Packing for Stuffing Box on Pearson 36-2?

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Jay

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Oct 11, 2023, 2:02:05 PM10/11/23
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I'd like to have a roll of packing for my new-to-me 36-2's stuffing box (old style), not a dripless.  I plan on repacking it soon, just don't know exactly when. 

The shaft is an inch and a quarter in diameter.  For those with the same model boat, what size packing and what type of material are you using?  Thanks in advance!

Jay

Mick Haven

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Oct 10, 2024, 2:21:31 PMOct 10
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Hello Jay,

I'm late to the party, so I'm imagining you already sorted this out, but my stuffing box on my 36-2 took 3 rings of WESTERN PACIFIC TRADING PTFE Flax Shaft Packing – 1/4" x 2’ because that's what was readily available.

Here's the company's website with breakdown on different packing: http://wptinc.net/wpt_tech.html#wpta

What you should NOT use from them is their GTU SHAFT PACKING WITH W.L. GORE FIBERS.

Why? Because the yard manager (been doing it for 40 years; Ventura Harbor Boat Yard in Ventura, CA--I had great experience there as they really like it if you do the work yourself, and will let you borrow tools for free, give you free instruction, etc.) when I did a haul-out in '22 after purchasing boat there said that the GRAPHITE (the "G" in "GTU") can, on rare occasions, cause galvanic corrosion with your shaft.

I did some research to assay what he said and found this which backed him up:
https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:851449/FULLTEXT01.pdf: a 76-page report titled "Investigation of Galvanic Corrosion
between Graphite Gaskets and Stainless Steel Flanges" which said that, yes, a case of galvanic corrosion between a stainless steel flange and a graphite gasket most likely occurred (the ss flange and graphite gasket seemed a clear corollary for ss shaft and graphite packing).

What I will use next time: WESTERN PACIFIC TRADING Tefpack Synthetic Shaft Packing - 1/4" x 2’ as teflon doesn't cause galvanic corrosion (you can actually use it between two different metals to prevent galvanic corrosion) and it is not prone to mildew since teflon's synthetic.

It just wasn't in the chandlery when I went to get the stuffing, and I didn't want to wait to order it.

Fairwinds,

Mick Haven
Nammu / Pearson 36-2 / 1985, Hull #51

Jay

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Oct 10, 2024, 2:56:17 PMOct 10
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Thanks, Mike. Actually, your response is perfect timing.  Since my 36-2 was out of the water when I took ownership in late April 2023, I decided not to haul it after the first full year.  I plan on hauling early November. That's the plan.  On the docket are 1) sand down bottom and paint 2) likely replace the head waste through hull which has been stuck open (I don't dare force it while in the water) and 3) attend to that stuffing box because I have no idea how old the packing material is.

Your info is very helpful.  How often should packing be replaced?  Thanks again.

Jay

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Jay

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Oct 10, 2024, 2:57:22 PMOct 10
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Sorry.  Mick... Not Mike!  ;)

Mick Haven

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Oct 10, 2024, 4:57:46 PMOct 10
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Hi Jay,

No prob on "Mike" or "Mick." Mick's actually short for Michael too so you were on the right path. And glad you found info helpful.

I replaced my packing like you're going to because when I bought my boat, I had no idea when it had been replaced last, and I was hauled out for bottom painting anyway. I've seen YouTube vids of people replacing theirs in the water but too stressful for me as I didn't want to have to be fast at it...and I wasn't as it was the first time I'd done it ;)

For when to replace, from what I've read, one can wait for signs that it's wearing out: dripping too much (NOTE: again from my reading, the stuffing should only drip to lubricate the shaft when it's in motion; if the it's dripping when the shaft is stationary, tighten stuffing box); can't tighten stuffing box enough to slow down dripping; stuffing box gets warm/hot to touch when shaft turning.

On another note: you've been sailing her for a year? Anything you've noticed or heard to watch out for on a 36-2? And what do you like about the 36-2 so far? I've only been sailing for 4 years, but I've sailed on quite a few different boats (a LOT of different models/years of Catalinas--I am in CA, after all), and they all make me really love the 36-2 so far--layout, sail plan, speed, finish overall. I feel like I got a lot of boat for the buck when I bought her 2 years ago. The next closest thing would be a Tartan 3700. I feel like Tartan took Bill Shaw's design and tweaked it, barely...they're almost identical on paper although I did see a 3700 in person as I was shopping for my boat, and since it didn't start production till '99, the boat I saw felt newer, of course; also, I'll admit, the finish was a couple or three notches higher even taking into account disparity in ages.

