[C320-list] Dripless shaft???

[Jeff Hare]

We've had GFO in for 8 or 9 years now.  You can get it on Amazon, and other places.  There are knockoff "gortex" kinds.  Don't have any firsthand experience with those so can't comment there.  Genuine GFO is my recommendation.  I don't know how long it lasts, but I'm guessing more than 10 years. 

We actually have a piece of duct tape over the drain hole that drains the prop shaft area into the bilge.  It's mostly to allow us to wipe up any water that gets in here when we empty the raw water strainer.  We loosen the strainer and slip a large Ziploc bag under it and let it fall into the bag so that we can carry it to the sink without dripping everywhere.

We had a PSS Shaft Seal for several years prior.  No problems with that really.  If you don't burp it, the unvented models can squeal or overheat.  If you use reverse, cavitation can force air bubbles into the shaft seal as well and it's hard to know if that happened or not.  It was never really a problem.  

But in the end, I felt that burping the shaft seal all the time let in more water than the GFO ever did after it was seated.  I bet every 320 that ever had a PSS/Carbon seal has that black "spin" line from the carbon water/dust mix that paints the muffler, cover board and the bilge.  I'll show you pictures of mine.  :)

Cheers!
-Jeff Hare

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> On Behalf Of Scott Westwood
Sent: Monday, June 25, 2018 5:15 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Dripless shaft???

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
>