To all, I have a friend who has a problem. On the way from Houston to Palacios (down the ICWW under motor) we discovered that there was water on the cabin sole floor. Lo and behold the stuffing box was leaking like a sieve (under power at 2000 RPM). The real problem is that when there is a leak the only place for the water to go is into the small area under the engine and then out to the cabin. Seems there is no drain to the bilge as there does not appear to be a bilge area under the motor????? Question. Has anyone been able to find a way to get the water to drain to the bilge area under the cabin sole so the bilge pump could handle the leak rather than someone having to sponge the water out from under the engine every five minutes? Thanks in adavance for all replies!
- Status
36 probably different.
But on my H37C there is space under the engine pan for the water to get to the bilge. And a cutout under the stuffing box. Before I used dripless packing I had water in the pan though. The hole in the pan under the stuffing box does not compensate for the spinning shaft. When there is a lot of water coming in the splash misses the hole and ends up in the pan. Maybe the 36 does not even have that hole under the box. My engine pan also has a small drain hole on the leading edge, about 2" up from the bottom. Probably illegal but it came that way.
But on my H37C there is space under the engine pan for the water to get to the bilge. And a cutout under the stuffing box. Before I used dripless packing I had water in the pan though. The hole in the pan under the stuffing box does not compensate for the spinning shaft. When there is a lot of water coming in the splash misses the hole and ends up in the pan. Maybe the 36 does not even have that hole under the box. My engine pan also has a small drain hole on the leading edge, about 2" up from the bottom. Probably illegal but it came that way.
Quick Drain
I have had the same situation. I drilled a 1" hole on the ledge at the forward end of the under engine pan. I then put a large tapered wooden plug in the hole. It is important to put in a plug as I also broke an oil line once and filled the pan with oil. The pan is designed to accept oil without leaking to the bilge and in my case it worked well. I have my stuffing box set to drip so I just pull the wooden plug after each trip after I check for oil. Having the hole in the forward ledge gives the pan enough volume to catch oil as well as the stuffing box drip. Hope this helps. Don.
I have had the same situation. I drilled a 1" hole on the ledge at the forward end of the under engine pan. I then put a large tapered wooden plug in the hole. It is important to put in a plug as I also broke an oil line once and filled the pan with oil. The pan is designed to accept oil without leaking to the bilge and in my case it worked well. I have my stuffing box set to drip so I just pull the wooden plug after each trip after I check for oil. Having the hole in the forward ledge gives the pan enough volume to catch oil as well as the stuffing box drip. Hope this helps. Don.
keep the pan separate.
My buddy here got a nice fine for discharging oil. he change oil some got in the pan. then drained to the bildge then the punp can on and shot oil all over the side of the EPA boat docked next to him! Some days are just not good!
My buddy here got a nice fine for discharging oil. he change oil some got in the pan. then drained to the bildge then the punp can on and shot oil all over the side of the EPA boat docked next to him! Some days are just not good!
Deflector
I plan to attach a piece of stainless or aluminum about 2" high along the back edge of the fiberglass pan under the engine. This should divert the dripping stuffing box to the bilge. On mine it just barely misses the bilge now. after I finish I will send a photo. I would not drill a hole in that pan...
I plan to attach a piece of stainless or aluminum about 2" high along the back edge of the fiberglass pan under the engine. This should divert the dripping stuffing box to the bilge. On mine it just barely misses the bilge now. after I finish I will send a photo. I would not drill a hole in that pan...
Easier solution.
Just put in dripless packing and no modifications are required.
See Related Link.
Just put in dripless packing and no modifications are required.
See Related Link.My 82 H36
has a drain pipe that goes to the bilge from the forward edge of the stuffing box (i.e. just aft of the engine pan). Two years ago, I also found water collecting from the stuffing box into the engine pan. At some point in the past, all the crud, rust, residue from our rotting water heater got flushed down into the stuffing box area and plugged the drain pipe (~1/2 in. dia.). The stuffing leakage had built up to the point that it was filling the engine pan area and would have drained onto the cabin sole had I not checked the engine compartment. I used an old engine stop cable as a snake and cleared out the drain pipe and adjusted the packing. All has been fine since. I think all H36 are fitted with this drain pipe. Its opening in the stuffing box area is not easy to see. Its discharge into the bilge can't be seen either as I suspect the pipe is only long enough to reach beneath the bilge at the forward end of the engine pan. I suspect your stuffing box leakage simply flushed out a lot of gorch that clogged the drain pipe. Good luck. Unlike previous posting speculation, the H36 does have a stuffing box drain to the bilge. Mike s/v Charisma 82 H36
has a drain pipe that goes to the bilge from the forward edge of the stuffing box (i.e. just aft of the engine pan). Two years ago, I also found water collecting from the stuffing box into the engine pan. At some point in the past, all the crud, rust, residue from our rotting water heater got flushed down into the stuffing box area and plugged the drain pipe (~1/2 in. dia.). The stuffing leakage had built up to the point that it was filling the engine pan area and would have drained onto the cabin sole had I not checked the engine compartment. I used an old engine stop cable as a snake and cleared out the drain pipe and adjusted the packing. All has been fine since. I think all H36 are fitted with this drain pipe. Its opening in the stuffing box area is not easy to see. Its discharge into the bilge can't be seen either as I suspect the pipe is only long enough to reach beneath the bilge at the forward end of the engine pan. I suspect your stuffing box leakage simply flushed out a lot of gorch that clogged the drain pipe. Good luck. Unlike previous posting speculation, the H36 does have a stuffing box drain to the bilge. Mike s/v Charisma 82 H36
- Status