This year will be the first time we leave our boat in the water for the winter. The boat is a Beneteau 393 and will be in New Jersey. Since I won't be using the boat this winter, I've already winterized the engine and the fresh water system. But, I don't see any way to winterize the dripless shaft seal. Any help would be appreciated.
Winterizing sail shaft in water
- Thread starter jefft23
- Start date
Why would you need to have it winterised? If you keep your boat in the water, I assume you don't expect the water to freeze. This means that there is no need to winterise. If you want to be extra cautious, you can probably pour some AF into the breathing tube. This way, you won't have any water in it (the AF should stay there up to the water line).
In-water in NJ you will have some sort of water circulation from beneath (AC-powered prop or bubbler system). That should be enough to keep the water below waterline from freezing.
A waste of time and AF, IMHO. In a dripless seal the shaft log is subject to circulating water from outside, and the AF will become diluted after a short period of time (hours, days or a week at most). I'd be more concerned about the type of tubing that's being used to augment that seal with cooling water. It will crack unless it's able to be flexible and handle the expansion.
another option might be to blow the water out of the breathing tube and seal it (put a "cork" in it?, squeeze it shut?).
Though, if the AF is lighter than water, it should stay in the tube. Dilution at the bottom, should be minimal. ???
Though, if the AF is lighter than water, it should stay in the tube. Dilution at the bottom, should be minimal. ???
My boat spent last winter in the water. No problem with shaft seal. PSS said winterizing not needed.
I think what may be getting missed here is that many Beneteaus are set up with a thru-hull valve somewhere forward of the shaft seal feeding into a hose which is in turn connected to a nipple fitting on the fiberglass stern tube. This is intended to lubricate what is usually a Volvo dripless shaft seal. I assume this is how the OP's boat is set up as it is very common for Beneteau. Problem is you can close the thru-hull valve but can't close the fitting on the stern tube so no real way to guarantee the hose and fittings stay blown out or full of antifreeze.
