[C320-list] Dripless Vent Hose Location?

[Jeff Hare]

That's unfortunately one of the reasons why I stopped using the PSS.  I had the old style without the vent and PYI sent me the new version for free to replace the old one that they requested I not use anymore (yet they said they didn't have reason to think it would fail).  

When I couldn't think of a good reason to trust a small plastic barb and a thin plastic hose that could get easily damaged sitting a few inches away from a wildly spinning and vibrating prop shaft I needed another solution for peace of mind.  :)  You can't easily get 2' above the water line from that location on our boats without using a fairly long hose or running it into a hot engine compartment complete with all the vibration and heat going on in there.  You can't plug the hole in the new style PSS because if it heats up due to lack of water it could crack or damage this barb?  (From PYI)

So... I went back to the stuffing box and GFO packing and have been very happy since.  Bilge is just as dry (if not dryer than before) and the added benefit is that I no longer get that black carbon dust ring from the PSS.   I keep a piece of tape over the drain hole that leads under the engine compartment.  I've never had any water puddle up there except when I empty the strainer and the tape lets me mop up any drips before they drain into the space under the engine.

As for connecting to the scupper drain, that seems like would be a logical choice, except that the hose has to run quite a long way to get there and would need to be very well protected along the way since it'll not be easy to inspect.  Certainly couldn't use the kind of line they supply to make that kind of run (just my opinion however).

Finally, the reason why they want it at least 2 feet above the water line is (I believe) because when you power up in reverse, you can actually force water into the bellows and force water out the top of the tube.  You don't really want sea water spraying all over the engine when you're revving up in reverse.  I actually read an article where one owner (not a C320) had tried a number of different things to catch this backwash.

I never used the new style PSS, so the reality might be different than I expressed here.

Cheers!
-Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Joel Krauska
Sent: Monday, April 13, 2015 10:27 PM
To: C320-list at catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Dripless Vent Hose Location?

I have a PYI PSS dripless shaft seal.
http://www.shaftseal.com/en/categories/300000001/preview

It's great because the bilge is basically bone dry, but there's an awkward vent line that leads up and near the yanmar.

The manufacturer's instructions say to
"""
Run the hose to a point in the boat at least two (2) feet above the waterline, making sure that the hose does not apply any load on the carbon part of the seal. Keep the hose as close as possible to the centerline of the vessel so the top of the vent hose is never below the waterline, even if the boat heels. Secure the hose in place with the necessary fittings that insure it will not pull free and drop. This hose is now a venting hose that will help ensure that no air is trapped in the seal.
"""

I'm curious about where others may have run this hose.  I was thinking about possibly hooking it in to a cockpit drain??

Cheers,

Joel Krauska
Grace #802