shaft log

huguley3 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-31-2009

I have posted a couple of threads here about my diesel being an issue. Last week I had someone over to replace the packing in the stuffing box. That went pretty smoothly and I won't be quite so freaked out about it next time. The amount of water coming in was really not that much.

However in the process the shaft log started to leak around where it meets the hull. I tried to get the leaking stopped with new hose clamps but nothing I did seemed to affect it at all. I had planned to take it to a DIY yard in a week or so but the amount of water coming in would mean that if the bilge pump failed it would only be a few hours and the water would be up over the sole. Another few hours and the boat would be sinking.

I talked to another guy here in the marina and he got a yard that was just across the channel to haul the boat out to replace the log first thing in the morning. So I spent the night listening to the bilge pump whirring not sleeping terribly well.

I was worried about the trip over and having the log fail completely but it held up and it turned out that the fiberglass tube had sheared off and was coming apart on the inside. So it was several days in a hotel while the new tube was glassed in.

I am glad it happened in the marina and not out in the Atlantic. Which is what happened to a neihboring boat here this week and they had to get towed back and their ac was wrecked and who knows what else got damaged.

Now I am thinking that the shaft wobble I thought I was seeing was caused by the excessive amount of water coming through the stuffing. So several items were added to my lessons learned with this issue.

Sabreman · #2 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009

I'm a huge believer that most blessings are disguised as irritants. As you say, the concern that you felt pierside was nothing that you'd experience if the log let go offshore in a blow. Any lesson learned that doesn't result is sinking or blood loss is a good lesson!

Glad to hear that all is well.

nereussailor · #3 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009

Huguley,
While it's out and apart, you might want to think about a dripless seal, and having the motor mounts checked. The excessive movement could be due to bad motor mounts.

Dave

captbillc · #4 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009

if you don't decided to put in a dripless seal, then check out GFO packing. it is a heck of a lot better than flax packing. i found out about it & put it in mine. the stuff is great !

Sabreman · #5 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009

I agree with nereussailor. Go with the seal. I've written about it on a bunch of threads. Definitely a good time to make the switch.

nereussailor · #6 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009

Mine's been in 4 years with zero problems. It's a bit of a hit on the wallet, but well worth it.

Dave

huguley3 · #7 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009

Thought about the dripless seal but decided against it because I have concerns about it failing from the vibration or misalignment of my olden diesel. I put the teflon coated flax in it and generally I don't use the engine that much so i figure the extra time keeping an eye on it wins over from the cost of putting it in.

My bilge is nice and dry again so I am happy about that.

The motor mounts are in pretty decent shape. For some reason the lag bolts that hold them to the pan are not in straight but it must have been that way for a long time so I am not going to mess with them since it would mean taking the engine out to get them in straight.

Next thing is to pull the injectors and gap the valves but that will have to wait until after my mom is out of here. I need to get on finding someone with a compression gauge to check that as long as I have them out. thats a hint to anyone in the Stuart FL area.