GFO Stuffing Box Packing - Any good?

[newgringo]

I was intrigued by the ad that GFO has on their web site www.stuffingboxpacking.com where they claim no leakage after the initial adjustment. I have been thinking about installing a dripless packing but the idea of a much cheaper solution sounds good. Does anyone have any experience with this product? Would love to hear both the good and the bad (if any).

 

[Maine Sail]

It's great stuff but...

It's great stuff BUT! be very careful with their misleading marketing.

Bilges stay dry

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] Since GFO fiber dripless packing is four times more thermally conductive than flax, it needs virtually no sea water for lubrication or cooling. And, because it doesn't swell or shrink, leakage is controlled and kept to an absolute minimum. In fact, you'll notice that your bilge is dry and cleaner, because this remarkable packing hardly ever drips. It's so conformable and flexible that it will solve most perpetual problem leakers, too.[/FONT]

They contradict themselves quite often in the above statement. GFO needs to have some drip when the shaft is spinning but can usually be adjusted to not drip when at rest. It is NOT dripless but it does drip less..