slanty 8 Posted January 13, 2020 Share Posted January 13, 2020 Anyone know the right size of stuffing? It's the bronze factory gland with a 1 inch shaft. Boat a long way away and want to get sorted before haulout in a couple of weeks... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
waikiore 405 Posted January 13, 2020 Share Posted January 13, 2020 Usually 1/4" if 1" shaft Quote Link to post Share on other sites
slanty 8 Posted January 14, 2020 Author Share Posted January 14, 2020 Thanks guys. Ultra x reads very well but cant see a NZ supplier. Where did you source it? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cantab 341 Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 I would advise using synthetic fibre PTFE (teflon) impregnated packing, flax will not last - it rots, carbon (graphite) on stainless is never a good thing. I used to repair and prepare for survey boats for a living, seen all the salesmen push their product, stick to the white stuff. PTFE asbestos was the best, not sure if you can still buy it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
slanty 8 Posted January 15, 2020 Author Share Posted January 15, 2020 Wow - yet another boat ownership rabbit hole! Lucky I'm a nerd at heart. Lateral - would love to buy a little of that packing from you if that's an option. Will PM you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harrytom 650 Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 why not fit a dripless gland??$800 from chatfield engineering,fit once and forget it,bit of grease once a tear. next time around will fitting one. Remember to let it drip with packing when motoring,seen so many packings worn out as the drip is the cooling. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cantab 341 Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 Got a Volvo seal on my yacht, super simple and seems to be lasting ok, grease it once a year. Nice to have a dry bilge. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B00B00 310 Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 I had a volvo dripless shaft seal fail on my 10 year old beneteau 50 just out of Gibraltar on the way to the canary islands. It failed pretty badly with a huge amount of water coming in. By the time we noticed it there was a lot of water in the boat and the limber holes in the structure and some rough conditions were not letting enough water get to the central mounted bilge pumps. We had to go into a small fishing port in Morocco to get some flat water and bail the boat out before heading back to Spain for an emergency out. The internal lipseals had just worn out completley. Fantastic things but they really are not a case of fit and forget. Recommended to be replaced every 5 years by a surveyor who did our boat. Maybe our one had not been 'burped' (let the air out between the 2 seals) properly When it had gone back in the water at some stage of its life or not lubed. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
slanty 8 Posted January 15, 2020 Author Share Posted January 15, 2020 Definitely keen on dripless solution, but will save that expenditure for my next boat. Looking to upgrade in the not too distant future.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harrytom 650 Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 I had a volvo dripless shaft seal fail on my 10 year old beneteau 50 just out of Gibraltar on the way to the canary islands. It failed pretty badly with a huge amount of water coming in. By the time we noticed it there was a lot of water in the boat and the limber holes in the structure and some rough conditions were not letting enough water get to the central mounted bilge pumps. We had to go into a small fishing port in Morocco to get some flat water and bail the boat out before heading back to Spain for an emergency out. The internal lipseals had just worn out completley. Fantastic things but they really are not a case of fit and forget. Recommended to be replaced every 5 years by a surveyor who did our boat. Maybe our one had not been 'burped' (let the air out between the 2 seals) properly When it had gone back in the water at some stage of its life or not lubed. reason why I chose chatfield on the last yacht,incase of failure you can undo 2 bolts and use normal packing as a repair. The pps?? is relying on 2 flanges pushed together and will drip if in muddy waters as silt can get between flanges. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,246 Posted January 17, 2020 Share Posted January 17, 2020 http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/stuffing_box&page=3 Scroll down. ********GTU, GFO, Ultra x warning********** sh*t, I’ve missed an inspection or four. Thats a pretty good article! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,246 Posted January 17, 2020 Share Posted January 17, 2020 Stainless is more noble than naval bronze. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harrytom 650 Posted January 18, 2020 Share Posted January 18, 2020 The important bit. When adjusting other types of flax the stuffing box should be relatively cool/warmish to luke warm, at most. With traditional flax packing it should drip and must drip while the shaft is spinning. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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