Hi,

My new-to-me boat (Crown 28) has a stuffing-box, and the previous
owner replaced the flexable coupling just before I bought it (which, I
assume, requires taking the stuffing-box apart...). I didn't notice
any water in the bilge after it sat overnight, but there was about 2
gallons in after running the engine for about 2 1/2 hrs.

It could be the raw cooling water is leaking somewhere. I had a quick
look and didn't see anything suspicious (it's an old Volvo MD6A).

My suspicion is that when he checked the stuffing-box as soon as we
went in the water, it was fine. But after running the engine for a
while, the packing "settled" and it's now leaking. Does this sound
right? (I was too tired to remove all the crap required to get at the
stuffing-box last night) What is "normal procedure" for a stuffing-box
that's been re-stuffed?

Any other theories on where the water's coming from? I'll be heading
down tonight to have a look, and would appreciate any insight on what
to look for...

druid
"Coatue" Crown 28

"druid" wrote in message
ups.com...
Hi,

My new-to-me boat (Crown 28) has a stuffing-box, and the previous
owner replaced the flexable coupling just before I bought it (which, I
assume, requires taking the stuffing-box apart...). I didn't notice
any water in the bilge after it sat overnight, but there was about 2
gallons in after running the engine for about 2 1/2 hrs.

It could be the raw cooling water is leaking somewhere. I had a quick
look and didn't see anything suspicious (it's an old Volvo MD6A).

My suspicion is that when he checked the stuffing-box as soon as we
went in the water, it was fine. But after running the engine for a
while, the packing "settled" and it's now leaking. Does this sound
right? (I was too tired to remove all the crap required to get at the
stuffing-box last night) What is "normal procedure" for a stuffing-box
that's been re-stuffed?

Any other theories on where the water's coming from? I'll be heading
down tonight to have a look, and would appreciate any insight on what
to look for...

druid
"Coatue" Crown 28



It's almost certainly the stuffing box, and what Roger/Dave said are
accurate. You should also check the raw water system. I was poking around my
engine compartment a few weeks ago, noticed some seeping under the raw water
strainer, and ended up replacing the unit. Glad I did, as it was about to
go.


--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

On Oct 15, 10:11 am, "Capt. JG" wrote:
"druid" wrote in message

ups.com...



Hi,

My new-to-me boat (Crown 28) has a stuffing-box, and the previous
owner replaced the flexable coupling just before I bought it (which, I
assume, requires taking the stuffing-box apart...). I didn't notice
any water in the bilge after it sat overnight, but there was about 2
gallons in after running the engine for about 2 1/2 hrs.

It could be the raw cooling water is leaking somewhere. I had a quick
look and didn't see anything suspicious (it's an old Volvo MD6A).

My suspicion is that when he checked the stuffing-box as soon as we
went in the water, it was fine. But after running the engine for a
while, the packing "settled" and it's now leaking. Does this sound
right? (I was too tired to remove all the crap required to get at the
stuffing-box last night) What is "normal procedure" for a stuffing-box
that's been re-stuffed?

Any other theories on where the water's coming from? I'll be heading
down tonight to have a look, and would appreciate any insight on what
to look for...

druid
"Coatue" Crown 28

It's almost certainly the stuffing box, and what Roger/Dave said are
accurate. You should also check the raw water system. I was poking around my
engine compartment a few weeks ago, noticed some seeping under the raw water
strainer, and ended up replacing the unit. Glad I did, as it was about to
go.

--
"j" ganz


Thanks guys, that really makes me feel better! Nothing more
frightening than finding water in the bilge of the boat you just
bought...

I'll have a look tonight: I hesitate to put her in gear at the dock,
esp. while I'm pretzeled up under the cockpit looking at the stuffing-
box, but I'll at least have a look - I suspect she's dripping now even
with the shaft not turning.

