[C320-list] Fw: stuffing box packing

[Scott Thompson]

I did it on the hard and thought it WAS a big deal, primarily because I 
had so much trouble getting the old stuff out.  It was unbelievably 
compressed and tended to disintegrate as I removed it, which meant that 
even if you got a few strands loose they just broke off instead of 
providing a means to remove the rest.  In fact it took me at least 
several hours and two trips to the store before I had tools that worked. 
    The dental pick method didn't work for me.  (The picks bent.)  The 
special tools for removing packing that are sold in marine supply stores 
also failed.  The method recommended here using drywall screws also 
didn't work for me.  In the end, a set of Stanley picks -- which are 
much stiffer than dental tools -- worked for me.  I'd be nervous about 
taking this apart unless I had a reliable way to stop the flow to no 
more than a slow trickle while the stuffing box is open.  Mine was open 
for several days once I started the project.

Scott Thompson

amshd2 at aol.com wrote:
> I did it in the water not a big deal...   need to have everything ready and the packing material cut.   a couple of towels to stuff around the box helps keep teh amount of water down.......   
>  
>  
> -----Original Message-----
> From: jsea at prodigy.net
> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
> Sent: Tue, 31 Oct 2006 1:53 PM
> Subject: [C320-list] Fw: stuffing box packing
> 
> 
> Bob, 
>  
>   Did you do this with the boat in the water, or on the hard? I have been wanting to do this, but haven't yet, do to concerns over controlling the water intake during the installation process. Any suggestions anyone? 
>  
> Regards, 
>  
> Jerry Clayton 
> Tropo #988 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert E. Sloat" <resloat at comcast.net> 
> To: "C320-List" <c320-list at catalina320.com> 
> Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 6:20 AM 
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] stuffing box packing 
>  
>> I have hull 894 (2002) and the same situation with the owner's manual >saying 3/16 inch packing dimension. When measured using drills the packing >was 1/4 inch. I used the 1/4 inch Gortex packing from emarine mentioned in >an earlier string and basically eliminated any leakage to the bilge. I >readjust once or twice during the season. This is the best $15 investment >made on the boat and it only takes about 20 boat minutes to replace the >packing. The hardest part was getting the old packing out and cleaning >packing off of the threads on the packing fitting so it could screw tight. 
>>
>> This is the 3rd season on the packing. On thing I noticed is that I could > only get 2 layers of packing in the fitting and the instructions say use 3 > layers. I think there were only 2 layers of the original stuff in the > fitting. 
>> Bob Sloat 
>> Savannah 
>> ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Bill Culbertson" <billculb_a2 at yahoo.com> 
>> To: <catalina at thehares.com>; "C320-List" <c320-list at catalina320.com> 
>> Sent: Monday, October 30, 2006 10:10 PM 
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] stuffing box packing 
>>
>>
>> Bert, 
>>
>> Jeff describes my situation. My manual says 3/16" just like yours. But > my stuffing box takes 1/4". 
>>
>> The dealer had put 1/4" when I took delivery. It leaked by season end so > when I replaced, I replaced with 3/16" per the manual. When I changed > that out after the 2nd season, I could see that the rings had a > rectangular cross-section - not square. One dimension was about 1/4" - > the other much skinnier than the original 3/16". 
>>
>> So I used the drill bit technique, found that 1/4" drill bit fit fine and > snugly, and switched back to 1/4". 
>>
>> -bill 
>>
>> ----- Original Message ---- 
>> From: Jeffrey Hare <catalina at thehares.com> 
>> To: C320-List <c320-list at catalina320.com> 
>> Sent: Monday, October 30, 2006 6:55:33 PM 
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] stuffing box packing 
>>
>>
>> Bert, 
>>
>> I believe most people have reported that 1/4" is what actually fits on 
>> our boats, even though the manual says 3/16". If you've actually used > 3/16" 
>> and had it work, then you're boat is seems to be an exception to the norm. 
>> :) 
>>
>> Many folks have switched over to GFO packing material for dripless 
>> operation. 
>>
>> -Jeff 
>>
>> -----Original Message----- 
>> From: BAdams3491 at aol.com [mailto:BAdams3491 at aol.com] 
>> Sent: Monday, October 30, 2006 6:27 PM 
>> To: c320-list at catalina320.com 
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] stuffing box packing 
>>
>> Don't know what people are saying, but the owner's manual for my 1997 > model 
>> says 3/16". 
>>
>> Bert 
>> At Ease 
>> #442 
>>
>>
>>  
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