[C320-list] Prop shaft packing

[resloat]

Further on GFO packing.  E Marine now has a video on installing GFO packing. 
I just noticed it.  See  http://www.emarineinc.com.  For the C320 the thin 
locking nut must first be backed off the large packing gland nut in order to 
get to the packing.  It is not hand tight and requires 2 good wrenches to 
loosen the thin nut.  One wrench on the thin nut and the other on the 
packing gland.

Bob Sloat
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "resloat" <resloat at comcast.net>
To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Monday, November 11, 2013 9:48 PM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Prop shaft packing


> Jerry-Rather than putting up with the dripping on my hull 894 (2002), I 
> replaced the OEM flax packing with GFO packing which is uses some form of 
> Gortex and looks like the original packing in your boat. You will end up 
> with basically a drip less seal by just changing out the packing. You 
> might get a tablespoon of water under the packing gland on occasion, but 
> for me there is no leakage most all the time when motoring or at the dock. 
> I did this many years ago and it is the best $18 investment made on the 
> boat.  I did the switch over on the tarmac before launch.
>
> Packing size for my boat is 1/4 inch even though my owner's manual says it 
> is 3/16
> inch.  The size to use depending on the space between the shaft and
> the inside of the stuffing box.  One of the GFO suppliers site said to 
> measured for the size needed by unscrewing the gland nut and finding a 
> drill size (1/4 "in my case) that snuggly fit in the space between the 
> shaft and the stuffing box.  I bought the GFO packing from 
> http://www.emarineinc.com.
>
> Pick out the old stuff, clean off the shaft and install the new packing. 
> I could only get 2 layers of packing on the first year and added a third 
> the next year.  You have to cut the packing very carefully to make a ring 
> around the 1 inch shaft so the ends of the ring meet smoothly without any 
> gaps.
>
> Bob Sloat
> Savannah 894 (2002)
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <jsheets at aol.com>
> To: <c320-list at catalina320.com>
> Sent: Monday, November 11, 2013 8:16 PM
> Subject: [C320-list] Prop shaft packing
>
>
>
> I have been told that the flax around the prop shaft should be repacked 
> every three years or so. What should I be looking for to indicate this 
> needs to be done? I had a steady drip coming from the shaft recently, but 
> tightening the nut slowed it down considerably. Will it continue to get 
> worse quickly? Thank you all as always for sharing your expertise and 
> experience.
>
> Jerry
> JellyRoll  #890
>
>