Centaur sterntube

stephenk

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I appear to be suffering a significant leak from the joint where my sterntube enters a bulkhead that has the sterngland on the other side. The leak appears to because of my sterntube being loose.
However turning it clockwise into the bulkhead and out of the cutlass bearing end does not appear to tighten it and I am afraid of turning the tube too much and unscrewing it from the cutlass bearing end with the obvious disastrous influx of water. Would be grateful for any advice particularly regards which way you screw it to tighten the tube up and hopefully stop the serious leak.
Regards
Stephen
 

CPD

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Stephen, I have a Centaur too so will be watching. I'm afraid I cant offer any detailed help at all but good luck and hope you get it sorted.
 

CPD

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Although I guess what I would do is dry out, and have a go at loosening or tightening to see which way it should be. Also, take a tube of sikaflex and once you know which way it is, unscrew it, smear on the sikaflex, tighten up and away you go. Dont take this as the best way forward thoug, these are just thoughts off the top of my head !
 

Bilgediver

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The stern tube is threaded at the cutlass bearing end and has a flange at the gland end. The cutlass bearing should be well bedded in on Sikaflex or similar non hardening sealant when tightened up.

There are two trapped nuts one above and one below the prop shaft at the bearing end which are easily untrapped so take care.

You can see more of what is going on by unscrewing the fuel tank base and moving the tank away so you can see the stern tube between bulkheads. I expect the fuel tank is only secured by two screws /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

You could try screwing the stern tube clockwise but as it sounds like the sealant has stopped doing its thing then this would only reduce the flow and may not stop it.

The only correct solution is to dry out and remove the cutlass bearing housing and then reseal it and tighten it correctly onto the tube.

Beware those trappped nuts are not pushed out of the glass around them when you re insert the bolts. MAybe a good time to fit a new cutlass bearing if needed. Check there is no leakage at the rudder tube as well while about it as the flange at the base of this leaks in time and also needs to be resealed


John
 

stephenk

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Thanks for advice chaps, I guess the boat will have to come out and the sterntube resealed. Due to living 200 miles from the boat these sort of jobs are always difficult. The marina have agreed to pump the bilges periodically which will be a big help.
Regards Stephen
 
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