Pilot
Active Member
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?
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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!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.
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.
Rudders shouldn’t leak at all. The leak is for cooling purposes and rudders don’t generate the heat.Thanks again. I'm curious how much leakage is normal for the rudders. I seem to get a couple gallons after a few hours
Thanks guys. Maybe it’s something else that’s leaking. Nothing stands out and just had the shaft seals replacedNo leaks on mine
Thanks guys. Maybe it’s something else that’s leaking. Nothing stands out and just had the shaft seals replaced
Rudders shouldn’t leak at all. The leak is for cooling purposes and rudders don’t generate the heat.
Thanks. Yeah must be a hose or thru hull, hard to diagnose and been doing it for a couple years.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.
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.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.
Thanks,, away from the boat until Thursday, so, can't shoot/post pic until then. Almost certain its equipped with a stuffing box though.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.
Thanks Skybolt. I'll follow up with results from tightening and hopefully it will slow the leakage.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.