 Check out the bookstore at IRBS.com |
|
|
|
|||||
|
||||||
From: rbradsh2 (no email)
Date: Sat Jan 05 2008 - 18:24:18 EST
An update:
We installed a Strong Seal drippless shaft "paacking gland" mfg by
Tides Marine in FL. It seems to be a sturdy unit not at all like the
PYI/PSS unit that the bellows can be pushed back and needs to be
"burped" and maintained every couple months or so. All went well in
the install. However, 3 seatrials later and we couldn't get it to be
drippless. There was some pitting in the shaft but wasn't seen as a
major problem. The only way to get it to be drippless was to pull the
shaft and see what was going on.
Yesterday, the shaft was finally removed. To do so we had to drop the
rudder. The shaft would not pass beside it. It turns out it was a good
thing as we got to see the real condition of things most don't get to
see and we got to see just how little attention the previous owner
appeared to give the rudder post packing gland and the shaft gland.
We found the shaft to be _very_ pitted with some material about the
size of a dime missing in one spot plus plus many small to large pits.
I will get a new shaft made on Monday and get it installed this coming
week.
I'm getting two new seals for the drippless system. One to replace the
seal that is working on the presumption that it will have been damaged
in the installation/removal process or the pitting problem and one in
a second spare carrier. That will give me two spare seal carriers
riding on the shaft just ahead of the drippless "bellows." The system
is designed so that it is possible to replace the seals without being
hauled out. Will get a good amount of water in the boat but it can be
done. The unit is used on commercial fishing boats that run 24/7 for
months at a time and last for up to 10 years so should be good for our
small sailboat. The double redundant seals should be more than enough
to handle the time we have the boat if we watch it and all goes as it
"should."
The rudder post was scored. Not extraordinarily deep but noticeable.
Apparently the previous owner had not serviced the packing gland well
for about 19 years. It was leaking when we got the boat and we
repacked it with the teflon stuff and that stopped the leak problem.
However, the real "fix," as I see it, would mean rebuilding the rudder
and that is not an option at this time. Maybe some time but not now.
We will repack the rudder with teflon packing and keep a good check on it.
So, even if the wallet is deflated and we are later than we ever
thought possible and our bad luck with stuff seems to continue, we
find that we know more about the boat than most people do about theirs
and we know (well, think we know now) she is in top condition
mechanically having seen things most don't.
Looking forward to getting into warmer climes quite soon.
Rick
s/v La Vita
1987 Hans Christian 33T
|