PSS Dripless Shafts or others?

chef2sail · #1 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009

Looked at this at the Annaplis Boat show and have decided to go this route. Comments? Is this a good product?

Dave

windward54 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009

I've had one on my boat for the last 5 years and it has worked great.

Vasco · #3 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009

I have had a dripless shaft seal for the past five years as my latest boat came with one. They work fine, I've had no problems but I really would prefer an old fashioned stuffing box. With a dripless any failure is usually pretty bad and would entail a haul out and replacement. I can always repack a stuffing box even while the boat's in the water and with a properly adjusted stuffing box very little water gets in the boat.

erps · #4 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009

Quote:

With a dripless any failure is usually pretty bad and would entail a haul out and replacement. I can always repack a stuffing box even while the boat's in the water and with a properly adjusted stuffing box very little water gets in the boat.

That's a good point. Still, I'm a big fan. I just changed the rubber bellows on mine this last haul out as recommended by jrd22 (every ten years). I have no idea how long the previous bellows had been in there, but it could have been twenty years or more and it was still in good shape. The folks who sell the product in our area, PNW, are great too. I had the replacement bellows and kit a day after I ordered it. The failure points would be the stainless steel sealing flange backing away from the carbon seal or the hose clamp failing on the bellows. Each of those items are easy to check periodically.

Sabreman · #5 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009

There has been much discussion on this topic. if you do a search, you'll see all the pros and cons. Many good points on both sides of the aisle.

For what it's worth, I've had the PSS on on both my Sabres (15 years total), it's what Sabre currently installs, and I would definitely do it again.

captbillc · #6 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009

i have a stuffing box that i repacked this year with hi tech gore packing. it requires practically no drip and runs cool. it is so much better than flax packing, & i don't have a bellows that can fail.

deniseO30 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009

Put one on my boat 2 yrs ago, gotta love it!

Valiente · #8 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009

I know stuffing boxes and I've fixed stuffing boxes, but now I have a steel boat and my ideal would be to avoid ANY water ingress in the deep, metallic bilge....so I'm going to go with a PSS. Because I reach my engine from above, I can easily reach pretty well any part of the drive train and this also influences my decision.

JiffyLube · #9 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009

There was a PSS seal in our boat when we bought it a few years ago, and no telling how long it has been in there...but we haven't had a problem with it. I'll be doing the kit on it this winter during haul out just to be safe.

jason3317 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009

I don't think you'll find any problem with putting a PSS in your boat. They are proven, well engineered and have good manufacturer support.

For example, at the show this weekend, I picked up 8 pairs of set screws for the stainless collar.

Jason