[C320-list] packing gland and winter

[Warren Updike]

Bill, just in case you are not familiar with the packing gland, there is a
lock nut aft of the big nut. Be sure to back-off the lock nut first or you
will never get the big nut to move. With everything so cold, you could have
a hard time tightening the packing nut; but, it's worth a try. If you get it
to move maybe just a 1/4 turn will be enough for now. If you don't have a
history on repacking the gland, you probably should plan on doing it in the
spring. If you don't want to bother with removing all the old packing, just
a one new ring. For a good explanation of how to do this, go to
www.pbase.com/mainecruising/stuffing_box. It's quite clear how to do it.

Warren & Pattie Updike
1994 C320 #62 "Warr De Mar"

-----Original Message-----
From: wflowe3 at aim.com [mailto:wflowe3 at aim.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2014 9:40 AM
To: c320-list at catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] packing gland and winter

I visited the boat the other day for the first time (I'm about 60 miles
away) this winter. I have always had a dry bilge but there was water in it
that day.  The boat is in the water with an over-the rail winter cover so
snow /rain was not the problem but I traced the trail of water to the
packing gland.  I have never had much water dripping even when motoring but
this drip has started with the boat winterized and just bobbing in the slip.
The marina places pumps under the slips to keep ice from forming around the
hull so I assume that water temps below the waterline inside the boat are
above freezing.

The leak is  a couple of drips a minute and because of the cold temps I
didn't want to try and tighten the nut for fear of making things worse.

I have new batteries and the charger is plugged into shore power so I'm not
too concerned about keeping water in the bilge under control but it is
rather disconcerting to know that I have a "leak".

Has anyone else had cold water effect their packing material?

Bill
#1146