Barbary Ketch 32 stern tube diameter

[Oli-Barbary-Ketch]

Hello,

My wife and her father own a Barbary Ketch from 1974 and I have a technical question.
The issue we are facing is that we don’t live next to the boat and we can’t be sure about the diameter of the stern tube unless we take the boat out. This means a lot of costs to travel where the boat is, take it out just for a measurement as we don’t know then how long this would take to order the right parts, receive them, etc.

We know that the propeller shaft diameter is 1-1/8 inches (28.6 mm).

Does anyone know the external diameter of the stern tube? And the internal one also as we are planning to replace the cutlass bearing?

Many thanks in advance for your help.
Olivier

 

[Oli-Barbary-Ketch]

@chubby Hello,
If I am correct from I what I have read in different posts you own one as well. Do you have the answers?
Many thanks for your help.

 

[Tranona]

1 1/8" cutless bearings come with 4 different shell ODs and the only way you can check is to actually measure it. lakesterngear.co.uk/catalogue.pdf There is no guarantee that a sister ship will have exactly the same bearing housing. However pretty sure from boats I have seen that it has a removable bronze outer bearing housing. This type normally needs the bearing pressing out and it is perhaps best to remove it (take out the locking screws then unscrew) and take it to a marine engineering shop to get the old one out and new one pressed in. I have done this many times, usually using Lake Engineering in Poole.

 

[Oli-Barbary-Ketch]

Thank you @Tranona for your answer! I was in the hope of not having to take the boat out to take the measurements but you seems to conclude that I don't have the choice
I attach photos of the stern tube outside where the cutlass bearing sits. Photos taken in October if only I would have known about the stuffing box issue at that time this would have been much easier...

 

[Supertramp]

Agree with Tranona - you really need to take it out and measure it. One of my boat's sisterships has different shaft and sterntube dimensions. Most places will do a 24hr order once you know the size. My sterntube is similar but the cutless fits into a grp sleeve, not brass like yours. All easy once it's carefully taken out.

 

[Ardenfour]

I'll try and measure mine this afternoon. But as has been said, no guarantee it'll be the same.

 

[rogerthebodger]

My question first would be what is the part you are trying to get and dos the part fit in the inside of the boat or on the outside.

When I replaced the stern seal all I needed was the outside diameter of the inside stern tube and the prop shaft diameter ,this you have.

If you are fitting a bearing/bush in the outside of th stern tube the only way would be to lift the boat or beach the boat between tides on a scrubbing post to measure the o/d of the shaft bearing

 

[Ardenfour]

As close as I can see with the prop attached, the inner diameter of the sterngland is 40mm, whatever that equates to in old money. Shaft measures 28.7mm

 

[Tranona]

Thank you @Tranona for your answer! I was in the hope of not having to take the boat out to take the measurements but you seems to conclude that I don't have the choice
I attach photos of the stern tube outside where the cutlass bearing sits. Photos taken in October if only I would have known about the stuffing box issue at that time this would have been much easier...

That is not the same arrangement as I remember. nor on this one which seems to have the screw on housing that I recall yachts.apolloduck.co.uk/boats/barbary detail attached. Yours seems to have a plain tube glassed in and the cutless held in with a locking screw on the port side. If it is 40mm outside diameter as in post#8 then it is 1 5/8" to go with the 1 1/8" shaft. Still best to take it out and measure exactly. The cutlass is a stock item so readily available.

 

[Oli-Barbary-Ketch]

My question first would be what is the part you are trying to get and dos the part fit in the inside of the boat or on the outside.

When I replaced the stern seal all I needed was the outside diameter of the inside stern tube and the prop shaft diameter ,this you have.

If you are fitting a bearing/bush in the outside of th stern tube the only way would be to lift the boat or beach the boat between tides on a scrubbing post to measure the o/d of the shaft bearing

Thank you @rogerthebodger

You are actually right to ask because I read my first post and I actually forgot to mention that the project is to change 2 items :
- the stuffing box because the rubber pipe between the stern tube and the stuffing box itself is really old and can break any time
- the cutlass bearing

Hence why I was asking for both the external and the internal diameter of the stern tube.

I attach photos of the current stuffing box.

Reading all the replies (and thank you so much all of you) I think I have no other choice than plan to get the boat out and hope for quick delivery of the parts if I want to be safe and sure.

Has anyone fitted another type of stuffing box in this model of boat?

 

[Oli-Barbary-Ketch]

As close as I can see with the prop attached, the inner diameter of the sterngland is 40mm, whatever that equates to in old money. Shaft measures 28.7mm

Thank you so much!

Just out of interest what is the external diameter of the stern tube in your Barbary Ketch 32?
And what type of stuffing box do you have?

 

[Oli-Barbary-Ketch]

That is not the same arrangement as I remember. nor on this one which seems to have the screw on housing that I recall yachts.apolloduck.co.uk/boats/barbary detail attached. Yours seems to have a plain tube glassed in and the cutless held in with a locking screw on the port side. If it is 40mm outside diameter as in post#8 then it is 1 5/8" to go with the 1 1/8" shaft. Still best to take it out and measure exactly. The cutlass is a stock item so readily available.

Thank you!
I can't see from the photos of the website you sent the stern tube near the propeller but I trust you.
The boat is in France, maybe ordering the parts from UK would be a good idea as it is an English boat. Do you recommand Lake Engineering Ltd for fast delivery and good quality parts? I may contact them to make sure they are used to work with French customers.

