My 1983 Catalina 38 sprung a leak. Attached photo shows that the stuffing box hose seems to have slid away from the flat part of the hull that it was up against. Oddly enough I see a screw on one side and a hole for a screw on the other. I tried to slide the whole assembly back but it only moved about 1/4 inch, and needs to go another quarter. Looks sort strange to me. Any ideas on what is going on here? Why is there a screw hole on one side and screw on the other? Thoughts to fix?
That screw makes no sense to me. I suspect a PO was trying to accomplish something. If you remove it does the shaft tube have any play? Where exactly is the leak?
As long as both hose clamps land on the fiberglass shaft tube there is no real reason to move it.
Looking into this more, the motor mounts seem to have settled and the shaft is sitting lower at the exit of the hull, so I suspect it has worn a hole in the shaft tube. Its best to check your motor mounts before it gets this far. )