Should I replace shaft seal boxes?

[Boater On Thames]

My boat now hardstanding on land. I am thinking maybe I should replace the two shaft seal boxes. They are still working ok, but they originally come with the boat from 1992 I reckon. So they are 29 years old now.

My two propellers removed and sent to repair by the boatyard workshop, so if I let them continue to remove the shaft should be not too difficult to replace the shaft seal boxes. Any advice? Replace or just leave it? Thanks.

 

[penfold]

I doubt they are working ok given everything in yellow metal is green, the salt crust on the shaft and the line of brown deposits where shaft leakage has been flung. Without cleaning and inspecting everything its impossible to say whether any of it needs replacement, but it definitely needs a thorough overhaul.

 

[Plum]

My boat now hardstanding on land. I am thinking maybe I should replace the two shaft seal boxes. They are still working ok, but they are original come with the boat from 1992 I reckon. So they are 29 years old now.

My two propellers removed and sent to repair by the boat yard workshop, so if I let them continue to remove the shaft should be not too difficult to replace the shaft seal boxes. Any advice? Replace or just leave it? Thanks.

View attachment 118195

Unless there is some serious wear you only need to replace the packing inside. How are they greased? That small black hose does not appear to go anywhere.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Boater On Thames]

It only drips a little bit at the end of the packing nut where you can see the red circle on this picture. No anywhere leaking except that drip.

They don't need grease. The small black hose connected from the stuffing box to the very end of the gear's oil cooler sea water outlet. So my understanding is if any air inside the stuffing box will escape to that small black hose eventually go to the seacock outlet.

 

[penfold]

Connected as you describe the black hose supplies a small amount of seawater to cool and lubricate the seal and cutlass bearing.