replacing old stuffing box shaft seals or not ?

[BartW]

To be able to demonstrate a good maintenance and inspection routine to your insurance a shaft should be pulled to clean and inspect any type of stern seal about every 7 years including a traditional packed sternseal. If you are going to the expense and effort of pulling a shaft I would replace the cutless bearings anyway and personally I would fit a Tides marine Seal and enjoy a dry engine room.

good pointer about the Insurance co, thanks,
will have a meeting with them very soon and will asc about this.

that was indeed my plan,
if no urgent preventive replacement is needed,
will replace the bushing and the seals when we think that time has come,
and when the boat is out for a longer periode, and we have time todo it all in one go,

I have no indication that the bushing is worn,
but was just wondering if this type of bearing can last that long,
and in case it fails, a instant replacement is important

 

[Bandit]

To draw both shafts, change the cutless bearings and fit Tides Marine seals refit the shafts and plumb in the water supply is not a big job, say two men for two to three days if the cutless bearings and stern seals are to hand?

 

[apollo]

Stuffing boxes are one of those old fashioned things which are cheap, effective, and never let you down. Sales reps hate them because they stop them screwing you for money. Your choice.

+1 Stick with what you have

 

[BartW]

To draw both shafts, change the cutless bearings and fit Tides Marine seals refit the shafts and plumb in the water supply is not a big job, say two men for two to three days if the cutless bearings and stern seals are to hand?

yes I agree,
but for such a job, I want to build in some spare time for testing, and sea trial etc..
and combine that with other jobs that can be done during a longer lift out,
and for the near future this is not on the planning...
boat is in montenegro, so logistics of people and gear is alway's tricky

 

[MapisM]

in the past I saw a surveyer lift the prop, to check if there is "play" on the bushing,
In montengro the yard in Zelenica they make a lever arm with a wooden beam on wooden blocks to lift the prop, for checking play on the bushing.
and last year I have seen it myself that there was not even a little 'play ' (between shaft and bushing)

in a few weeks the boat will be lift out, if you have other / better tests, pls let me know

Nope B, I'm not aware of any better/more accurate method.
I just asked because I feared that you only had it checked with the "surveyor method" that you mentioned, while imho with a shaft/prop as big and heavy as in BA, trying to lift it by hand is wishful thinking.
In my yard, even for my much smaller boat, they use the lever arm system.
Still not very scientific, arguably - but some years ago, when the boat was about 15 yo and with about 1300 hours clocked (which is the last and only time when I changed the shaft bushings), a bit of play was very perceivable.

Btw, common sense would suggest that for any number of hours, the wear should be much lower on a D boat, compared to a P one...