[C320-list] Dripless shaft???

[Chris Burti]

I’ve used it for a decade. The few drips under power pass under the engine and evaporate before reaching the bilge. If you buy it in the 1/4” size at an industrial supply (GFO steam valve packing) it’s about one third of the price at marine store. 

Wrap around once, cut through the end and the bight at forty five degrees so that the end overlap evenly in a taper. Do two rings making sure the splices are offset ninety degrees from each other and tighten the stuffing box firmly to seat them. Unscrew the nut and install a third ring again offsetting the splice. 

Snug up the nut lightly. When you’re back in the water, loosen until it drips ( you may need to run the engine in gear if you snugged it too much) then snug it until the drip just stops. Properly adjusted, there should be no drip at rest and one or two drips per minute running. 

Should be YouTube videos of the process. 

Best Regards,
Chris Burti
Commitment 867

> On Jun 25, 2018, at 5:14 AM, Scott Westwood <scottwestwood at bellsouth.net> wrote:
> 
> If changing to GFO goes "virtually" dripless then sounds good to me.  We are hauling her out this year to do the bottom.  Perfect time.
> Where can I get the GFO packing? How-to Video's or articles?
> I was concerned about even the possibility of a rubber bladder sinking the boat....  Sounds like GFO would be less hassle/concern... 
> Thanks,
> Scott Westwood scottwestwood at bellsouth.net H (919)-362-8538    C (919)-618-7185
> 
>      From: danny jensen <danny at jensenshouse.com>
> To: "C320-List at Catalina320.com" <C320-List at catalina320.com> 
> Sent: Sunday, June 24, 2018 7:21 PM
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Dripless shaft???
> 
> I too was looking at dripless but I decided to use GFO packing 5 years ago
> based on Jeff Hare's recommendation. Maybe once every 2-3 years I need to
> tighten the nut on my stuffing box and I have a dry bilge. When dripless
> fails it can sink your boat.  I'm a big fan of GFO.
> Danny
> 
>> On Sun, Jun 24, 2018 at 3:43 PM, <rclausen1 at bigpond.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi Scott
>> 
>> I have a Volvo penta dripless shaft seal. Very happy with it, replace
>> after 5 years of dry bilge.
>> 
>> Teddy Clausen
>> 
>> Cool Change 294 Port Macquarie NSW Aus.
>> 
>> -----Original Message----- From: Scott Westwood
>> Sent: Monday, June 25, 2018 7:46 AM
>> To: Catalina List
>> Subject: [C320-list] Dripless shaft???
>> 
>> Has anybody installed a drip-less shaft on their C320?  Just asking but
>> the admiral is asking about getting rid of the water in the bilge and I
>> have to ask.
>> Mainly the price and any experiences from those who have done it?
>> Thanks,
>> Scott Westwood scottwestwood at bellsouth.net H (919)-362-8538    C
>> (919)-618-7185
>> 
> 
> 
>