I have to replace the impeller as well, so that's another reason to
stuff myself into that compartment...

druid
"Coatue" Crown 28

On Oct 15, 5:49 am, druid wrote:
... I didn't notice
any water in the bilge after it sat overnight, but there was about 2
gallons in after running the engine for about 2 1/2 hrs. ...

I agree with the previous posters about the stuffing box adjustments.
However, your water problem could be any number of things. I've seen
that kind of water ingress from a raw water pump with bad bearings for
instance. Also, if you were underway when the water came in it might
have come in through a head or sink. At any rate, I think it would be
a good idea to look at all of the engine (use a bright flash light and
mirror) while it is running and see if there are leaks. You may do
this in neutral if you must, though you do want it to get warm and at
some point it will be nice to see the stuffing box when the engine is
running. You really ought to be able to run the engine in gear at low
rpms in the slip. If you can't then the set-up is unlikely to be
satisfactory in bad weather and you should think about moving to a
more secure spot.

-- Tom.

"druid" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Oct 15, 10:11 am, "Capt. JG" wrote:
"druid" wrote in message

ups.com...



Hi,

My new-to-me boat (Crown 28) has a stuffing-box, and the previous
owner replaced the flexable coupling just before I bought it (which, I
assume, requires taking the stuffing-box apart...). I didn't notice
any water in the bilge after it sat overnight, but there was about 2
gallons in after running the engine for about 2 1/2 hrs.

It could be the raw cooling water is leaking somewhere. I had a quick
look and didn't see anything suspicious (it's an old Volvo MD6A).

My suspicion is that when he checked the stuffing-box as soon as we
went in the water, it was fine. But after running the engine for a
while, the packing "settled" and it's now leaking. Does this sound
right? (I was too tired to remove all the crap required to get at the
stuffing-box last night) What is "normal procedure" for a stuffing-box
that's been re-stuffed?

Any other theories on where the water's coming from? I'll be heading
down tonight to have a look, and would appreciate any insight on what
to look for...

druid
"Coatue" Crown 28

It's almost certainly the stuffing box, and what Roger/Dave said are
accurate. You should also check the raw water system. I was poking around
my
engine compartment a few weeks ago, noticed some seeping under the raw
water
strainer, and ended up replacing the unit. Glad I did, as it was about to
go.

--
"j" ganz


Thanks guys, that really makes me feel better! Nothing more
frightening than finding water in the bilge of the boat you just
bought...

I'll have a look tonight: I hesitate to put her in gear at the dock,
esp. while I'm pretzeled up under the cockpit looking at the stuffing-
box, but I'll at least have a look - I suspect she's dripping now even
with the shaft not turning.

I have to replace the impeller as well, so that's another reason to
stuff myself into that compartment...

druid
"Coatue" Crown 28



When I did this, I doubled my dock/spring lines, and I kept the Rs low.


--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
Don't get in there with the shaft turning! You don't have to see a drip
with the shaft turning.

Loosen the jam nut and tighten the gland. About as tight as you can get
it by hand with maximum effort is about right. If using a wrench, turn it
until the drip just stops. Tighten the jam nut with another wrench
holding the gland. The forces required are low enough that you can used
to large battery pliers.

It will now leak a bit when the shaft is turning but you don't need to
verify that if you turned just a tiny bit past when the drip stops.

--
Roger Long



I guess it depends upon access. For my boat, it's easy to get next to it
(about 2 feet away) without any danger of getting snagged. I don't get
closer than that while it's moving, at least not with anything that can
catch.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

On Oct 15, 12:14 pm, "Capt. JG" wrote:
"Roger Long" wrote in message

...

Don't get in there with the shaft turning! You don't have to see a drip
with the shaft turning.

Loosen the jam nut and tighten the gland. About as tight as you can get
it by hand with maximum effort is about right. If using a wrench, turn it
until the drip just stops. Tighten the jam nut with another wrench
holding the gland. The forces required are low enough that you can used
to large battery pliers.

It will now leak a bit when the shaft is turning but you don't need to
verify that if you turned just a tiny bit past when the drip stops.