Mick Haven
Nammu / Pearson 36-2 / 1985, Hull #51

Jeff Griglack

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Oct 10, 2024, 9:58:19 PMOct 10
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Mick,

------------------------------------------------------------------
| Jeff Griglack             "Jabberwocky" P-365 #269
------------------------------------------------------------------
| "Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent"
|                   - Walt Kelly
| 'Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say, "In this
| world, Elwood, you must be" – she always called me Elwood –
| "In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant."
| Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.'
|               —James Stewart as Elwood P. Dowd
------------------------------------------------------------------


On Thu, Oct 10, 2024 at 2:21 PM Mick Haven <mick...@gmail.com> wrote:
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Mick Haven

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Oct 11, 2024, 12:06:28 PMOct 11
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Hi Jeff,

I hadn't seen the GORE brand, but I read about it thanks to your link, and it does have graphite in it, so in some instances could cause galvanic corrosion with stainless steel, apparently.

If it hasn't for you, that's great. It does seem pretty rare.

One question: have you ever pulled your shaft or been able to look at where the packing is coming into contact with the shaft to check for any evidence of corrosion?

Mick Haven
Nammu / Pearson 36-2 / 1985, Hull #51

Jay

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Oct 11, 2024, 12:34:51 PMOct 11
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Mick,
To answer your question about my first year experience with the 36-2.  I love it, overall.  I moved up from an Ericson 27. This Pearson is a huge step up in comfort at the dock, comfort while sailing. The sailing characteristics, to me, are great.  I'm not a racer. While I've sailed on and off since I was a kid, I would not say that I'm an expert.  I'm learning everyday.  The biggest difference between my two boats is the "ride" of the Pearson.  It cuts through the water comfortably. Is decent even in light wind of 8-10 knots. My wife loves it, so she sails more and we do more weekend cruising. I can go out in much higher winds than the ericson and hardly notice its blowing 20 plus knots. Last spring we were sailing back home from a weekend outing when it unexpectedly was gusting over 30 and while it was exciting, the boat handled it steadily with one reef.  Another thing I love is her control going in reverse and limited prop walk. My ericson was a knuckleball in reverse. The nicest thing about mine is that I have a two year old engine. It had 6 hrs on it when I bought it. 

For me, some minor negatives are: my main is much more sail than the ericson and thus a lot heavier.  I'm really grinding it up the mast those last 4 or 5 feet.  Also, I'm not on a mooring and my fairway (and slip) is very tight for 36', so I haven't had the guts to single-hand her out of the slip.  That is my next goal. Relatedly, mine doesn't have a windlass. I wish it did, to make singlehanding easier for short cruises.

It's very helpful hearing from other owners. Thanks!
Jay





Jeff Griglack

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Oct 13, 2024, 12:13:31 AMOct 13
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Well, I used it on my P30 with a stainless steel shaft for several years before I converted the boat to an electric motor.  Shortly after I converted to an electric motor, I switched to a PYI Dripless shaft seal.  At that time, I did not see any corrosion on the shaft.  On my current P365, I replaced the packing in the traditional stuffing box with the Gore packing (I think) 2 years ago and have not checked the shaft since then, but I think the shaft is bronze anyway.

Jeff
------------------------------------------------------------------
| Jeff Griglack             "Jabberwocky" P-365 #269
------------------------------------------------------------------
| "Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent"
|                   - Walt Kelly
| 'Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say, "In this
| world, Elwood, you must be" – she always called me Elwood –
| "In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant."
| Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.'
|               —James Stewart as Elwood P. Dowd
------------------------------------------------------------------

Mick Haven

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Oct 13, 2024, 1:31:38 PMOct 13
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Great stuff, Jay, thanks. It's nice to hear from someone who has been sailing so long. And that's amazing on the engine! What a great find. My slip and finger are also tight--makes leaving, especially, very challenging for me. 

Incidentally, when I was looking for my "forever" boat, I looked at a LOT of different boats, but was only seriously considering Ericsons then found my Pearson. So it's cool you had an Ericson.

On paper, I liked the Ericson 38-200 a lot, but the ones for sale in SoCal were pretty beat up. And when I got on them, that extra 2 feet made it feel like a lot of boat. Especially for me, considering I had only a couple years sailing experience on a Laguna 24 I bought.

My Pearson 36-2 was a total Goldilocks boat: it felt just right. Then on a one hour and a half long sea trial out of Ventura, winds were 15-18 with 4-5 foot seas, and she just handled them with full sail like it was nothing. The only drawback was the owner went on the trial, of course, and knew he had me as I was grinning the whole time ;) 

Mick Haven

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Oct 13, 2024, 1:34:13 PMOct 13
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Jeff,

Thanks for the info. Yeah, again, from my understanding and research, it's pretty rare, but I just figure, there's other options that work well (for instance, the PYI Dripless, you mentioned, that I've been considering), so why chance it?

Jeff Griglack

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Oct 13, 2024, 1:37:56 PMOct 13
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Mick,

Oh yeah, if you are willing to replace the whole stuffing box with a drilled seal, I'd go with the seal. Just remember that you are supposed to replace the bellows approximately every six years.

Jeff


Mick Haven

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Oct 14, 2024, 3:08:34 PMOct 14
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Good to know on bellows. Thanks, Jeff.

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