Today I replaced the stuffing box gland packing on my 30 Ultra, Westerbeke 27A, Hurth 150 V-Drive transmission.
I did this while in the water… and while it pretty much fought me at most turns (though getting it opened was not too difficult) I finally got all of the old flax out (used a set of variously curved hook and picks), had pre-cut 2 rings (Nonsuch manual says 2 rings) of the 1/4" flax (Nonsuch manual says 1/4" flax") to size on a spare piece of 1" tubing, and cut them on the proper 45 degree angle so the ends would overlap and compress together when tightened, and coated the flax in Syntef Packing Shaft Lube.
Though the flax fit tightly around the shaft and the ends overlapped properly, it was a bit difficult to get the first piece into the packing nut, the 2nd piece was equally difficult and I struggled to get it into the packing nut past the lip… I finally thought I had it in far enough and went to tighten the packing nut onto the shaft, but I couldn’t get the threads to catch and compress the flax further… I tried all sorts of things to press the packing nut far enough onto the shaft to get the threads to engage, but couldn’t get it to work.
I finally had to pull the 2nd ring of flax out of the packing nut to get the threads to catch. Once this was done, I was able to adjust the packing nut to get to the proper drip rate with the transmission engaged, and no drips when it was stopped. Tightened the Jam Nut while holding the packing nut in place, tested again, and all seems fine…
My concern is having only a single piece of flax in the packing nut… should I be worried, or should this be ok?
I was thinking of trying to insert a 2nd piece in another day or 2 as the first piece may have been pressed into the nut further by finally being properly tightened, but don’t want to upset the work I’ve already done.
We are leaving for a 5 week sail this Friday so - Thoughts please!
Peter Grabow
S/V CAKE WALK III
1987 30U 430
Jersey City, NJ
Following up as we are now back from our 5 week cruise -
After a day or so of the stuffing box being tightened down, I still was unable to fit in a 2nd ring of flax, so I left well enough alone, and re-tightened the stuffing box with the single (though there is probably an old ring in the gland that I just can’t get out - at this time) ring of new flax in the gland. Drip rate was considerably slower that I am used to (now only 1 or possibly 2 drips per minute instead of 8 to 10).
During our cruise up to Kennebunkport, Maine and back the drips seem to slow even more, to 1 a minute or less, with very little water collecting in the catch-pan kept below the stuffing box, even after a long day of motoring…
However, I measured the temperature of the stuffing box, and prop shaft, often during motoring using a laser thermometer and the difference between the stuffing box and the shaft was never more than a few degrees F, and always within 15 to 20 degrees F of the water temperature thru which we were motoring. The box/shaft temp ranged somewhere between 81 and 93 degrees F, not even really warm to the touch, and the water temps ranged from 63 to 74 degrees F…
I did carry with us a new box of 3/16" flax as had been suggested above, in the event that I had to pull the 1/4" flax out during our trip… didn’t need it.
When the boat is next on the hard, I will take my time to try to remove all of the flax, new and old(?) and repack with 2 new rings…
Peter Grabow
S/V CAKE WALK III
1987 30U 430
Jersey City, NJ
I was always able to repack the stuffing box on my former Catalina and Tartan. Not so with Catharsis. because the access was poor and my body not as flexible. I decided, last season, to have it repacked by the boatyard (Irish in northern Michigan). They required the boat be hauled out for the work and did so. I casually asked about a Shaft Seal and was surprised that it was reasonably priced at, I think, $350 US. The haulout was by far the most expensive part of the procedure and had to be done either way.
I chose to have a Shaft Seal installed and have been delighted . No drips. Maintenance is recommended every 5 years and I am currently 75. I feel it has been one of my better decisions.
Phil Harmeson
Catharsis.
1985 30U 295
Traverse City, MI