[ctalmage]

After repowering our E32 and running the boat under power for 6hrs, we discovered a minor leak near the prop shaft which we thought was the stuffing box or rubber tube on the stuffing box. After tightening all the rubber tube clamps and tightening the stuffing box seal, leak was still there. Ran the boat under power for another 1.5 hrs, leak was worse, a lot worse. Upon careful inspection, boat still in the water, I found the leak was coming in around the nut that tightens/seals the stern tube. Hauled the boat out, now time to pull the stern tube and fix the leak. Has anyone tackled this type of repair -- any helpful hints would be appreciated. Can this be fixed without pulling the shaft out of the boat?
Thanks, Cal
s/v Agave Illusion

 

[ctalmage]

J - Thanks for the input. I'm not sure what caused the leak. The boat was on the hard for two years before we bought it and then we repowered. We never had it in the water before the purchase, may have had the leak all along. Anyway we are going to pull it all apart, clean and check for possible causes other than the old sealant just gave up, reseal and reassemble.

 

[ctalmage]

Hi Sailcarole - on our Endeavour 32 the shaft through hull, or shaft log as I am told is the correct term, is accessible but difficult to get to behind the motor. Yesterday due to a visible drip coming out of the boat below the shaft while dry docked caused us to pull apart the assembly. We found the nut that tightens the shaft log inside the boat was both corroded and cracked not allowing us to tighten it sufficiently to make a proper seal. We were able to cut the nut off with a dremel but damaged the shaft log tube threads so we are looking to replace the whole assembly....anyone know of a source? In any event once the nut was off the tube slid outward toward the prop. We will pull the prop shaft and remove and replace the shaft log assembly. Is there anyway for you to get to the nut and spin it off or is it totally inaccessible. If inaccessible, things will have to come apart until you can get to that nut to remove it and slide the shaft log out.

 

[ctalmage]

Hi Sailcarole - sorry, can't help with posting pics. I was able to find a replacement bronze shaft log, this one is made by Buck Algonquin. I am ordering through my local boat yard ($115.), it's almost an exact match to the current one. Hopefully being able to seal and tighten the new one properly will solve the problem. In talking to the master boat builder at the yard (40+ years experience) he advised there are two ways to go, my route with the bronze machined part or fitting in a fiberglass schedule 80 tube (must be sch 80 thick walled) and fiberglassing that in place. Good alignment with the shaft is essential to make sure the shaft seal runs true to prevent vibration and shaft wear. He said to loosely install the fiberglass tube, reinsert & connect the shaft to the motor, check alignment and use spacers between the fiberglass tube and shaft to maintain alignment while fiberglassing. He says that's the way most newer boats are constructed. I figured staying with the OEM route was my path of least resistance so that's what I'm trying. Hope this is helpful.