Catalina 25 stuffing box

[sanibel sailor]

A friend has a Catalina 25 (swing keel model) with a little Universal 5411 diesel. It seems to be the original install rather than a swap out after an outboard, but I am not certain.

The boat was leaking a constant dribble, making about 25 gallons a week that the owner admitted to, thru the stuffing box. That is quite a bit for a small boat with no bilge to speak of. I tightened the stuffing box nut down and stopped the leak. About have the bilge pump fixed. I have not run the engine yet to check for a drip or stuffing box overheating.

The problem is access to the stuffing box. The engine output flange sits right up to the front of the locking nut, maybe a 1/2" space at most. The hose is short, 4-5" maybe. It does not seem that there is likely a way to replace the packing without pulling the engine out. That would make the packing 30 years old or so. Might explain the leak.

I wish I had taken a picture... I will tomorrow. Any ideas about packing replacement?

[sanibel sailor]

Photo

[Boatyarddog]

In any case your going to need to replace the coupler at least.
It must be removed anyway to replace this packing gland, or hose.
A haulout is necessary, for this setup.


Sent from my iPad SV Cloud Duster

[gonesail]

catalina should be held liable for this kind of workmanship but i have also seen it from other well known builders. your friend may be looking at quite a bit of time and money just to do a simple thing like replacing the packing

[Boatyarddog]

Geeze, you'd think better maintainance practices, would be correct here.
It may be possible to raise the rear of the engine enough to clear the coupler, and move the coupler/shaft forward to give more area to unscrew the packing nut and gain access to the flax rings.
This will depend on the amount of shaft that is sticking out of the cutlass bearing at the prop end.


Sent from my iPad SV Cloud Duster

[sanibel sailor]

Originally Posted by Boatyarddog

Geeze, you'd think better maintainance practices, would be correct here.
It may be possible to raise the rear of the engine enough to clear the coupler, and move the coupler/shaft forward to give more area to unscrew the packing nut and gain access to the flax rings.
This will depend on the amount of shaft that is sticking out of the cutlass bearing at the prop end.


Sent from my iPad SV Cloud Duster

Had not considered this approach, just disconnect the coupler (bolts look a little rusty to me), tilt the engine to slide the shaft forward. Could likely be done with the boat afloat with a bit of clay around the cutlass bearing...

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by sanibel sailor

Had not considered this approach, just disconnect the coupler (bolts look a little rusty to me), tilt the engine to slide the shaft forward. Could likely be done with the boat afloat with a bit of clay around the cutlass bearing...

If you can do it, it works. Check the shaft under the boat for a collar zinc, or zinc on the shaft that may impede the shaft from pulling forward once you've got the engine raised.
I've done this it does work. Not a lot of water comes thru the gland in the water, you can just tie a rag to the shaft and slide it up to seal the water off.
As for the rings of flax packing in the gland nut, you can just use 1 continuous length of packing material to pack the gland instead of 2 or 3 sets of rings.
It's a bit easier to install in tight quarters.
Not exactly the proper way but service life is the same.
That coupler looks very ugly, don't trust the alignment of that part to the trans coupler after disassembly, check it.


Sent from my iPad SV Cloud Duster

[Stu Jackson]

Ask here, too, they are the Catalina 25 experts:

Association Forum - Catalina 25 Specific Forum