[C320-list] packing gland & listing to port

[Dave Moores]

Susan, yes it will still drip when you are the dock unless you have a fancy
"dripless" one - and they have their own little issues as well.

If it drips once or twice a minute I wouldn't be too concerned - just make
sure the bilge-pump is working OK

Dave M

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of
Moondancer5 at comcast.net
Sent: October 19, 2007 2:20 PM
To: c320-list at catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] packing gland & listing to port


Hi all,

Now that I've had the boat back for a bit, and the weather has been highly
cooperative, I have a couple of questions on what's normal. Thanks in
advance for all advice!

Not having had a cruiser before, we did not realize the amount of leaking
from the packing gland was abnormal, until we were splashed this spring and
the bilge pump wasn't working... after our marina adjusted it, we had our
little incident with the powerboat wake and the whole engine had to be reset
on the mounts and the shaft re-aligned, and at the dealer the bilge was dry.
After the boat was delivered back to us there was quite a bit of water in
the bilge (and the auto pump hadn't been left on). Now we se e that after
every afternoon of sailing, the shaft still drips after the engine has been
shut off. I don't imagine that adjusting the d**n thing after each sail is
normal, I had heard it should do is shed a drop of water every minute while
the engine is running, and none after it's shut off. What's normal?

And, I notice (and noticed before the accident) a slight (but distinct) list
to port. Is THAT normal?

One more while I'm here: Where do you store your gasoline tank for the
dinghy when it's not in use? When at our marina in the slip, we put the
Zodiac on a rack and the outboard on the rail (which has totally messed up
the nice little slot there where we had the Lifesling mounted, now it won't
fit in there with the outboard on the bracket). We are putting the gas tank
in the starboard stern locker, I believe the a/c compressor is in that area
too. is that safe?

Thanks!

Susan