[Public-List] Rudder stuffing box

[John Boor via Public-List]

John's origional posting mentioned that he has wheel steering thus the
rudder tube had to be modified to accept the quadrant.  Not having a lot
of room beneth the cockpit floor the tube will have to be quiet short, so
perhaps pulling the boat and installing a stuffing box will cure the
problem.

John Boor
Ex #380 MAHSEER

> John,
> Sounds like someone has modified your boat to "upgrade" this item. On the
> early non-liner boats it is my understanding that the outer tube has no
> gland nut or packing, but extends up through the cockpit sole. Thus if any
> seawater comes out of the outer tube it spills into the cockpit and then
> out the scuppers/drains in the cockpit. In your situation and on the liner
> boats which have a stuffing box on the rudder tube, this outer tube
> terminates with the nut which is above the lower hull but below the
> cockpit sole. Any water leaking here goes into the bilge, not so good.
> Â 
> Some folks feel that having a stuffing box on the rudder tube is an
> upgrade. If it is not regularly serviced or buggered up like yours then it
> is indeed a negative. The non-liner boats require no attention to the
> stuffing box as there is none.  Any water coming up the tube harmlessly
> flows into the cockpit at a rate slow enough for the drains to take it
> overboard.  In both styles of boats rarely but sometimes the rudder tube
> becomes detached from the hull or wears through from friction of the
> rudder stock against the fiberglass tube, much water can then enter the
> bilge.
> Â 
> I agree with Mike Lehman and you after you came to your senses, no matter
> how you address the situation, do you want to undermine the structure of
> the upper rudder post by making it two pieces joined by a coupling.
> Â 
> Would it be possible to split the die you plan to chase the threads with
> and save yourself the trouble of a haul-out?  If the threads in the nut
> are OK then you are home free.
> Michael #133Â 
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From: "John Johnston via Public-List" <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
> To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all"
> <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2014 6:43:13 PM
> Subject: Re: [Public-List] Rudder stuffing box
>
> Mike and Wes - I may have erred by describing my situation as a stuffing
> box. What I have is an outer tube that is glassed into the hull. The top
> of it is threaded. Through that tube runs the rudderstock. Where the
> rudderstock emerges inside the hull there is a packing nut that has room
> for flax packing, I believe. I don't know the condition of the threads of
> the nut, but the threads on the outer tube are mangled, and I had no
> success with the thread file. I have overcome my extreme reluctance to
> haul out, after having been in for so short a time, but I agree that a
> haulout is called for, and drop the rudder. I think that once I rethread
> the outer tube and get a new nut and some packing all will be well. I also
> agree with Mike that it would be foolish to introduce a potential cause
> for failure. It was a hasty and desperate grasping of straws. A good
> night's sleep restored some reason. There is no excuse or reason for doing
> a poor job. Sorry if I mangled the nomenclature - I a
> Â m actually doing the right things with this boat, but only after
> exhausting all other options. Thanks for your good advice - John
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