[C320-list] Shaft Packing.... Duramax Ultra X

[Chris Burti]

Duramax Ultra X is reportedly fine, but I haven't tried it. I use the
gore material. Carefully considerthe product sold by WM as it is knock
off of the Gore material and reportedly tends to fray more at the cut
ends making a good tight installation a chore.


Buy it at any industrial supply store, They sell for valve packing at
half the cost of a marine supply.

3/16" is what the majority of the owners' manuals call for but some
have reported 1/4"will work

The 1/4" will limit you to two rings and three are preferred.

Cut your rings on the shaft before you remove the old if you are in
the water so you will be able to install them more easily. Make the
cut at 45 degrees so that the compression nut will make the rings seal
end to to end and laterally at the same time. Stagger the joints
ninety degrees so they don't line up.

This material is not "dripless", it is "drip less". It needs very
little drip, but if the shaft under the log is oxygen starved it will
corrode. a slight drip prevents that issue.




On Sun, Jan 23, 2011 at 1:29 AM, Utility Email <kswanson123 at comcast.net> wrote:
> I used the Gore shaft packing material.  Excellent product, great reviews on sail net and cruisers forum.  No drips and it runs cool.  I can't remember the size, but the size is shown in the shaft log drawing in the owners manual.  Easy to install. I did mine with the boat out of the water.  I bought mine at the local marine store.  About $25.  The one thing that I found is that my shaft log took two rings, even though my owners manual showed 3 rings.
>
> Dave
>
> David Swanson
> S/V Emily Ann
> 2007 C320 MK II, No. 1107
> Mukilteo, WA
>
>
>
> On Jan 22, 2011, at 7:41 PM, "Brad Kuether" <bkuether at comcast.net> wrote:
>
>> I am getting a new prop this year, and figured since I will be replacing the cutlass bearing I may as well change out the packing in the packing nut.  It has been dripping all season, and is 7 years old now.
>>
>> I want to use Duramax Ultra X, it seems to be the best stuff on the market....
>>
>> Question.
>>  a.. Has anyone used it, and if so see any reason NOT to use it?  (I am not ready for dripless yet)
>>  b.. Does anyone know the correct size?
>>  c.. Does anyone know where it can be obtained without having to mortgage your house?
>> Thanks in advance.  Looking forward to getting out of my "kid imposed" limited cruising grounds, and meeting up with the multitude of 320s in the upper mid Chesapeake.
>>
>> -Brad, Mary, Monica, and Jarod
>> "Independence"
>> 2004 Catalina 320 Hull 1006
>> Middle River, MD
>



-- 
Chris Burti
Farmville, NC