Packing Gland

1970Columbia34 · #1 (**permalink**) 04-10-2007

I have done some reading from past posts and just need to clear something up. Our boat goes in the water next week and i re-packed the shaft last weekend. I put in 4 rings of the packing rope and put the nut back on but I am not sure how tight to tighten it to start with. Once they drop the boat in I need to motor 1 mile or so up the river to our slip where I can adjust for the number of drips 2 per minute sound about right and how tight should the nut be at launch. Thanks.

Scott

sailingdog · #2 (**permalink**) 04-10-2007

Umm.. the packing gland shouldn't leak at all when the prop shaft isn't spinning. I would just tighten it hand tight to begin with, and then adjust it once you see how much it is leaking.

winddancer88 · #3 (**permalink**) 04-10-2007

If you used old-style flax it should just barely leak at rest, a drop per 10 seconds or so.

I used Gore packing this time and really like it. This kind should be adjusted just tight enough to not leak.