Stuffing Boxes

[manifishdestiny]

I have twin inboards and was told the stuffing boxes need to be replace because they weeping (one is dripping) and they look corroded. Is this something that can be done while boat is in the water? It is in a slip. How much am I looking at replace both? Also does anyone know a good boat mechanic in Southern MD? Thanks

Anthony

[seabob4]

Anthony,
How much do you know about inboards?  Stuffings boxes, shaft logs, whatever you want to call them, DO drip, unless they are the "newer" type dripless shaft seals.  Have you replaced the packing in the stuffing boxes?  Should be 3/8".  If not, you should.  I would probably do the rudder ports as well, they should be 1/4" packing.

Do this before you opt for replacement.  And, no, you can't swap out stuffing boxes with the boat in the water...

[manifishdestiny]

I do not know much. I know only one drips and the other does not. The reason I ask is because the insurance company said to have the stuffing box clamps replaced because they are rusted. Is that something that can be done in the water? Thanks

Anthony

[fitz73222]

Hi Anthony,

My experience with our old 28' Penn Yan with the typical waxed rope seal stuffing boxes was to let them drip. Not a steady drip, maybe about one drop per minute to keep the seal lubricated and the packing just tightened enough to let the shaft turn freely without smoking the rope seal.

Fitz

[seabob4]

Absolutely Fitz.  Another thing you may want to consider, if you don't already have it, is a crossover from one box to the other.  This is to ensure that if one motor quits pumping water to the seal for any reason, the remaining motor will continue to feed both seals water.

And, yes, the clamps can be replaced while in the water...not the boxes themselves...

[manifishdestiny]

Absolutely Fitz.  Another thing you may want to consider, if you don't already have it, is a crossover from one box to the other.  This is to ensure that if one motor quits pumping water to the seal for any reason, the remaining motor will continue to feed both seals water.

And, yes, the clamps can be replaced while in the water...not the boxes themselves...

After using the boat today for about 4 hours the clamp on the port side was dripping one or twice a second. Thanks for all the help I will have a mechanic look at it then show me how to do it in the future. I will ask about the possible crossover but it may have to wait until I pull the boat for winter.  Thanks again.

[manifishdestiny]

Hi Anthony,

My experience with our old 28' Penn Yan with the typical waxed rope seal stuffing boxes was to let them drip. Not a steady drip, maybe about one drop per minute to keep the seal lubricated and the packing just tightened enough to let the shaft turn freely without smoking the rope seal.

Fitz

When I go to the boat tomorrow I will take some pics of the dripping. It was dripping like one or two drops per second today after 4 hours of use. Hopefully the pics will tell more. I am new to inboards I have owned i/o and outboards up until now.  Thanks.

[wingtime]

Stuffing boxes drip...  about a drip every thirty seconds is OK.   sometimes all you have to do is tighten the packing nut a bit.

here is a good article on them for reading..   http://www.boatus.com/boattech/casey/stuffing-box.asp

[manifishdestiny]

Stuffing boxes drip...  about a drip every thirty seconds is OK.   sometimes all you have to do is tighten the packing nut a bit.

here is a good article on them for reading..   http://www.boatus.com/boattech/casey/stuffing-box.asp

Thanks good reading. They are dripping a lot more than that but I will try tightening tomorrow and take pics.