Volvo shaft seal

[Adrian62]

Hi just purchased a westerly Konsort and starting to prepare her for the water and do some of the jobs that need doing . I want to replace the Volvo Shaft seal and wondered if any body has any experience with which seal to buy . I can get a seal by Orbitrade through ASAP or One by Volvo . The Volvo ones are twice the price of the Orbitrade ones but will they last longer .Are the Orbitrade ones up to the job .
thanks

 

[pvb]

I'd suggest you go for one of the newer lookalike seals which have a built-in vent pipe and greasing point. The most common makes are Orbitrade and the Radice RMTA seal. The benefit is that greasing is much easier, and there's no need to "burp" the seal after drying out. The alternatives are robustly made and should last as long as the Volvo seal.

Edit: Pay careful attention to the specifications regarding the diameter of the stern tube.

 

[Norman_E]

I have a Radice RMTA seal and its better than the Volvo one IMHO. No need to burp and easy to grease.

 

[Beneteau381]

Hi just purchased a westerly Konsort and starting to prepare her for the water and do some of the jobs that need doing . I want to replace the Volvo Shaft seal and wondered if any body has any experience with which seal to buy . I can get a seal by Orbitrade through ASAP or One by Volvo . The Volvo ones are twice the price of the Orbitrade ones but will they last longer .Are the Orbitrade ones up to the job .
thanks

I put an Orbitrade on my Bene 3 years ago last year. No separate feed on this one. It started leaking and I changed it. So it only lasted 3 years. The original VP was over 7 years old and still going strong.

 

[Talulah]

I’ve used Volvo and Orbitrade over the years. I’ve not noticed any difference. The Orbitrade clamp is easier to attach. The Volvo one you have to hold together whilst getting the bolts and nuts on. Can be awkward if access is limited.

 

[Plum]

I replaced my VP one which was 15 years old and was not leaking. I changed it just for peace of mind. So, with 15 years of good service I replaced with another VP one. Burping on relaunch is easy if just once or twice each year. If I was on a drying mooring and it had to be done every time I used the boat then I would consider one of the similar makes that has a vent tube.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Gwylan]

If you are on a drying mooring then use a Radice and use cooling water to lubricate the seal.
Did this on our Westerly and never looked back.

 

[pvb]

If you are on a drying mooring then use a Radice and use cooling water to lubricate the seal.
Did this on our Westerly and never looked back.

With a sailboat, there's no need to plumb cooling water to the seal's vent - just have a vent pipe going up above the waterline.

 

[Gwylan]

With a sailboat, there's no need to plumb cooling water to the seal's vent - just have a vent pipe going up above the waterline.

But if you plumb it in then you get to wash the sand and crud out of the seal every time you move the boat. Especially after it has dried out in the mud or whatever.

You may ponder how I might have learned this.

 

[eddystone]

I intended to replace Volvo with Radice on a 1" shaft but wouldn't stretch enough to fit over end of stern tube. Best to check that.

 

[Muddy32]

I have used both, with no discernible difference, but the real key to length of service is the grease. Make it easier to use a flattened plastic straw to ease into the gap for a Volvo seal. My two, are now 9 years old and still watertight.

 

[pvb]

I have used both, with no discernible difference, but the real key to length of service is the grease. Make it easier to use a flattened plastic straw to ease into the gap for a Volvo seal. My two, are now 9 years old and still watertight.

Aarrggghhhhh! Think of the effect on the environment!

 

[Beneteau381]

Aarrggghhhhh! Think of the effect on the environment!

Getting the straw is enjoyable, I enjoy immensely a Big Mac meal as a treat!

 

[pvb]

Getting the straw is enjoyable, I enjoy immensely a Big Mac meal as a treat!

I thought McDonald's used paper straws now to make the polar bears happier.

 

[Stemar]

So use a paper straw...

One thing to check is the state of the shaft where the seal will rub. Any damage or wear may mean it can't seal. I recently had to put a PSS seal on my little Sanapdragon (shoehorn recommended!) because the shaft was worn in the wrong place and it's an engine out job to remove it.

 

[Beneteau381]

I thought McDonald's used paper straws now to make the polar bears happier.

Hasnt reached Portugal yet! I must say the Burger King at the Forum Mall in Faro is also a treat!

 

[Muddy32]

Same plastic straw for at least 10 years. - less plastic used than the packaging on a new seal.

Aarrggghhhhh! Think of the effect on the environment!

 

[alancollins]

Radice instruct us to use their "special" grease to lubricate their seal. Will silicon grease do the sameJob?

 

[Talulah]

Radice instruct us to use their "special" grease to lubricate their seal. Will silicon grease do the sameJob?

The Volvo grease is a special ‘felt’ grease. The Radice grease is probably the same.

 

[Pete7]

Perhaps not. Had a slight leak from a Volvo seal. Barry the Shipwright in Haslar said clean out the grease you used and put Volvo grease back in place. I did and the leak stopped.