Shaft Seal Shenanigans Rant

[M Prod]

:Begin Rant:

My port side shaft seal has begun to squirt a bit at times, so I figured it’s about time to go ahead and change it out. Figured I’d do this today while the boat is sitting on the hard for it’s annual haul out waxing, bottom paint, zincs, running gear inspection etc. the boat is nearing 15 years so it’s about time. How nice of Sea Ray to leave a spare seal on the shaft which makes the job oh so easy. Mind you boat lift back into the drink is scheduled for tomorrow with a gorgeous weekend on tap. Boat is all shiny and sparkly. We have plans to take friends up to a little nook and have lunch by a waterfall there. Just perfect.

Except

Get in to do the shaft seal ..cut the old one out. All good. Get to the new one to slide it in.

It’s on backwards. What the?

$&@&!!!!!! And now I’m committed no matter what as the old one is cut.

And so the whole shaft has to be pulled which suddenly makes this job X10 to the nth degree. It’s well above my skill set (or what I’m willing to do) as well. Kind of defeats the whole purpose of the spare being on the shaft in the first place. So now the boat sits on the hard for who knows how long. My mechanic can maybe come by at some point next week to do the job. Might have to spread it over two days. Weekend is shot. Maybe next one too.

Ugh

Thanks to the knucklehead at the factory for putting the shaft seal on backward. At least they got starboard right (I checked) but I say that’s luck of the draw. They had a 50/50 shot.

Anyway seriously frustrating, but I digress. Quality problems I suppose.

:End Rant:

 

[JustRight]

Well, THAT sucks.

 

[ZZ13]

Well, if it's the original 2005 factory installed shaft seal system and spares, and since you gotta pull the shaft on one engine, if it were me I'd replace the whole dang thing on both shafts. It's all several years past end of life and the replacement seals aren't going to keep water out very long. Again, but that's just me.

 

[Sublimetime]

Maybe hang two extra seals on the shaft, the correct way of course.

 

[M Prod]

Well, if it's the original 2005 factory installed shaft seal system and spares, and since you gotta pull the shaft on one engine, if it were me I'd replace the whole dang thing on both shafts. It's all several years past end of life and the replacement seals aren't going to keep water out very long. Again, but that's just me.

I thought about that, but I’ve got some slight electrolysis corrosion on the port side and the cutlas bearings are getting close ..so I’m looking at doing all the running gear over the winter when good help is much easier to find and schedule. I need to do these things in increments.