Anyone Identify my stern gland please?

[JulianNT]

Hi,

First post here as i'm hoping someone from the marine world can help me.

My 1991 NB is fitted with an arrangement no-one on the canal scene is familiar with, although one engineer suggests it is more likely to be used in marine boats. Pictures are here, here, , and here.

Not terribly clear from the photo is the fact that the thread the nut screws on to is in fact castellated, and about 1/4 inch away from the prop shaft.

As you can see the rubber is overdue a change, and I'm being told "rip it out and put a conventional greased stuffing box in - that'll be £800 please".

I know where to get replacement hose from, but am wondering whether that's a conventional packing in there, or whether it's a higher tech form of sealing bush.

Many Thanks

Julian

 

[Kawasaki]

I would say it has the traditional 'string ' type packing.
Similar to the set up on my boat.
However I don't understand why the thread is castellated.
I imagine the nut locked by the tab , if removed would enable the packing to be inserted.
Doesn't look high tech!!
Interesting /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Sneds]

Sorry can't help, but I love narrow boats!

If I could afford 2 boats the other one would be a narrow boat.
Would sell up and buy one to live on but SWMBO is having none of it!
Would save on mooring costs aswell as I could tie the "sea" boat alongside it in Bristol's Floating Harbour. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[paulrh]

The nut which is castellated is more than likely for a C spanner for tighting the gland. If the gland contains the old greasey packing, I would think of repacking with PTFE type.
Why change something that has worked well for years, the old saying if it isnt broke don't mend it comes to mind. clean it up repack fit new hose and feel proud.

Paul

 

[pennycar9]

It seems to be a normal stern gland variant, I can see how it works and I would say it is perfectly fine,I think your problem may be in replacing the rubber vibration hose. It seems to me that the shaft may have to come out! Unless you can disconnect the shaft inside the boat, I cant see how you can get the new hose on. If the boat is out of the water, why not cut the hose off and you will then have a better idea of the rest of the gland configeration.

 

[Bilgediver]

As you can see the rubber is overdue a change, and I'm being told "rip it out and put a conventional greased stuffing box in - that'll be £800 please".

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That is a grease type stuffing box but without the grease connection.

I suspect the packing is between the slotted threaded ring and the shaft ie 1/4 square packing and that there is a star shaped lantern ring behind the packing with vanes through the slots by which the nut compresses the packing...Maybe totally wrong however screwing back the big nut will show what is under it. ( Either with boat ashore or trimmed to lift shaft above waterline!)

Unfortunately this configuration would appear to need the engine moved to allow the shaft to be drawn into the boat to replace the sleeve. If it has worked all this time without grease then it should be fine just replacing the greasy packing that is in it like for like.

 

[JulianNT]

Thank you all for the helpful responses. I would like the opportunity to take it apart and see what's there - trouble is in the canal world it not only costs a fortune to crane/slip your boat out, but none of the yards have anywhere to put them (on the Kennet & Avon anyway) once out, except for the yards working space, and so DIY over a few days/weeks is not an option.

I guess I'll try to find a yard that'll take a view depending on what they find when it's dismantled rather than just insisting on replacing it with a conventional NB greaser arrangement.

(Sneds, nearly made it from Devizes to BFH last August, but there was a tree down on the Severn just the other side of Bath, and we had to turn back to the canal. Probably go for it again this summer though ;-)