Stern Gland packing in Ipswich area

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morrenmaa

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Hi everyone,

I've got a new to me sailboat at Ipswich Haven Marina and it needs the stern gland packing. I actually watched a youtube video and tried to do it myself but I am not feeling confident at all about it. I don't want the boat to sink when it goes back in the water so I thought to just have someone who knows what they are doing to do it for me. Anyone here know an engineer around the area who could do it? Or if you yourself feel like doing it give me a shout. Obviously I'll pay for your efforts.
 
I don’t have the skill to help, but congratulations for accepting that there may be a limit to your competence in this field.
 
morrenmaa said:
Hi everyone,

I've got a new to me sailboat at Ipswich Haven Marina and it needs the stern gland packing. I actually watched a youtube video and tried to do it myself but I am not feeling confident at all about it. I don't want the boat to sink when it goes back in the water so I thought to just have someone who knows what they are doing to do it for me. Anyone here know an engineer around the area who could do it? Or if you yourself feel like doing it give me a shout. Obviously I'll pay for your efforts.
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Perhaps too far away, but Halls at Walton did mine.
 
It is not a difficult or especially hazardous job. There are hundreds of thousands, likely millions, of boats that have or used to have these traditional stuffing gland fittings over more than a century. They are very simple and effective. A huge proportion of these would have been maintained, even installed, by amateurs. The worst that is likely to happen is that you get slow drips of water, which in turn you are likely to be able to soon eliminate by further clamping down the gland nut (but not too tight!).

Such a simple job would likely be given by any boatyard to the least experienced member of staff..

When you are lifted back into the water you can, and should anyway, check that there is not water coming into the boat though the stern gland (and also the other hull openings etc.), and in the very unlikely event that there is a significant inflow of water you can have the boat lifted straight out again to rectify.

(I once had to have the boat lifted straight out again when a long-established and very highly regarded boatyard/traditional boatbuilder had forgotten to tighten up the expensive cockpit drain bronze though-hulls they had taken it upon themselves to install without prior reference to me (or my bank manager!) as, while doing work I'd actually asked them to do, they'd considered the existing through-hulls sub-optimal for some reason! :rolleyes: I've never had to do it for the numerous jobs my amateur self had done on various boats over the decades replacing through-hulls, or other fittings that bolted through the hull and had the potential for water ingress. )

Before launching I would just check
a) that the stuffing you used was the right thickness (i.e. it pretty much fills the gap between the shaft and the inside of the gland before being clamped down); and
b) with other sources that the way you have done the job is correct (rather than rely on a single YouTube video). The relevant section from the excellent and authoritative website of Vyv Cox (of this parish) would be a good reference -
Stern glands

Another idea, to reassure yourself, would be if you could find (or even pay) someone who is familiar with such fittings to have a quick look to check you have done it correctly. There might even be someone on this forum in the locality who would do that either out of the kindness of their heart or for some beer money.
 
morrenmaa said:
Hi everyone,

I've got a new to me sailboat at Ipswich Haven Marina and it needs the stern gland packing. I actually watched a youtube video and tried to do it myself but I am not feeling confident at all about it. I don't want the boat to sink when it goes back in the water so I thought to just have someone who knows what they are doing to do it for me. Anyone here know an engineer around the area who could do it? Or if you yourself feel like doing it give me a shout. Obviously I'll pay for your efforts.
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I have this to do when my boat comes out, also need to change the rubber hose that clamps over it and tube. I'm told this needs a special hose but have no idea where to get it. Suggestions anyone?
TYVM
 
A chandler should sell it, or put you in touch with someone. A service engineer should also sell it. Be warned, it’s expensive! You will need the diameter of the tube and the length you need.
 
matthewriches said:
Did you sort this? If you need it doing then I do have someone at Haven most weeks here and there. Thanks.
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I did contact Harbour Marine Services at the marina who said they'll do it but that was weeks ago. I've sent them 3 emails to ask for updates but been ignored so far so it seems like it's not happening. So if you got someone in mind I'd appreciate it. Thank you.
 
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