Stuffing box supplier

[PlankWalker]

Bought my stuffing box from T Norris 25 years ago,
Maybe used 5 tubs of grease and re-packed it twice in that time,
Might change the rubber hose soon, but would never change from a stuffing box.

Plank

 

[Tranona]

So what's the benefit? Seems to be little in cost, the volvo might be a bit cheaper but looks like it needs burping after drying out so that's a no no.
I can't see the benefit, with a stuffing box and a few metres of ptfe you're set for a a decade or more completely self sufficient, why go for something more complicated when there's nothing to gain?

If you dry out regularly then buy the Radice version of the Volvo type seal which has a vent. Burping for most installations is not a big problem. Maintenance is minimal, just once a year grease into the seal end. What could be simpler than that. Will easily meet your self sufficiency requirement.

If you cannot fit a Volvo type seal then consider the Tides Marine which also has lip seals which can be replaced if necessary just as easily as a stuffing box can be repacked.

Neither of these designs leak and will last far longer then your Victorian stuffing box without dripping and needing adjustment, which is why the latter is no longer used on any significant numbers of new boats.

Not everything old is superior to newer designs - indeed new designs gain market acceptance by being superior to existing products.

 

[Tranona]

Bought my stuffing box from T Norris 25 years ago,
Maybe used 5 tubs of grease and re-packed it twice in that time,
Might change the rubber hose soon, but would never change from a stuffing box.

Plank

But, of course if a lip seal design had been available then you would not have needed 5 tubs of grease, nor needed to repack your stern gland. So not sure why you are so proud of the additional work and cost that can be avoided by replacing it with a modern design.

 

[GHA]

If you dry out regularly then buy the Radice version of the Volvo type seal which has a vent. Burping for most installations is not a big problem. Maintenance is minimal, just once a year grease into the seal end. What could be simpler than that. Will easily meet your self sufficiency requirement.

If you cannot fit a Volvo type seal then consider the Tides Marine which also has lip seals which can be replaced if necessary just as easily as a stuffing box can be repacked.

Neither of these designs leak and will last far longer then your Victorian stuffing box without dripping and needing adjustment, which is why the latter is no longer used on any significant numbers of new boats.

Not everything old is superior to newer designs - indeed new designs gain market acceptance by being superior to existing products.

5 years with Ptfe stuffing was drip free with an hour or so very couple of years repacking and a few minutes adjusting once a year if that.
I still see no benefits for going to a more complex solution. Why bother. What's to gain . how can they last longer?

 

[Tranona]

5 years with Ptfe stuffing was drip free with an hour or so very couple of years repacking and a few minutes adjusting once a year if that.
I still see no benefits for going to a more complex solution. Why bother. What's to gain.

How is it more complex? With a Tides no maintenance is required other than inspection. With a Volvo, small amount of grease once a year. No grease to be pumped in, no maintenance, and in the case of the Volvo typically half the price.

As I suggested if you have a functioning, unworn stuffing box, no need to change. If you are buying a new seal then there are better products available.

 

[GHA]

How is it more complex? With a Tides no maintenance is required other than inspection. With a Volvo, small amount of grease once a year. No grease to be pumped in, no maintenance, and in the case of the Volvo typically half the price.

As I suggested if you have a functioning, unworn stuffing box, no need to change. If you are buying a new seal then there are better products available.

More complex design. More complex materials required for maintenance. .

Your mind's made up.

Forget it.

 

[Tranona]

More complex design. More complex materials required for maintenance. .

Your mind's made up.

Forget it.

No. I am afraid it is your mind that is made up by distorting reality to fit your prejudice. You cannot get simpler than a Volvo seal. A one piece no maintenance moulding and a clamp, compared to a hose (probably) 4 clamps, a bronze casting, sleeve and adjusting nuts, packing, and probably a grease pump. Complex or what? Or do we have a different definition of complex?

BTW a Tides Marine is also no more complex than a stuffing box - just uses lip seals rather than packing to make the seal so needs no adjustment and does not leak.

 

[alahol2]

Over the years I have known one boat that sank and 2 boats that nearly sank because of 'modern' seals that have failed. The one that sank and one that nearly sank were both down to 'operator error' in that they forgot to burp them in the rush of being launched. The other one that nearly sank was motoring up the Beaulieu river and wound a fishing line onto his prop shaft. That fishing line wound its way all the way up the shaft and destroyed the lip seal as it exited inside the boat along with an awful lot of water.
I'm sure there are several boats that have had equally bad experiences with a stuffing box but I will stick with mine.

 

[GHA]

No. I am afraid it is your mind that is made up by distorting reality to fit your prejudice. You cannot get simpler than a Volvo seal. A one piece no maintenance moulding and a clamp, compared to a hose (probably) 4 clamps, a bronze casting, sleeve and adjusting nuts, packing, and probably a grease pump. Complex or what? Or do we have a different definition of complex?

BTW a Tides Marine is also no move complex than a stuffing box - just uses lip seals rather than packing to make the seal so needs no adjustment and does not leak.

The volvo doesn't cut it, need to burp after drying out alone is unacceptable, plus short life span.

Tides marine is more than twice the price, plus expense spares, need to uncoupled shaft from engine to fit new seals plus extra complexity of water feed from engine.

All for no benefit. Why bother.


By the sounds of it you've never had to keep a boat working well off the beaten track otherwise your instinct for simplicity and systems which can be fixed with, at most a local machine shop and simple materials would be much more evolved.

 

[coopec]

Wish I hadn't been so negative to the post from coopec now, there were a few in those links he gave, sorry coopec

e.

GHA

No need to apologize mate. Glad I could help!
Cheers