Michigan Marine stern seals

[TimfromMersea]

I need to have a new prop shaft on my Beneteau Oceanis, due to corrosion on the shaft in the area of the Volvo stern seal, and consequent leaking when the shaft turns.

The marine engineers making the new shaft ( local VP, Yanmar etc dealers ) have recommended a Michigan Marine stern seal instead of the Volvo one. Better, they say, as it has a separate water lubrication pipe and also a screw ‘nipple’ for easy annual regreasing. It’s also half the price of the Volvo seal……! They say they have fitted lots and had no problem.

Has any any experience of these please? Thanks!

 

[Poey50]

Yes, I had one for just one season and have now replaced it with a Radice. The Michigan Marine vent pipe was poorly connected to the body of the seal and simply pulled out under slight pressure at the end of the season. it has quite a soft rubber - great for getting it onto the stern tube but I imagine the lips would not last as long. The Radice seems to be made of similar (or the same?) harder and long-lasting rubber as the original Volvo seal but has a well secured vent tube which you can see just won't pull out and the same re-greasing port.

I wrote to the supplier just to warn them of the problem, making clear that I knew it was out of warranty but just wanted to give them feedback since a lost vent tube underwater if undiscovered will eventually sink the boat. They seemed to assume that I was trying for a refund and responded defensively suggesting that I might have damaged it myself. I wasn't impressed.

 

[Tranona]

I need to have a new prop shaft on my Beneteau Oceanis, due to corrosion on the shaft in the area of the Volvo stern seal, and consequent leaking when the shaft turns.

The marine engineers making the new shaft ( local VP, Yanmar etc dealers ) have recommended a Michigan Marine stern seal instead of the Volvo one. Better, they say, as it has a separate water lubrication pipe and also a screw ‘nipple’ for easy annual regreasing. It’s also half the price of the Volvo seal……! They say they have fitted lots and had no problem.

Has any any experience of these please? Thanks!

Half the price - tells you something. Radice is the way to go. They make the original Volvo seal, but the one they sell under their own name has vent/water feed and greasing point. The one Michigan sell is a copy.