[C320-list] stuffing box issues

[Jeff Hare]

Hi Barb,

One more thing you could try if the lightly tightening doesn't work.  That
is to tighten it firmly to the point where you can't turn the shaft a bit.
This may squeeze the packing back into a form that will seal.  Then back it
off until the shaft turns hard by hand (with still quite a bit of drag).
Start the engine and put it in gear for a minute or two.

Then back it off just slightly like 1/8 or less of a turn.  Run the engine
again and see if it heats up or leaks.  If it leaks but doesn't get
noticeably warm after running for a few minutes, you could tighten it some
more.

-Jeff 

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Barbara Uhlman
Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 10:50 AM
To: Catalina 320
Subject: [C320-list] stuffing box issues

Hey, gang,

I believe this discussion has appeared earlier, but I was not able to find
it on the site.  

I have a several of questions re. the above.  We have developed a leak in
the stuffing box area.  The boat was on the hard from April to the beginning
of December of last year and a diver told us that the stuffing box had dried
out and shrank during those hot months in the Florida sun.  Hence, the leak.
We had it tightened, but it still leaks considerably more than what it did
on a northern lake..

This year the plan is to leave the boat in the water til mid July or so at
which time we will have it pulled again until the first of December. 

What to do now?  Tighten it more?  Replace the stuffing?  If so, with which
kind?  I don't want to do something that will dry out again sitting on the
hard next fall.

I recall discussion on the dripless vs the more traditional stuffing boxes.
Can someone give us some advice?

Thanks.

Barb Uhlman
Whisper, #1158
PuntaGorda, FL