[C320-list] Leak on New 320 Mk11.

[Robert Seastream]

Best done on the hard.  You'll need two 'packing gland' wrenches, or  
two adjustables big enough for the 'gland' cap/nut diameters.  I think  
we're talking somewhere around 2 inches.  If it's never been done  
before, then get a can of 'PB Blaster' or some other creep in oil,  
marinate the gland cap/nut assembly in it and let it soak for a day or  
so.  Then go at it with the two wrenches described above.  Might even  
need a 'persuader' (hammer) also.  I'm not big on recommending heat,  
but guess a hair dryer would be OK.  The packing gland material I used  
was actually a form of 'Gore Tex', a material used in hiking boot  
liners because of its' waterproofness.  In this case it came in about  
a foot long length; from this was cut three lengths long enough to fit  
around the shaft (inside the cap/nut gland assembly), with a small gap  
(so the ends didn't actually 'meet' around the shaft), staggering the  
gaps, then screwing the cap/nut assembly back together.  I don't have  
the old packaging from the material, but any marina should be able to  
supply you with something suitable.  Someone else on list may have a  
more accurate answer.

Bob Seastream
Intuition # 906


On Apr 12, 2010, at 8:35 PM, conneelythomas at aol.com wrote:

>
> Ok, Anyone have a way to replace the packing gland ?? My is 7 years  
> old and have about 600 hours on the engine .  Should I replace it ??
> Also , as a side note I have just replace my exhaust riser.   It  
> needed it!!  Tom 916
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Robert Seastream <robert.seastream at comcast.net>
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Sent: Sun, Apr 11, 2010 12:58 pm
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Leak on New 320 Mk11.
>
>
> I'll bet any money the source of your leak is the packing gland,  
> located where the prop shaft exits the hull. Needs tightening,  
> surprised Catalinas' reps didn't catch it.
> Additionally, always, always, always have your bilge pump on auto,  
> unless your boat is on dry land. I've never (boating since the  
> '60's) heard of anyone doing otherwise.
>
> Bob Seastream
> Intuition # 906
> Newington, NH
>
> On Apr 11, 2010, at 10:22 AM, jim brown wrote:
>
>> Also check around the rudder post and post packing.
>>
>> --- On Sun, 4/11/10, sail0983 <sail0983 at aol.com> wrote:
>>
>> Check the cap on the port side "Vent Loop" that is accessible >  
>> through the port cockpit locker. When my boat was new that cap was  
>> > not secure and ended up with a water in the aft cabin.
>>
>> Dave Marchant
>> Illumination #983
>> Solomons, Md
>
>> From: "Stephen Cox" <scox at timmin.com>
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Leak on New 320 Mk11.
>> Date: April 11, 2010 4:57:51 AM EDT
>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>>> Hi all,
>>> I have had a water leak appearing in the bilge since new on
>>> hull no.1162.
>>> It appears to be salt water and appears even when the boat
>>> has been tied up at the marina for a few days with no rain.
>>> (definitely not rain water) Have put food dye in both water
>>> tanks , and water in the bilge is clear so have eliminated
>>> fresh water.
>>> The water is first spotted under the aft. floor section
>>> where the water tank valves are located .It then appears to
>>> make its way to the 2 forward sections of the bilge.
>>> Initially after 3-5 days it used to only cover the keel bolts
>>> but recently has got worse ,now covers 90% of bilge height
>>> after 1 week.
>>> Have had to turn on auto bilge pump.
>>> Water also comes in with sea cocks off. (except engine) Cant
>>> see a water path from engine bay or stern land to that
>>> section where the water appears.
>>> The Catalina Agent has had a couple of shipwrights have a
>>> look ,and they fixed other leaks which were there( rainwater
>>> related),but this main leak is still there.
>>> It has been 12 months now and am seriously considering asking
>>> Catalina to take the boat back if they cannot find/fix the leak.
>>>
>>> Anyone got any ideas?
>>>
>>
>> David,
>>
>> Water from the stern gland area will flow down past the freshwater  
>> > valves to
>> the bilge, even if you can't quite see how.
>>
>> My Mk II has always had water issues from the stern gland. I had it
>> adjusted a couple of times after purchase by the dealer but it still
>> proceeded to let in water for a few days after running the motor. I  
>> > have
>> tweaked it myself on several occasions and this summer on haulout I  
>> > tried
>> replacing the packing and doubling it up, but the extra ring was  
>> too > much
>> and I couldn't get the gland screwed back on with enough thread >  
>> engagement
>> without all but locking up the shaft. IMHO one turn of packing is not
>> enough. So for now I put up with it dripping for some time after >  
>> running
>> the engine. Next haul out I hope to put a dripless seal in to get >  
>> around
>> this and finally, hopefully, have a dry bilge.
>>
>> I have a BEP Power Monitor which will monitor current usage on one  
>> > battery
>> and voltage on up to three. Alternately, the third battery voltage  
>> > can be
>> flipped to keep track of the bilge pump usage. This reports the >  
>> number of
>> times the bilge pump has run and the total run time since the count  
>> > was last
>> reset - very reassuring when you think you have leakage issues.
>>
>> BTW, I think you are very brave to not have your automatic bilge pump
>> switched on at all times. I live two hours away from my boat and >  
>> wouldn't
>> like to drive that far after a call from the marina without knowing
>> something was trying to keep the boat afloat. By the way, the >  
>> obvious fuse
>> on the control panel for the bilge pump doesn't do anything, at >  
>> least on my
>> boat, as that fuse is switched by the 1-2-both switch. As it came,  
>> > there is
>> a line fuse behind the electrical panel and the bilge pump is wired
>> effectively direct to battery one, independent of the 1-2-both >  
>> switch. It's
>> a glass fuse not a two pronged spade type - you might want to get  
>> some
>> spares. I swapped mine out for the common fuse type on the boat so  
>> I > had
>> plenty of others to use if needs be.
>>
>> Stephen Cox
>> Canberra AUSTRALIA
>> Tegwen #1141
>