Have developed a leak on the rudder shaft of my Aphrodite 42 ketch. I
tightened the large bronze stuffing box nut but the leak increased. Is
the seal a rubber seal or a length of Teflon impregnated fibre.
As normal the top of the stuffing box is below the water level so am
reluctant to tear it apart without the required replacement
stuffing/seal.
Any details of the size of stuffing or seal or an easy fix would be
appreciated.
We are in Malaysia at the moment getting ready to head to Sri-lanka &
India so a fix is imperative.
Thanks
Tony

You use the same materials as in your shaft stuffing box; flax or teflon
packing.
If your spare piece of packing for the shaft stuffing box is too narrow,
hammer it out until it is the right width. Have a few pieces cut to length
(at 45 degree from the side) before you start. I'd have a helper on the
boat.
Before you start you might want to take a swim and stuff a rag around the
rudder shaft to slow down the water coming in, really jam it in there with a
screw driver or dive knife.
MMC

"Lyn & Tony" wrote in message
oups.com...
Have developed a leak on the rudder shaft of my Aphrodite 42 ketch. I
tightened the large bronze stuffing box nut but the leak increased. Is
the seal a rubber seal or a length of Teflon impregnated fibre.
As normal the top of the stuffing box is below the water level so am
reluctant to tear it apart without the required replacement
stuffing/seal.
Any details of the size of stuffing or seal or an easy fix would be
appreciated.
We are in Malaysia at the moment getting ready to head to Sri-lanka &
India so a fix is imperative.
Thanks
Tony

Thanks for the info. Will give it a go when I get some teflon.
A few different sizes are available in Langkawi.