What diameter packing for stuffing box?

Oct 2, 2008
1,424
Island Packet 31 Brunswick, Ga
I have a 1987 Island packet 31 foot with one inch shaft. 3gm 30f engine. I need to re-stuff the shaft seal but do not know which diameter packing to buy. I see there are 3/8 inch, 1/4 Inch, and up . Anyone have an idea?
Thanks
 
Sep 15, 2009
6,243
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
measure the nut cavity and subtract the diameter of your shaft from that and divide by 2 and that will tell you the size ...my guess is 1/4inch and it will be square not round
 
Feb 26, 2004
22,759
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
WAIT! Measure first, if you can, with calipers. But if, for some reason, you can't, then buy BOTH 3/16 NOT 3/8, and 1/4, and find what fits, return what you don't use. We've been recommending this for exactly this same question for years. Most 1" shafts use 3/16, but some of our C34s use 1/4, but only about 20% of them. All depends on what stuffing box they used.

Too BIG flax will ruin your shaft.

Good luck.
 
Sep 15, 2013
707
Catalina 270 Baltimore
I'm with Stu. I just did this on my CAT 270. The manual said 3/16 and that is what I ordered. It wound up being 1/4". It is easier to order both (or all) and return what you don't need. Even if you can't return it time is money and you now know what size packing you need going forward.
 
Sep 15, 2009
6,243
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
measure the nut cavity and subtract the diameter of your shaft from that and divide by 2 and that will tell you the size
as i said in my post
..my guess is 1/4inch and it will be square not round
my guess and that is all it is ...do the formula as i described and you will get the correct size......

there was someone on here who bought a whole roll of 3/16 for his cat and had to get 1/4 and think he has still got the full roll.......but that was a catalena...and you have an ip ....so do the math
 
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Dec 11, 2008
1,338
catalina C27 stillwater
I just sent you a private message.

Woodster, you're so discrete... :). I'll fess up. I'm probably the guy he is referring to that has a lot of packing...