Stern gland drip rates

alahol2

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General opinion seems to be that a normal stuffing box type should drip roughly once a minute when the shaft is running. I guess rather less when the shaft is stopped. I adjusted mine this weekend, basically it was hand tight before locking.
 

jerryat

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Hi Fin,

Why on earth put up with drips at all? Just makes the boat smell damp and contributes to condensation problems. Check out the Volvo type seal often mentioned on this Forum. Minimal, once a year maintenance, then then totally drip-free operation. I have just replaced mine after 21 years, as part of a major refit, and look forward to another long period of excellent service. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Very highly recommended.

Cheers Jerry
 

pjohnson

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I agree, my stern gland was leaking excessively, i.e. it was leaking, now been fixed up and no leaks at all. Mind you I have no idea where the small amount of water in the bilge comes from /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 

Steve_N

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My stern gland defines (or defined I hope /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif ) 'leaking excessively': from the quantity of greasy water in the bilge and the amount of grease sprayed around by the shaft when I bought her (ashore) I knew there was a wee bit of maintenance required.

However, I didn't expect to find a stern gland entirely devoid of packing: nothing, not a scrap even left, metal on metal. That must have given quite a drip rate..
 

affinite

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What is the recommended maintenance on a typical stern gland.
Mine was leaking badly when I bought my boat 2 years ago. The yard fixed before I took ownership and I havent touched it since. What should I do to keep it watertight ?
 

roger

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Dripless seal from France

You don't have to go on with a stuffing box seal and greasing, repacking etc. I bought a seal for my boat in France (Just outside Dunkirk YCMN ) for less than £100. It has a stainless bearing face that fits round the shaft; secured by three grub screws, a corrugated short rubber pipe, a graphite tube that is held in the corrugated rubber by jubilee clips and more jubilee clips to fit the rubber tube to the stern tube. Fitting it was easy and it has not dripped in three years. Its make is "Stopelo" .
I also got rid of grease pressure screw system that made a locker dirty.
 
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