Quote:
Originally Posted by Lancerbye
Welcome to CF. I assume you are talking about your Prop Shaft. A little hard to duplicate the environment that it would be in when in the water. The water pressure from the wet side is dependent on the dept that the shaft log entry sits at. (very low). What type of seal do you have? Mechanical,Dripless, Packed gland? The best way is to lower the boat in the water and check, (while it is stationary and with the shaft turning) leaks from these seals will not introduce a lot of water and can be rectified if leaking while in the water. Just have a good bilge pump on hand and don't panic at the sight of water entering your boat.
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This is very valuable info.
I just splashed my boat today and wasn't there. I got there late and opened up the
bilge to find the packing I had just installed leaking at a pretty good drip almost a stream. I didn't panic and had a socket and ratchet at the ready. Tightened the two nuts on the box down gently and equally and it all went away to a drip every minute and ten seconds. I cannot say enough I should have been there when it went into the water. The boatyard doesn't care they didn't do the
repair.
I will also say there is a way and a trick to install the packing. Remove the old packing and try to clean the stuffing box surfaces best you can. wrap the new packing around the shaft and cut the pieces you need across the prop shaft so they fit together tightly. When you have them all cut grab a plastic mallet and lightly tap the surface of the packing so it flattens slightly. Don't hammer on it just tap on it to spread it a little. This helps to get it in and around the shaft and the box. Replace the packing offsetting the ends of the packing every 120 degrees or read the
installation directions that come with the packing and tighten down the packing. as they say to do it.
Now when you splash be there to tighten it up at the slip right after they drop your boat in. Your package of packing should also tell you how to break the packing in when you use your boat.