[Public-list] Rudder Post Leak

[richard.hazlegrove at wachovia.com]

Bobby, 
Here is what I found on Quest #433 that had evidence of a leak from the 
rudder post stuffing box.  This was evident from moisture that was always 
present running from the area at the base of the shaft down toward the 
bilge.  Repacking the stuffing box in my case did not cure the problem. It 
was only then that I noticed that the shaft was leaking around the 
built-up fiberglass where the shaft passes through the hull.   To further 
confuse the matter,  on Quest,  this exact location of the base of the 
shaft  was probably an inch or less above the waterline so water only 
leaked through the opening when slight wave action occurred or there was 
extra weight in the cockpit.  I repaired this by cleaning and sanding the 
inch or so of exposed shaft below the packing nut as well as the built-up 
fiberglass below it.  Working through a cutout in the port cockpit locker 
I was able to take wetted 1" fiberglass tape and wrap it around the 
cleaned shaft and then down and around the existing fiberglass that 
surrounded the base of the shaft.  This was done six or seven years ago 
and has not leaked since. 

It would appear that an overly aggressive attempt to free or adjust the 
stuffing box  without using two wrenches probably broke loose the shaft 
from the hull.  So be careful when trying to adjust the stuffing box.  To 
the extent this stuffing box probably gets far less wear and certainly 
none of the heat build-up of the prop shaft,  a good packing job may last 
a very long time and can probably be snugged down without worry about 
scoring the shaft. 

Richard Hazlegrove
Quest #433
Mobjack Bay,  VA. 
 1146575366.0