replacing rutter stuffing

[Pilot]

I've never done this and the boats 15 years old. They weap and I assume are letting in a fair amount of water based on what I see in the bilge. Has anyone done this and how hard is it? Can it be done in the water?

 

[Golfman25]

Have you tried tightening them down over the 15 years? If not, I would try that first. Probably a qtr to a half turn would do it. If the nuts are already all the way down, you can repack in the water, but be prepared. Precut the packing. When you pull the old out, stuff the new in quickly to reduce the water flow. Should take a few layers. Good luck.

 

[Pilot]

Thanks Golfman, yeah, tightened 2 years ago, but that's the only time.

 

[Skybolt]

I've repacked in the water, but would never do that again. Actually I would replace the stuffing boxes with rudder seals. Probably worth the investment, but the boat has to be out of the water for that.

If you do try and repack what in the water make sure your secure the rudder shaft before you disassemble the packing. Also try and cut the packing before hand as well. You will get a lot of water coming in and if complication comes about, you don't have many choices to put it back together.

 

[ZZ13]

Option B: Don’t remove old packing. Try adding two rings of new packing on top of the old stuff. Use the nut to compress each new ring one at a time to make room for the next ring. What’s left of the old stuff will keep rudder in place and keep water intrusion to a minimum. I did this to both rudders 9 years ago.

 

[Pilot]

Option B: Don’t remove old packing. Try adding two rings of new packing on top of the old stuff. Use the nut to compress each new ring one at a time to make room for the next ring. What’s left of the old stuff will keep rudder in place and keep water intrusion to a minimum. I did this to both rudders 9 years ago.

Thanks ZZ. I may try this option now as a stop gap until end of season. Appreciate it and nice looking boat you have there!

 

[Skybolt]

Option B: Don’t remove old packing. Try adding two rings of new packing on top of the old stuff. Use the nut to compress each new ring one at a time to make room for the next ring. What’s left of the old stuff will keep rudder in place and keep water intrusion to a minimum. I did this to both rudders 9 years ago.

That is assuming there is enough room for the new packing, I didn't have enough and had to remove some of the packing to put new in. But to your point, might be worth the try.

This is great packing material and seems to hold up really well.

https://www.garlock.com/catalog/pro...ssion-packing-by-material/graphite-and-carbon

 

[Pilot]

Thanks again. I'm curious how much leakage is normal for the rudders. I seem to get a couple gallons after a few hours

 

[Golfman25]

Thanks again. I'm curious how much leakage is normal for the rudders. I seem to get a couple gallons after a few hours

Rudders shouldn’t leak at all. The leak is for cooling purposes and rudders don’t generate the heat.

 

[mrsrobinson]

No leaks on mine

 

[Pilot]

No leaks on mine

Thanks guys. Maybe it’s something else that’s leaking. Nothing stands out and just had the shaft seals replaced

 

[Pilot]

Thanks guys. Maybe it’s something else that’s leaking. Nothing stands out and just had the shaft seals replaced

 

[Skybolt]

Rudders shouldn’t leak at all. The leak is for cooling purposes and rudders don’t generate the heat.

Only if they have the newer rudder dripless seals. The not every boat has them, mine still have packing a weep a bit. Even after they are tightened to the point of not weeping, over time they start again.

 

[Pilot]

Only if they have the newer rudder dripless seals. The not every boat has them, mine still have packing a weep a bit. Even after they are tightened to the point of not weeping, over time they start again.

Thanks. Yeah must be a hose or thru hull, hard to diagnose and been doing it for a couple years.

 

[Skybolt]

Thanks. Yeah must be a hose or thru hull, hard to diagnose and been doing it for a couple years.

Most dripless rudder seals were an option in 09 and not many installed from what I have seen. Take a pic of your rudder post and lets have a look at what's there. As they say a picture is worth a thousand word's, sometimes more.

 

[Golfman25]

Only if they have the newer rudder dripless seals. The not every boat has them, mine still have packing a weep a bit. Even after they are tightened to the point of not weeping, over time they start again.

Yes traditional flax will alway start leaking. Adjust as needed until it’s done then replace the packing. But unlike shaft seals with packing, they don’t have to leak.

 

[Skybolt]

Yes traditional flax will alway start leaking. Adjust as needed until it’s done then replace the packing. But unlike shaft seals with packing, they don’t have to leak.

No they don't have to at all. When the packing gets old and if you use the rudder a lot, they will loosen up again. Then it's time to re-pack or replace with seals.

 

[Pilot]

No they don't have to at all. When the packing gets old and if you use the rudder a lot, they will loosen up again. Then it's time to re-pack or replace with seals.

Thanks,, away from the boat until Thursday, so, can't shoot/post pic until then. Almost certain its equipped with a stuffing box though.

 

[Skybolt]

Thanks,, away from the boat until Thursday, so, can't shoot/post pic until then. Almost certain its equipped with a stuffing box though.

Then that can be the source of the water, sometimes it is very hard to see as it only trickles out, but it adds up quickly.

I have the same issue, but waiting until this winter to change out to seals. The boat has to be pulled for that and the rudder logs need to be changed.

 

[Pilot]

Then that can be the source of the water, sometimes it is very hard to see as it only trickles out, but it adds up quickly.

I have the same issue, but waiting until this winter to change out to seals. The boat has to be pulled for that and the rudder logs need to be changed.

Thanks Skybolt. I'll follow up with results from tightening and hopefully it will slow the leakage.