffing box and dripless, lots of info. Don't waste your money on a removal tool. At least on our C34, the one inch shaft with the 3/16 inch packing was too small a space so the tool didn't even fit or work. Simple, inexpensive: go get a few two or three inch sheetrock black screws. Use them to remove the old flax. Much easier, works and no $$. PS What's this topic doing with C22s?!?!!??
..about the definition of the stuffing box compared to the shaft log. You CAN do it in the water, and he's right about the amount of water you get in when you do the stuffing box. Some people even wrap a plastic bag around the aft end and ducttape it on to avoid any water, but that's unnecessary. I did ours for the first time when I installed the dripless packing in the gland. In the water. Took five times as long as the next time I did it, since I didn't know what I was doing the first time. Do now. Boat's still floating. If you're doing it, buy the dripless material and you won't have to worry about your stuffing box for a long time, and keep all water out of the boat. Try the archives for stuffing box and dripless, lots of info. Don't waste your money on a removal tool. At least on our C34, the one inch shaft with the 3/16 inch packing was too small a space so the tool didn't even fit or work. Simple, inexpensive: go get a few two or three inch sheetrock black screws. Use them to remove the old flax. Much easier, works and no $$. PS What's this topic doing with C22s?!?!!??
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