[C320-list] Prop shaft packing

[resloat]

Dennis-I helped a friend convert to GFO packing while his boat was in the 
water.  Towels used to keep the water intrusion to a minimum.  I don't think 
we had more that a pint of water leak in over the 45 minutes to take out the 
old and put in the good.

Bob Sloat
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Cary Dennis Lowe" <cdlowe1769 at sbcglobal.net>
To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2013 9:48 PM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Prop shaft packing


Just curious. Has about done this while the boat is still in the water? 
Some of my sailing friends say they have done it.  I think that it is risky. 
Any advise is appreciated.

Thanks
Dennis

Sent from my iPad

> On Nov 12, 2013, at 5:19 PM, jsheets at aol.com wrote:
>
> Thanks for the response Bob. Very helpful.
>
> Jerry Sheets
>
>> On Nov 12, 2013, at 9:08 AM, "resloat" <resloat at comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>> 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
>>