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People ask about repacking the stuffing box. It's easy enough, once you've
done it (and if you can reach it), but it's a bit scary to thing about if
you've never done it before. And, since it's in an awkward position, you
probably want to know ahead of time what you're facing.
You'll also need
a set of wrenches that fits the stuffing box and
can turn in the space available. Many Alberg 30s measure 1-7/8" across
the packing nut (a.k.a. the stuffing box nut) and 2" across the lock nut, and use 3/16" flax,
but measure yours to be sure.
(Some boats seem to have replaced the 1-3/8" stuffing box with a 1-1/2" one. This causes a mismatch with the 1-3/8" stern tube at the other end of the stuffing box hose.)
On the newer boats, there is another stuffing box on the rudder shaft.
These tend to measure 2-1/8" on both the packing nut and the lock nut,
and take 5/16" packing.
(If your Alberg 30 varies from these measurements,
please let me know.)
Unscrew the packing nut. Dig out the old flax that's inside it. Wrap the new flax around the shaft three times, and cut it (without cutting the shaft) at a slight angle across all the turns. This will give you three rings of flax that just fit around the shaft. Arrange these between the stuffing box and the packing nut, with the cut part of the rings rotated to different places. Push the nut back onto the stuffing box such that the flax rings go inside. Screw the nut back on, hand tight. Adjust in the water so that the stuffing box just quits dripping. Re-adjust with the engine running and in gear so that it drips slowly. Tighten the lock nut agains the stuffing box nut to prevent it from vibrating loose. Re-check periodically.
If you look inside the stuffing box and packing nut, you'll see that they both have beveled surfaces that push the packing toward the shaft.
Here are some links (in no particular order) to articles on the subject:
Drip Free Packing
As an alternative to flax packing, you can use
Drip Less® Moldable Packing.
This product is a high-tech clay-like material. You use two rings of ordinary flax (or teflon)
packing and one ring of this stuff in the middle, and coat everything with the provided
packing lubricant. With this product, you can adjust your packing until it just barely
does not drip when then engine is running. There will still be enough
lubrication to protect the shaft (though the packing will feel a little warmer).
This product is available from
Western Pacific Trading, Inc.
3305 Spring Mountain Rd.
Suite 60
Las Vegas, NV 82102
phone 1-800-944-3501
This product is also available from West Marine
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Offshore Sailing
by Bill Seifert with Daniel Spurr
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The suggestions are very practical for the do-it-yourselfer, too. Many show how to
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Besides modifications, the book also includes advice for operating offshore, cooking,
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Bill Seifert has worked at Tartan, TPI, and Alden Yachts. He's a veteran of many
Marion-Bermuda races and now runs his own yacht management company. His tips are
born of experience--not of book-learning--and it shows. He obviously knows his
stuff.
(Note: commissions earned from this link help defray the costs of this website)
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