 

[Ardenfour]

Thank you so much!

Just out of interest what is the external diameter of the stern tube in your Barbary Ketch 32?
And what type of stuffing box do you have?

Looks identical to the setup you have.

 

[Ardenfour]

Looks identical to the setup you have.

I can measure tomorrow, can you be more specific about which part exactly?

 

[Tranona]

Thank you!
I can't see from the photos of the website you sent the stern tube near the propeller but I trust you.
The boat is in France, maybe ordering the parts from UK would be a good idea as it is an English boat. Do you recommand Lake Engineering Ltd for fast delivery and good quality parts? I may contact them to make sure they are used to work with French customers.

Yes, good supplier. The bearings they usually supply are made by Exalto in Holland which are also available in France. However you might find Imperial sizes difficult to source there so best buy in UK. You stuffing box is pretty standard stuff (pardon the pun) and will probably need repacking. The hose is a special type so you need to know the diameter of the stern tube at that end (probably same as the outer. Lake can supply both packing and the hose.

 

[Oli-Barbary-Ketch]

I can measure tomorrow, can you be more specific about which part exactly?

The external diameter of the stern tube which is under the rubber pipe (blue arrow) which should have logically the same value as if is measured from the outside (white arrow).

Many thanks

 

[Oli-Barbary-Ketch]

Yes, good supplier. The bearings they usually supply are made by Exalto in Holland which are also available in France. However you might find Imperial sizes difficult to source there so best buy in UK. You stuffing box is pretty standard stuff (pardon the pun) and will probably need repacking. The hose is a special type so you need to know the diameter of the stern tube at that end (probably same as the outer. Lake can supply both packing and the hose.

Thank you very much! Yes I have no doubt about the fact that repacking is required. I don't know when was the last time it was done...
I was wondering if it would not be worth replacing the stuffing box with a more modern system (without the packing) or the same type as the current one but the model with the two threaded rods and two nuts on each side (like this one) instead of the big nuts which are not very practical as there is not so much space around the stuffing box.
Do you have any suggestions or advice on that?

 

[rogerthebodger]

I replaced the stuffing box on my current boat and my previous boat with a PSS mechanical seal and once I fitted a extra collar to prevent the rotor moving I and very happy with the setup and has been installed and in the water since 2009

 

[Tranona]

Thank you very much! Yes I have no doubt about the fact that repacking is required. I don't know when was the last time it was done...
I was wondering if it would not be worth replacing the stuffing box with a more modern system (without the packing) or the same type as the current one but the model with the two threaded rods and two nuts on each side (like this one) instead of the big nuts which are not very practical as there is not so much space around the stuffing box.
Do you have any suggestions or advice on that?

A modern seal is a good idea. The 3 main types are the Volvo/Radice all rubber seal Lip seals in a housing such as Tides Marine and face seals like PSS. personally i like the first as fitted to my boat shown in the phot. Cheap, simple and low maintenance. Downside maybe for you is that it only comes in one size to fit the tube - 48mm. Next would be Tides Marine One Seal. Not so keen on face seals, particularly boats left in the water unused for long periods. However many people are very happy with them. Ideally you will need to provide a water feed, although this is quoted as optional on the PSS and the Radice. I don't have a water feed on mine but run the air vent well above the waterline. All the dimensions etc for seals are in the Lake catalogue.

In your photo the stuffing box looks clean and little sign of messy drips, so might be worth keeping. Probably not worth spending nearly £400 replacing it with the one that is arguably easier to adjust!

 

[Oli-Barbary-Ketch]

A modern seal is a good idea. The 3 main types are the Volvo/Radice all rubber seal Lip seals in a housing such as Tides Marine and face seals like PSS. personally i like the first as fitted to my boat shown in the phot. Cheap, simple and low maintenance. Downside maybe for you is that it only comes in one size to fit the tube - 48mm. Next would be Tides Marine One Seal. Not so keen on face seals, particularly boats left in the water unused for long periods. However many people are very happy with them. Ideally you will need to provide a water feed, although this is quoted as optional on the PSS and the Radice. I don't have a water feed on mine but run the air vent well above the waterline. All the dimensions etc for seals are in the Lake catalogue.

In your photo the stuffing box looks clean and little sign of messy drips, so might be worth keeping. Probably not worth spending nearly £400 replacing it with the one that is arguably easier to adjust!

Many thanks for your feedback on the different types of stuffing boxes.
I can see in the catalogue you provided me with last time (https://lakesterngear.co.uk/catalogue.pdf) from page 35 that there are different models. I can see the RMTA Shaft Seal (type Volvo/Radice) and the sizes which won't fit unfortunately.

The next models: "Deep Sea Shaft Seal" and "Tides Marine SERIES ONE™ Shaft Seal". Is this second one, the model you are not so keen on for boats left in the water unused for long periods?

If I look at the tables for both, I can read a range for both the shaft diameter and stern tube diameter which allows me to think they would definitely fit. Number #3 for "Deep Sea Shaft Seal" and line 4 for "Tides Marine SERIES ONE™ Shaft Seal".

I agree about the additional cost involved buying new but if it allows to have a system we no longer need to care about (or maybe in 10 years) that is fine!