On Tue, 24 Oct 2006 23:52:09 GMT, "Cap'n Ric"
wrote:

When I was in Castine, Maine this summer a 51' Hinckley Sou'wester came into
Eaton's Boatyard dock about 4" lower in the water than when they started at
Southwest Harbor. My first question to the owner was "Do you have a shaft
seal or a stuffing box?" He had a shaft seal. When we pulled the cover off
the engine and transmission you could see the tear in the boot and the water
coming in. The folks at Eaton stopped the leak and The Maine Maritime
Acadamy hauled him the next morning. Hinckley sent a guy over from
Southwest Harbor to replace the seal.

I have a 2003 Beneteau 473 and unfortuneately I also have a shaft seal.
However, I religiously burp it if I think it is possible that air got in it.
I also grease it every 100 engine hours. I have a max-prop so my shaft
doesn't turn under sail.

Regards,

Cap'n Ric

I'm glad I don't have one.. The rip is really scary. You can fix the
seal that slides forward if you catch it early but there's no stopping
a ripped seal...I thought. How did Eaton do it?

Good idea from someone else about a siren and light. I wonder why very
few people do that....