To drip or not to drip?

[Tom S.]

And as a person who has used a PSS Shaft Seal

Regular Flax in a stuffing Box and now the Gore packing gland material I can say that all these things work.I used the PSS for 6 years and I was satisfied with it, no catastrophic failures. I DID have the stainless steel colar ride up and allowed a disconcerting amount of water into the boat.(I guess the vibration cause the grub screws that were thread locked in to come loose).Let me tell you, your heart will sink pretty fast when you hear your "Significant Other" go down into the cabin and say "Honey is there *supposed* to be water coming over the top of the opening to the engine compartment ?!"YIKES...But it was a simple fix (slide the collar back down and retighten screws) after rushing around and trying to find the water ingress. But I DO know someone that DID have a catastrophic failure. (Its documented a few times in the archives). Yes it is very, very rare, but he was lucky to be close to the marina when it happened with a lift operator available.But now I use the Gore Packing material, and after one or two adjustments I can say that I have no drips whatsoever. So for less that $15 I have acheived what the Mechanical Shaft seals do, but a lot cheaper, easier and much more fool proof.

 

[Rick D]

**Sigh**

.. I guess I'll have to weigh in again on this subject. I have had two PSS seals. The current one has 1300 hours on it. The first one I had installed after a failure with the teflon no-drip packing. In order to utilize the no-drip packing, the yard had to replace the nylon shaft log with bronze since there was not enough room in the nylon. However, I was never able to fully stop some water and the packing did come loose some hours after installation and had a pretty good stream. I do think you need to have good engine alignment to avoid some roughness. OTOH, you should anyway. That's how I came to advocate the PSS. So, darned if I know... I just know what I experienced. I don't think there is a consensus on this subject, so take your pick... Good luck, Rick D.

 

[barrett]

Stu, I do understand the difference...

between mechanical and non-mechanical methods of going "dripless"....I mean no offense when I say your comment, that, and I quote: "Previous detailed discussions on this fun subject have repeatedly pointed out the discrepancies between people's understanding and, perhaps, misunderstandings, of dripless and dripless." seems condesending at best and more than a bit elitist. Even though the "dripless" refered to on this series of this subject was clearly the "pss dripless type packing box" "repeatedly" refered to over and over and over by name, bellows failures included, you believe it points out the discrepancies of "people's" understandings and misunderstandings...Us poor peoples...Glad I got Stu to straighten me out...even if he has to do it repeatedly I personally don't prefer either manner of turning, what I consider to be a built in safety and assurance device, into another item to ignore and forget about on a boat. To me, dripless is dripless and either method to me invites my inattention to an area that needs to be checked often. I just would rather that mine drips so in checking, I always find myself looking at what, frankly, I believe is the most vulnerable hole in my boat (though not in all boats): the stuffing box/shaft gland. I like to be able to see whats up inside by watching for the drip...I am a voyager, not a daysailor... I cross oceans, so for me, certain things being simple and straight forward are paramount to a relaxing voyage.I find it reassuring to "see" the drip, and "see" the lubrication of my shaft, and know it isn't being scored and damaged...There is nothing artificial covering up what could turn out to be a major headache hidden by "goop". As simple as lifting and looking I know whats up...Everytime I start the diesel I do a quick check, and I know all is in order.When you don't have to check for the drip, it becomes easy not to check at all. That's one reason why this peoples in favor of regular dripping flax...another is it is widely available all over the world.

 

[Tom S.]

I'll add another comment that other people

can expound upon. But there is a VERY big difference between teflon no-drip (goop) and Gore flax packing.The teflon is like a "goop" thats like putty and it molds in the stuffing box. But the Gore teflon packing looks, feels and installs just like traditional Wax Flax packing. You cut the rings and install them the same way.It is far superior to wax flax packing. It actually minimizes wear and is less likely to pick up sand, etc that might score the shaft. Its thermally conductive thus cooler running. And it won't harden, swell, or become brittle. Its used on many industrial and maritime machinery for years. Its approved by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and used by the US Navy and many others.And if it makes you feel better you can still let it drip a bit, it doen't matterClick on the link below for more technical information.

 

[barrett]

Interesting enough to try Tom...

thanks for the link...I had heard of this,years ago actually but never used it (read an article in I think Sail mag maybe 5 years ago or so?)...I remember when I heard the Navy started using it, thinking that I would need to take a look at this one..."maybe someone finally did come up with something truly better I thought" then I put it to the back of my mind...Thanks...I read your link, then I did a search on google, read alot more, and, went back to your link and I ordered some...This looks like an improvement over waxed flax, and in a hard chance, I could always replace it with no trouble with old style if I was in situation that I needed too for what ever reason...I mean I haven't messed up my stuffing box to use it...And I can let it drip a little bit ...I've never done "8 drips a minute" or anything like that...just a drop or two now an again...Sounds like it this "GFO" will last a long time, but I ordered two anyway... You should try to get the commission from the sale ...

 

[Ron Mills]

Looks like a good subject for QUICK QUIZ.

1. Dripless Shaft2. Green Goop3. Gore flax4. Traditional drip dripThen you could reference the Quiz in the archives.

 

[Fred Ficarra]

Ron, did you see how I did my companion way locker

door on my web site? It was your idea and I thank you for it there.

 

[Ron Mills]

Fred, it looks great.

I'm not sure why hunter didn't do this to begin with but I guess if you listen to "DARYL", it's a wonder they included the keel with the boat, especially an "IRON" keel. What a piece of bad design he is.