STUFFING BOX

[Rob Rich]

Anyone familiar with re-doing the stuffing box on a C-27? I have a leak that has started from the forward end of the box, and I need to fix it in the next month or so. I will most likely have someone do it for me, but the former owner says it is easily done... I am not crazy about opening holes in my boat.

 

[Kevin McGrath]

If the leak is coming form the hose then you need to haul the boat. If it is coming from where the shaft passes through the stuffing nut then it needs to be tightend or repacked. You can repack it in the water but you will get some water in the boat. Cut three pieces of packing the diameter of the shaft, with a angled overlapping cut. The cut should be made so that when it is tightened it pushes the two angles together. Back off the nuts and work out the old stuffing with a small hooked pick. you should get three pieces out. I usually put one piece in a a time and tighten the nut. Repeat the process two more times. Adjust the packing so that there is a very slight drip when the shaft is turning. If you use teflon impregnated packing you can get away with almost no dripping. I think that they had a one inch shaft and it uses 3/16 packing.

 

[David Sandowich]

LEAKING HOSE

PLEASE CLARIFY WHAT THE BOAT NEEDS TO BE HAULED IF THE LEAK IS COMING FORMTHE HOSE. I HAVE ACAT THIRTY THAT HAS A LEAK/DRIP THAT IS GETTING WORSE. HARD TO TELL WHERE IT IS COMING FROM DUE TO TIGHT QUARTERS. ANY INFO IS APPRECIATED DAVE