58LRC Shaft log problem

[zigzag930]

On our 1st voyage, I noticed water was dripping from the shaft on the starboard engine more that normal.

I'm not familiar with the type of packing setup on these vessels and expected to find a large packing nut that I could tighten. Instead I found a 2 flange setup with bolts that appear to compress the plates (and packing?). Can anyone explain how these work?

On further inspection, there is a crack in one of the plates. The boat is a the yard and was hauled for bottom paint. Them yard will need to pull the shaft to replace this part and the 4" (or so) rubber coupling.

I'm wondering if this is a problem that others have seen or if this is a rare problem. Also, wondering if I should change the other side while boat is on the hard?

Any comments are greatly appreciated.

See pictures attached.

 

[oscarvan]

Also, wondering if I should change the other side while boat is on the hard?

I would.... Maybe not cracked but subjected to the same wear and tear all those years. Cost of a seal plus a few hours for the people that are already there doing the same job same tools out of the shop versus another haulout/inconvenience/duplicate hours......

 

[SEVEN]

I had the same set up in my old Chris Craft. If there is still good packing left you just tighten one side at a time making sure to stay even. Tighten until the drip stops. Do not over tighten because you do want some water dripping while underway. You will have to take the shaft out to fix that crack on one of the brackets. Although not as easy to tighten as the big nut type this is still very simple to maintain. However while it’s out I would also have them re-pack each side. Whatever you do don’t let them just add a new piece of packing, rather have them pull all the old packing out and replace it with 4 to 5 new pieces.

 

[Boatsb]

The hose and clamps are shot. I'd do both sides while she's on the hard. Dont cheap out on such critical parts.

 

[motoryacht lover]

Considering the age of the boat I would do the other side at the same time. And of course new packing hose and clamps.

 

[zigzag930]

I am having the packing done on both sides (full packing job, not top layer).

Regarding replacement of the other side flange, yard didn't recommend it at this time.

I was curious if this is an isolated incident possibly caused by the previous owner cranking down too hard or if this is a more common issue. As I've never worked with this type of packing/shaft log setup it is foreign to me. Looks like a more complicated setup than the regular jam nut arrangement.

It has also caused me to think about what I should carry onboard as a temporary way to stop the leaking in case a problem like this ever happens again or if the rubber hose were to rupture.

 

[oscarvan]

I would replace the hose every 5 years or so.... and since you don't know the age of yours......

 

[jim rosenthal]

These may be available from Sam's, or if not, Groco or Buck-Algonquin. In any case, all this hardware ought to be replaced.

I refitted my boat with PSS seals, years ago, but that was before GoreTex packing material was available. If I were doing it now, I'd pull the shafts out, and have them checked for true and any damage, throw away all the old hardware and hoses, install all new pieces, with Gore-Tex packing. I would also spray all the new parts a few times with Corrosion-X BEFORE I put it all together; that way, bronze pieces will keep their color and not turn green and crusty over time. Traditional shaft logs are the safest alternative. PSS seals are excellent and I've had no trouble with mine, but the design is, I think, inherently less safe than a classic shaft log arrangement.

 

[rustybucket]

I had those type on a shamrock gas inboard I used to have. They were good, I like them better than the giant nut, easier to adjust imo.

If it were my boat and I was going through all the trouble of replacing them I'd go with pss (or similar brand) dripless shaft seals. Having a drier bilge is fantastic. They are a little more expensive but neither are cheap.

 

[Cricket]

What Rusty said, we like the Tides shaft seals.
Those hoses are probably really old too, so you should probably do both sides.
Like Silicone hose for the stuffing box, actually I like silicone hose for everything.

 

[jim rosenthal]

I had those type on a shamrock gas inboard I used to have. They were good, I like them better than the giant nut, easier to adjust imo.

If it were my boat and I was going through all the trouble of replacing them I'd go with pss (or similar brand) dripless shaft seals. Having a drier bilge is fantastic. They are a little more expensive but neither are cheap.

Do you have standard shaft logs now, or PSS? I' ve had the PSS seals for years, and they don't leak a drop, but I think Scott is right- he feels they are just not as safe as regular shaft logs. And now with GoreTex packing, the regular ones work better.

 

[Pascal]

These stuffing boxes are pretty good this is a rare case. I would remove the other one and inspect carefully for any sign of crack starting

Make sure the yard uses solid band clamps, not these cheaper Perforated clamps.

 

[zigzag930]

Thanks guys.

I had PSS seals on my sailboat. While I didn't ever have any issues with them, I eventually removed them because of my thinking that I'd have no way to fix them if they failed, whereas the good old packing is pretty fool proof.

Yard said they are using Gortex on both shafts, which is vastly superior to the older wax style packing. I will take everyones word on that.

I will inquire about the silicone hose option.

Spraying the new parts with Corrosion-X is a great idea. I will also try to clean up the other side with vinegar mix and spray it with CX as well.

 

[rustybucket]

Do you have standard shaft logs now, or PSS? I' ve had the PSS seals for years, and they don't leak a drop, but I think Scott is right- he feels they are just not as safe as regular shaft logs. And now with GoreTex packing, the regular ones work better.

We have PSS seals.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

I’ve got Tides and they’re great. Seems like I read somewhere the Tides design precluded catastrophic flooding from seal failure. I like having a couple extra seals on the shafts that can easily slide in place. I changed one for hell of it a while back. Very little water came in. Not sure what would happen if the silicone boot failed—very low order risk I’d say. And, there are a hundred other opportunities to sink you as quick or quicker.

 

[rustybucket]

I’ve got Tides and they’re great. Seems like I read somewhere the Tides design precluded catastrophic flooding from seal failure. I like having a couple extra seals on the shafts that can easily slide in place. I changed one for hell of it a while back. Very little water came in. Not sure what would happen if the silicone boot failed—very low order risk I’d say. And, there are a hundred other opportunities to sink you as quick or quicker.

I would think the possibility of boot failure would be less in dripless than in conventional gland. There has to be a substantial force carried by the boot in conventional gland to overcome the compression of the packing.

Either way, both systems I would consider as a very low failure possibility.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

That crack is NOT a common problem. These packing units are quite robust and rarely fail like that. I would replace the broken one and leave the good one. It will probably last longer than you own the boat.

 

[31FlyCruzr]

Gortex is great.

When I launch depending on how the yard blocked the boat, which as previously mentioned might be noticed by door that don't close right, the log may leak a little.
Give it a week and run the boat, mine goes back to no drip on it's own at the slip. When I launched this year I was tempted to tighten but had other commitments, and when I returned they were not leaking

So again let her settle in the water before taking action.

 

[HahnR]

I’ve got Tides and they’re great. Seems like I read somewhere the Tides design precluded catastrophic flooding from seal failure. I like having a couple extra seals on the shafts that can easily slide in place. I changed one for hell of it a while back. Very little water came in. Not sure what would happen if the silicone boot failed—very low order risk I’d say. And, there are a hundred other opportunities to sink you as quick or quicker.

I can tell you exactly what would happen, & it wasn't pretty.