Stuffing Box Packing

[Bill Edmundson]

Hurricane Ivan caused a great deal of damage on the Gulf coast (understatement!). My boat had no damage at all. So much for the good news. The bad news is I'm due for a bottom job and need to repack the stuffing box. I've adjusted as far as it goes and it leaks like hell if I run the engine. For some reason, the boat yard seems more interested in the boats they can make $15,000+ on, than on my $1,500- job.Can anyone give me any feedback on repacking in the wet, having it done, packing size...Thanks, Bill

 

[Mark M Smith]

you can do it in the water

I did, yes water will come in but not so fast that the bidge pump cant keep up with it.I strongly suggest that you install the new teflon type packing.Good info below

 

[Larry Stewart]

I did and had only maybe a cup of water leak

Bill, I replaced mine this past sping while in the water and expected the worse but it all came out great. I took a rag and ripped it into a foot strip about three inches wide. While backing off the packing nut I wrapped the stip around the end of the shaft and overlapping a portion of the packing nut and lossen the nut. When the nut backed off completely tighten the rag around the shaft and packed it up against the tube. Very little water came out...I then pulled out the old flax and replaced it with teflon...then just slid down the packing nut against the rag and removed the rag and tighten it up. I didn't have any problems and like I indicated...very litle water....Larry...Sandy Sea

 

[Bill Edmundson]

Packing Size

I'm sure this is the original box. Does anybody know the packing size?Thanks for the great input. I knew it could be done, just need needed input as to what I was facing.Thanks, Bill

 

[john]

I don't know if you will run into the same problem

I have. I also have a cherubini hunter 27 with a sb8yanmar. I have also contemplated replacing the packing. However, upon loosening the nut and backing it off, I believe that the only way for me to get the packing out is to disconnect the shaft and slide the engine back. I don't know if yours is the same way. I would love to hear from someone else with the same boat on this issue.

 

[Carl Foster]

John..........

Don't fully understand your problem.I hane27 that had same engine[since replaced].Still have same length shaft and original stuffing box.Are you having problem of sliding nut far enough forward to get at stuffing?I have found that a'hook scribe'used in sheet metal layout works very well to snag stuffing. Unless PO had moved engine back for some unknown reason,there should be room to get at it.

 

[john]

Carl, I have a 1977 hunter 27 with the sb8 yanmar

I have loosened the lock nut and also loosened the packing nut all the way back. It hits the shaft coupling and there isn't enought room to get in a stuffing pick.

 

[Carl Foster]

John........

Here again is what i guess you would call"running changes"during the production run.Guess they must have moved power unit forward by '79[mine].Other examples of changes are forward trapizoidal hatch,main cabin hatch,pulpits,lifelines etc. Sorry,was hoping i could help.

 

[David11054]

WM packing Pick is flexible

I bought a pick at WM, and it has a flexible shaft. That easily allowed me to dig out the old packing.I forget the size of the packing - but check the archives, that question was answered recently.DavidLady Lillie

 

[Bill Edmundson]

Thanks for the input!

I won't be on my boat for a few weeks. My '83 has a Yanmar. So, I guess I need to check clearance first.

 

[Bill Edmundson]

Archives say 1/4"

By the way the Archives say 1/4". But, as always on old boats, check first.