[C320-list] Dry bilge?

[pat reynolds]

I agree with Allan on the pss shaft. I replaced my original because the company recommended a change every so many years.  The original bellows looked fine when I removed it.  As far as the mechanics suggestion that a bronze shaft be used, I can only think that that was because bronze is softer than stainless and the set screws might hold better.  A poor suggestion since I replaced my original bronze shaft with stainless after getting a line caught around it and bending it.   

 The Pss set screws are meant to be used once and not loosened and retightened.  You can easily get replacements.   I put a zinc on the shaft in front of the pss in case the screws loosened and the rotor should slid forward.  I actually ordered the old bellows at replacement since it just needs to be burped when the boat is launched.  I don't like having to put a hose above the water line as on the newer ones..  All that being said each of us have our own preference for our peace of mind.
 

     On Thursday, November 20, 2014 4:00 PM, Allan S Field <allan.field at verizon.net> wrote:
   

 The current PSS comes with a vent hose that runs from the seal to 2 feet
above the water line, eliminating the risk of air getting into the bellows.
The original seal that was on Sea Shadow for about 12 years did not have the
vent hose so the bellows needed to be burped to get the air out when
launched.  About 2-3 years after install, I was advised that PYY would send
a vent kit out at no charge; I didn't take them up on this because I knew to
burp at launch and the thing was working so well.  At no other time during
those 12 years did the thing run dry or get an air bubble in the system.  In
other words, the thing worked flawlessly for 12 years including leaving the
boat in the water all winter.  So if there have been failures due to the
shaft seal that has sunk boats, I'd like to see the data!  I would hazard to
guess that the risk of excessive water entering the boat through the packing
gland probably statistically is higher with the regular packing material and
I would think less so with the GoreTex but I have no data to support this.
With an n of one though, I did see the bilge on an Island Packet 29 with a
faulty bilge pump completely fill from a leaking packing gland.

I am not trying to sell anyone on the PYY gland.  Rather, I am just trying
to share the experience of one very satisfied owner and respond to concerns
that I haven't experienced and know of no one else experiencing!  

Allan S. Field
Sea Shadow - #808
Columbia, MD

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf
Of Richard Cincinelli
Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2014 12:37 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Dry bilge?

My understanding from Garry Douglas, 2013 Catalina island Rendezvous,  is
that the PSS is no longer being used by Catalina. Seem that if the water
jacket loses water that the unit has failed. This can occur if there is an
air bubble in the system. Failure can cause the unit to become an opening to
the sea. I have a 2012 355 and it came with a Gore-Tex packing as the
standard.

Richard Cincinelli
(310) 722-1044


-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf
Of Karl Mielenhausen
Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2014 5:29 AM
To: C320IA Discussion List
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Dry bilge?

The only totally dry solution that I know of is the PSS system. There is a
nice article on it here...
http://www.correctcraftfan.com/articles/PSS.asp

I believe the newer Catalina's have this and many owners have converted.

Karl

On Thu, Nov 20, 2014 at 7:51 AM, Scott Westwood <scottwestwood at bellsouth.net
> wrote:

> But that still ends up with water in the bilge.  Is there a way to get 
> a "truly" dry bilge with a shaft thru the hull?  Or... If you have an 
> inboard engine you just have to live with water in the bilge?  Just 
> deal
with it?
>
> Scott Westwood scottwestwood at bellsouth.netH (919)-362-8538C
> (919)-618-7185
>
> --------------------------------------------
> On Thu, 11/20/14, Karl Mielenhausen <kmielen at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>  Subject: Re: [C320-list] Dry bilge?
>  To: "C320IA Discussion List" <C320-List at catalina320.com>
>  Date: Thursday, November 20, 2014, 7:43 AM
>
>  Switch over to Gore-tex
>  packing...
>
> http://www.emarineinc.com/products/GFO-Packing%2C-3%7B47%7D16-in.%285-
> mm%29-2-foot.html
>
>  The 3/16" size should
>  allow you space for 3 rings (stagger the joints).
>  This stuff really runs cool. I tighten so that  I get about one drop 
> every
>  60 seconds WHEN
>  RUNNING. Readjust after 2 hours of runtime.
>
>  Note to all members:
>  The discussion list archives can be easily  searched by going here...
>  https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/c320-list
>  We have a huge history of discussions that  probably will answer 90% 
> of the  questions  that members post. Not that we don't want to talk 
> to  you, but  just suggested in the interest of  timeliness. Also, 
> when you ask a  question,  it usually helps to list your hull number 
> and engine make  (if  appropriate).
>
>  Karl
>
>
>  Karl
>
>  On Thu, Nov 20, 2014 at
>  7:09 AM, Scott Westwood <scottwestwood at bellsouth.net  > wrote:
>
>  > I have seen several notes on how to  re-pack stuffing boxes etc...
>  >
>  > I also have heard different takes on  dripping and "drip less" vs.
>  >
>  "dripless".  My wife "hates" water in  the bilge with a passion.
>  >
>  > Is there a truly safe way to get a dry  bilge?  Cost/benefit 
> analysis?  You  >  can but it would cost as muchas the boat etc???
>  >
>  > Our box drips 3-5
>  drips/minute even at the dock.  Is this normal?  I hear  > it is for 
> cooling underway etc...
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  What thoughts are out there?
>  >
>  > One concern we both have is the odd chance  that we have a bilge 
> pump  > failure (or  battery failure) at the dock.  We have shore 
> power but we  often  > can't get to the boat for a  month or so.
> Worst fear is bilge pump failure  > and boat sinks.  I know it should 
> not  happen within a month or so but there  >  is also the fear of 
> wood deck damage if bilge water rises  etc...
>  >
>  >
>  > Thoughts out there?
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  Scott Westwood scottwestwood at bellsouth.netH  (919)-362-8538C
> (919)-618-7185  >  >  >
>
>