Check that stuffing box hose!!

RobGallagher · #1 (**permalink**) 06-20-2011

It's probably in a bad place. It's dark. It's dirty. It's scary down there.

But check it anyway. Replace it if you are in doubt.

Pan Pan, Pan Pan, Pan Pan
All stations, this is the US Coast Guard
S/V Trysail taking on water two miles east of Block Island....

That was me listening to them talk about me. Not a good feeling. Perfect sail, 7 knots all the way, not a care in the world, till I saw the water pooling up in the cabin.

Long story short, my stuffing box hose tore in two.

Lots of compression tape kept the water coming in slower than my bilge pump took it back out.

Coast Guard guys where great! Offered me a pump (I declined), set me up with a marina in Point Judith RI and escorted me all the way to Point Judith for a haul out. BI Harbor Master also came out to make sure I was OK!

Of course the tow companies where on hand hoping for some work, but, alas, although I was single handing I made the repair and got back in w/o any help aside from the calming effect of the C.G. RIB tooling alongside me.

Keeping my cool was probably the hardest part.

Coast Guard crew docked in front of me and even helped me tie up. Polite, relaxed, respectful, even had a sense of humor about the whole thing. Can't say enough good things about those young men and women.

Note: I never knew this but there are NO haul out facilities on Block Island.

Faster · #2 (**permalink**) 06-20-2011

Good story, good ending, ...well done. I'm sure you're right that this is an item frequently taken for granted.

Any indication what caused this sudden failure? Seems like the gland would need to try to sieze to put any real stress on the hose... was it a lengthwise split, or around the hose? Any chance it was an inappropriate hose to start with?

Beersmith · #3 (**permalink**) 06-20-2011

shaft stuffing box or rudder post?

RobGallagher · #4 (**permalink**) 06-20-2011

The prop shaft stuffing hose split around the hose. Pretty close to a vertical 360 degree tear.
It was appropriate hose. Old though.
Not sure what caused it.

Anyone have an Idea?

SEMIJim · #5 (**permalink**) 06-20-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobGallagher

It was appropriate hose. Old though.
Not sure what caused it.

Anyone have an Idea?

You said it: It was old. That hose is under some stress.

We had ours replaced last season. I'd noticed, season before, when repacking the stuffing box, that that hose was developing surface cracks. That's the clue that the rubber is losing its rubbery-ness. Once that happens it's only a matter of time before it fails.

Glad you were able to piece it back together well enough to survive it.

Jim

RobGallagher · #6 (**permalink**) 06-20-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by SEMIJim

You said it: It was old. That hose is under some stress.

We had ours replaced last season. I'd noticed, season before, when repacking the stuffing box, that that hose was developing surface cracks. That's the clue that the rubber is losing its rubbery-ness. Once that happens it's only a matter of time before it fails.

Glad you were able to piece it back together well enough to survive it.

Jim

Oh my Buddha... does that mean I'm going to split round the middle soon? I'm older than the hose!

I've owned the boat 10 years. I called the PO to ask if he ever changed it and the answer was no. That means the hose was at least 30 years old. I'm guessing it was the original circa 1972. I did repack it about five years ago and it seemed it was in good shape then. Amazing that it lasted this long!

SEMIJim · #7 (**permalink**) 06-20-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobGallagher

Oh my Buddha... does that mean I'm going to split round the middle soon? I'm older than the hose!

Depends. Are you all dried-out and starting to get surface cracks?

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobGallagher

I've owned the boat 10 years. I called the PO to ask if he ever changed it and the answer was no. That means the hose was at least 30 years old.

Lessee... Abracadabra was built in 1976 and we had that hose replaced beginning of last season, so hers was... 34 years old? (I'm guessing hers was never replaced, either.)

One of the more experienced sailors on some-or-another sailing forum warned people about not replacing that part when it was time. I saw the surface cracks and decided it would be best not to wait

Jim

RobGallagher · #8 (**permalink**) 06-20-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by SEMIJim

Depends. Are you all dried-out and starting to get surface cracks?

Lessee... Abracadabra was built in 1976 and we had that hose replaced beginning of last season, so hers was... 34 years old? (I'm guessing hers was never replaced, either.)

One of the more experienced sailors on some-or-another sailing forum warned people about not replacing that part when it was time. I saw the surface cracks and decided it would be best not to wait

Jim

Think of the excitement you missed out on by changing that thing before it failed. I nearly wet my pants.

CalebD · #9 (**permalink**) 06-20-2011

I should have replaced that stuffing box hose last winter. If mine is original it is 43 years old!
I already have the needed materials to do this (hose, new hose clamps etc.) as this item was already on my radar.
RobGallagher, Glad you managed to save yourself in spite of the CG escort. Exactly what kind of tape was it that helped to save your bacon?

RobGallagher · #10 (**permalink**) 06-21-2011

No clue of the brand name. I think it might have come from Atomic Tape, maybe I bought it at a boat show. It's been in my "mixed bag" of tape rolls for at least three years.

It has plastic separating each layer of the roll.

I'll try and figure out what brand and post again.

Good news is that if my repairs go well today I splash and leave Point Judith for Block this afternoon.