Farlander
Member II
Hi Everyone,
I have a 1970 35-2 #154 'Betty' that recently suffered a catastrophic failure of the stuffing box hose and / or prop shaft log.
After years of deferred maintenance, the shaft coupler is siezed to the shaft. For this reason I was advised by the local yard in February not to try to attempt to adjust the stuffing box.
Dripping had become one second intervals from the packing gland, even when sitting still, and much faster when running.
I boldly decided to go where no man had gone in a long time, and attempted to tighten the stuffing box nut. Unfortunately, I could only get one arm into the engine compartment, and when I attempted to tighten the nut, the entire hose spun on the log and began taking on water, rapidly. Gushing. 'Oh shit', I thought.
I was able to tighten the lone aft hose clamp on the log, abating the leak.
The following day I started the engine, and with guests arriving, the boat began immediately taking on A LOT of water. I tried to tighten the clamp again, but now the hose had squeezed down smaller than the log itself, and I knew I was in real trouble, and any attempts to tighten further would be futile / counter prodcutive. I donned the wetsuit I use for bottom cleaning and jumped in with a wad of electrician puddy called 'Duct Seal' that I always keep on board speifically for this reason.
I was able to jam a bead of duct seal around the prop shaft and stop the leak. I have left a message with the yard (about 300 meters away from my slip) that I need a haul out ASAP.
Questions are who has experience in the SF Bay area of replacing a prop shaft, as the old one may need to be cut off... alternatively, has anyone drilled out or somehow worked out the set screw in the coupler to shaft?
I have a stern mounted Albin diesel, AD21.
Thanks in advance...
I have a 1970 35-2 #154 'Betty' that recently suffered a catastrophic failure of the stuffing box hose and / or prop shaft log.
After years of deferred maintenance, the shaft coupler is siezed to the shaft. For this reason I was advised by the local yard in February not to try to attempt to adjust the stuffing box.
Dripping had become one second intervals from the packing gland, even when sitting still, and much faster when running.
I boldly decided to go where no man had gone in a long time, and attempted to tighten the stuffing box nut. Unfortunately, I could only get one arm into the engine compartment, and when I attempted to tighten the nut, the entire hose spun on the log and began taking on water, rapidly. Gushing. 'Oh shit', I thought.
I was able to tighten the lone aft hose clamp on the log, abating the leak.
The following day I started the engine, and with guests arriving, the boat began immediately taking on A LOT of water. I tried to tighten the clamp again, but now the hose had squeezed down smaller than the log itself, and I knew I was in real trouble, and any attempts to tighten further would be futile / counter prodcutive. I donned the wetsuit I use for bottom cleaning and jumped in with a wad of electrician puddy called 'Duct Seal' that I always keep on board speifically for this reason.
I was able to jam a bead of duct seal around the prop shaft and stop the leak. I have left a message with the yard (about 300 meters away from my slip) that I need a haul out ASAP.
Questions are who has experience in the SF Bay area of replacing a prop shaft, as the old one may need to be cut off... alternatively, has anyone drilled out or somehow worked out the set screw in the coupler to shaft?
I have a stern mounted Albin diesel, AD21.
Thanks in advance...