During a bottom job, I decided to replace the black stuffing box hose since it was about 15 years old. Looked fine on the outside with no cracking, but after installing the new hose, I twisted the old stuffing box hose using both hands and it tore apart easily. It had rotted and seperated between the layers and was very fragile. If that old hose had failed, I hate to think about trying to stop that amount of water coming in. Cheap peace of mind, for a while at least.
Stuffing Box, how often should it be changed
- Thread starter Scott B
- Start date
- Status
Bob,
It is actually advertised as "virtually dripless" or otherwise described as "drips less"..
One aspect that people often over look while wanting a completely dry bilge is the oxygen starved water that gets stuck in the shaft log around the stainless shaft. By allowing some drip you also allow fresh oxygenated water into this area and can reduce oxygen starvation of the shaft inside the log.
PSS uses a vent which allows the water to remain oxygenated but using a compound to make a traditional stuffing box leak free can damage a shaft..
This is a photo of a shaft that had improperly adjusted GFO type packing..
I still have the bronze shaft and it looks great after I cleaned it. My problem right now is breaking the lock nut free. It's directly under the floor and cabinet face and I can't get a wrench on it.:cussing: I hit it with a little PB Blaster last evening and 2 nights ago. I hope I can break it free tonight. Don't like the access on my boat. One good argument for doing it more frequent is keeping the threads exercised. It's also one of the few boats with 1/4" packing (2 pieces).
Many years ago, I took one of those "Diesel Dork" engine maintenance classes. It was fairly useful. I still remember the teacher saying that the easiest/best way to unlock a cruddy locknut on your packing gland was to hit it on a flat with a hammer. He claimed no damage would result. A few years after that, I bought a 1985 Catalina 27 -- and it needed to have its gland repacked. The locknut seemed to be frozen in place. After the obligatory PB Blaster/Liquid Wrench, et al, failed treatments, I screwed up enough nerve to whack the nut with a hammer. Opened right up.....
Since that time, I've made it a point on all my boats to keep the threads on the gland lubed.
Since that time, I've made it a point on all my boats to keep the threads on the gland lubed.
Been there; done that
I am sure Warren knows a lot more than I do about almost everything to do with sailboats, but in this instance at least the issue was no problem. On the hard or in the water - whatever's easier.
I replaced the packing on my boat about a year ago while my boat was in the water. I cannot imagine having a more difficult time removing the old packing. I broke or bent every type of pick I had on hand. In the end, I had to slide the nut up the shaft and use a drill with a small bit to drill out the packing. (Sliding the nut up the shaft prevented my scoring the shaft where the packing was going to sit.) I'd estimate that it took me an hour, possibly longer, to get the old packing out. During this entire time, water was entering the boat... and the bilge pump was running on and off. It was a bit unnerving at first, but after I realized that the pump was going to be able to keep up with the inflow of water, I simply worked away until I was finished.
I am sure Warren knows a lot more than I do about almost everything to do with sailboats, but in this instance at least the issue was no problem. On the hard or in the water - whatever's easier.
Thank you Steve Walsh for your input. Reading above and elsewhere I was in inclined to work on my stuffing box in the water. I am hours away from any haul out however. If something went wrong I would be in “deep water”. My stuffing box hose looks fine too but it is thirty years old!
A couple of years ago I grabbed the hose that drained my cockpit. With little effort it split and broke free from its fittings. My drain is two inches from the water line. I was in a slip at the time and had a marine store close by.
With all the posting above I was encouraged to maybe service my box in the water but now from your post I will wait for a haul out and change my hose also.
Thank you for posting.
Walt
A couple of years ago I grabbed the hose that drained my cockpit. With little effort it split and broke free from its fittings. My drain is two inches from the water line. I was in a slip at the time and had a marine store close by.
With all the posting above I was encouraged to maybe service my box in the water but now from your post I will wait for a haul out and change my hose also.
Thank you for posting.
Walt
- Status