[C320-list] GFO Packing Gland Tightness Clarification: 1994

[Chris Burti]

My procedure is similar to Jeff’s. Dry at rest and up to two drops per minute when running in gear.  With this amount of dripping, I am certain of the gland being cooled and lubricated and the engine heat will evaporate all of the water before it reaches the bilge. 

Best Regards,
Chris Burti
Statewide Title, Inc.  

> On Jun 18, 2019, at 9:21 AM, Jeff Hare <Catalina at thehares.com> wrote:
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> Here's my take on that.
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> When you first replace it, you'll tighten it so that it doesn't drip.  Motor for a little and it'll get a bit warm to the touch.  If it burns you, it's too hot of course, but comfortably warm isn't a problem, but from that point, you can back it up just a slight bit to find the point where it doesn't leak.  When motoring, it will have some temp in it (guessing maybe 70-90 degrees?), but not much.  But how warm it gets when correctly adjusted depends a little on the water temp you sail in.  In tropical water, the temp will be higher than those sailing in Maine.  So, my personal rule of thumb is that if it's slightly warm to the touch and not leaking, it's fine.
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> I actually have a tab of duct tape over the drain hole that leads to the bilge. That way I can tell just how much drippage I have as well as preventing any spills from strainer cleaning from getting in the bilge.  If it end up with one or two tablespoons of water in there at the end of a few hours of motoring, I consider that good enough, but generally I try for none.
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> -Jeff Hare
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> PS:  If anyone is interested, I have custom made Shaft Packing Wrenches available for the C320 (and other sizes as well) for sale includes storage case.  See pictures here.  Got tired of wrenches that don't fit well right.  These also accept a socket wrench if you need a little more torque to break them free.   https://photos.app.goo.gl/gEUNwrVhYmftrbr79   ($85 +Shipping)
> Sorry for the sales pitch...
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> On Behalf Of Clay Carter
> Sent: Monday, June 17, 2019 8:32 PM
> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
> Subject: [C320-list] GFO Packing Gland Tightness Clarification: 1994
> 
> As a new 320 owner I have just replaced the packing gland for the first time in my 1995 320.  My neighbor with another 1994 320 had replaced his with 1/4"  "Equalseal Gore GFO" and has zero water dripping from his.  This is attractive due to my very shallow bilge in this year--I like dry bilge.  The dilemma I am facing is how tight should this be?  Before replacing this gland, I went back and forth from no water to too much water and could never dial it in so I decided to remove the old and just start from new.  With this new GFO product, I have tightened it enough so there is no water dripping, but wonder if it might be too tight.  I have tested it at my slip with transmission in gear with moderate RPM's, still no water dripping but there is some heat when you touch the shaft and glad.  Also getting a little black "goo" (not sure what the correct term is here folks) which has leaked out and sprayed a little around the fiberglass bottom.  Should there be some heat if this thing is stopping the water, or should there be no heat due to cooling from water and perhaps I have it too tight?  Maybe the heat is causing this "goo" to ooze out of the gland due to having tightened it too much?  How do you tell how tight to go with GFO?
> Thank you for any input--learning so much from this group.  :) Clay CarterWe'll Sea--Hull 225Long Beach, CA 
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> “Be kind,for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” ~Plato
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