Stern Glands

[Guest]

I am getting fedup with the water drips and grease that seeps from my existing stuffing box stern gland and am wondering which alternatives are worth considering?

Anyone got any opinions and experience of which alternatives I should look at?

Many thanks

Bruce
Night Sky
(Oyster 435 with 1.5" shaft)

 

[davidwf]

Had a Volvo seal which worked really well, only maintenanace was to burp it when first launched and to run a bit of greese around the inside once a year.

No drips after initial burp.

 

[Paulka]

I used Deep Sea Seals for about ten years with good results, although it used to be very sensitive
to the alignment (or lack of it!).
My bilge used to be wet - no, no, not flooded, just wet.

I switched to Halyard, which may look expensive, but since one year, I just dust my bilge ;-))
And, by design, this seal should last longer than myself.

Have a look at : http://www.halyard.co.uk

Don't hesitate to call them, they were very helpfull to me.

Good luck.

Paul

 

[billmacfarlane]

I've used a Deep Sea Seal for about 11 years now and not a drop of water in the bilge.

 

[tonyleigh]

I fitted a PSS (Packless Sealing System) between tides at the beginning of the season. Excellent, bone dry bilge, a nice piece of engineering too. Try:
www.lakesterngear.co.uk for info. I bought from them. And:
www.pyiinc.com - the maker's site which carries full details.

 

[Guest]

I have a water lubricated stern shaft seal by Manecraft (a type EM). It is bone dry.

John Crane Marine International - 023 92492123

Also very helpful

 

[pvb]

Halyard seal is great, but....

I understand Halyard have now stopped making it. I fitted one on my boat several years ago, and it is a very well-engineered unit which is absolutely drip-free. Believe Halyard may have stock left of some sizes, so it could be worth phoning them.

 

[Guest]

Many thanks for the info so far.

Are there any downsides or problems that I need to be aware of?

Cheers

Bruce

 

[steve]

I have just installed Drip-Free Packing, a teflon grease which creates a watertight seal in a traditional stuffing box. I read of this in Nigel Calder but it took me a long time to find a supplier. Its expensive, but only about one-third the cost of a PSS. So far, not a single drop. I wouldn't recommend my supplier but I think West Marine handles it. I'm told that what you get from them is good for three stuffing boxes. A boat in a marina I was in here in Barcelona almost sank from a shaft seal problem so I looked for another solution. Also, if I remember correctly, on this board a few months ago there was a detailed description of how to adjust a normal stuffing box to make it watertight.

 

[Guest]

I also have fitted Dripfree. I bought it from West's and initial queries I had were swiftly and fully answered by the maker.

I found once adjusted I have no water leaking an very little heat is generated. Fitting is a little difficult, but not beyond any one who could replace the stuffing in a stuffing box.

Over all I think it worth using and is much cheeper than replacing the entire stuffing box.