--
Roger Long

I guess it depends upon access. For my boat, it's easy to get next to it
(about 2 feet away) without any danger of getting snagged. I don't get
closer than that while it's moving, at least not with anything that can
catch.

--
"j" ganz


I can see the stuffingbox without getting too close by hanging upside-
down in the cockpit locker ( I SWEAR boats are built upside down and
turned over, based on the amount of time I spend standing on my head
to get at stuff...)

I msg'ed the previous owner and sure enough he'd replaced the packing
with teflon stuff, so I'm pretty sure it's just the Joys of the
StuffingBox and the packing settling in. ("She'll be fine b'y as soon
as she takes up a little")

druid
http://www.bcboatnet.org

"druid" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Oct 15, 12:14 pm, "Capt. JG" wrote:
"Roger Long" wrote in message

...

Don't get in there with the shaft turning! You don't have to see a
drip
with the shaft turning.

Loosen the jam nut and tighten the gland. About as tight as you can
get
it by hand with maximum effort is about right. If using a wrench, turn
it
until the drip just stops. Tighten the jam nut with another wrench
holding the gland. The forces required are low enough that you can
used
to large battery pliers.

It will now leak a bit when the shaft is turning but you don't need to
verify that if you turned just a tiny bit past when the drip stops.

--
Roger Long

I guess it depends upon access. For my boat, it's easy to get next to it
(about 2 feet away) without any danger of getting snagged. I don't get
closer than that while it's moving, at least not with anything that can
catch.

--
"j" ganz


I can see the stuffingbox without getting too close by hanging upside-
down in the cockpit locker ( I SWEAR boats are built upside down and
turned over, based on the amount of time I spend standing on my head
to get at stuff...)

I msg'ed the previous owner and sure enough he'd replaced the packing
with teflon stuff, so I'm pretty sure it's just the Joys of the
StuffingBox and the packing settling in. ("She'll be fine b'y as soon
as she takes up a little")

druid
http://www.bcboatnet.org



Yeah, I hear that. I can actually get into the locker and crough.


--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

On 2007-10-15 12:05:45 -0400, "Roger Long" said:

There probably is nothing wrong and it just needs to be tightened up.
I have to take mine up a bit about every third tankful of fuel (20
gallon tank burning about 1 GPH).

Agree with the "nothing wrong" and the recommendation of the gfo
packing, BUT feel something is wrong if you have to tighten up even
seasonally.

We have 1500 hours on our pre-gfo wonder-packing (don't know what it
was, but it was something new and improved, perhaps Teflon.) I adjust
for a slight drip while turning (our shaft is easy to reach from the
cabin) and only have to re-adjust every couple or three seasons or when
I take the shaft out. 15 or 16 seasons on that packing and it hardly
seems used.

BTW, I made the mistake of not closing a tiny petcock on our heat
exchanger when I winterized. Though it was aquarium-sized hose, it
dumped a bunch of water into the bilge before I figured out what was
happening. (and of course, a brand new bilge pump burned out at the
same time.....)

--
Jere Lull
Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI trips & tips: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

On 2007-10-15 21:29:21 -0400, "Roger Long" said:

"Jere Lull" wrote

Agree with the "nothing wrong" and the recommendation of the gfo
packing, BUT feel something is wrong if you have to tighten up even
seasonally.

Could well be. This is the first boat I've owned and chartering and
borrowing doesn't give you a chance to track things like this.

My engine mounts are quite soft so there's a lot of motion which is
hard on the packing although it makes for a very smooth running boat.
I've had to adjust the box more often since I replaced the flexible
hose with the very thick Buck Algonquin hose made for the purpose.
It's quite stiff which also puts more stress on the packing when the
engine moves.

Yup, that sounds like you need new engine mounts. May well become
smoother with proper alignment and without the engine bouncing around.
It's a job I have to get around to.

--
Jere Lull
Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI trips & tips: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/