Stern gland seal

[oldbilbo]

Inspecting my favourite stern gland, and burnishing the bits, I'm wondering about the female threaded 'end' that engages with the cutless bearing. There's a land in there, beyond the end of the threads, that seems to invite a sealing ring of some sort - which is absent.

This is at t'other end from that which receives the rings of gland packing, which are compressed by the packing plate.

Should this space receive some form of packing or sealing ring? Or other form of sealant against water and/or grease escaping into the boat?

 

[pampas]

normally left without any form of seal. Saying that I have seen a few that have a bronze plate inserted that acted as a bearing/guide for the shaft.

 

[oldbilbo]

Silly me! Eventually, the penny dropped.....

....horse hair and white lead!


Or, failing that, PTFE tape.....