Stern Gland Packing

[Phil Edwards]

Can someone give me the definitive answer as to the size of the Seadog gland's packing - 6mm (1/4") or 8mm (5/16")? I have seen both answers given on this forum!! 

Also my stern gland has what appears tp be a broken nut on it's top surface. Could this be the remains of a stern gland greasing tube which I would dearly like to fit, or some other fitting from way back- (my Seadog "Daressa" is one of the first few dozen built)? Can a greasing tube be fitted through this broken nut?

Thanking members in anticipation.

[Graham]

Definitely used 5/16 square section non graphite packing on the stern gland on Dougal. This was advised by Peter French back in the day. 

Dougal has never had a greaser and I haven't had to re-pack in at least 15 years. A small adjustment on the bolts each year after launch. 

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[Brian Jones]

Hi you guys,

If I may drop in here. Rouselle (100) did not have any greaser in her stern bearing but when I re engined her I removed the shaft and it was badly scored around the area. So I put a new shaft in and fitted a greaser which was accessed via a remote pump in the engine bay. This was a great success and no longer did that bearing require adjustment and the shaft required less power to turn it giving slightly more power to the engine which in turn gave more miles to the gallon.

It was very easy to fit the greaser. With the shaft removed I bored a hole in the bearing casing, tapped it to the size of thread of the grease nipple which was an oil greaser which had no inlet spring ball on the inlet side but just had a piece of pipe attached for a rubber hose to be fitted. I soldered on a 5/16th copper pipe and that was accessed from the engine bay through a greaser. So  the nipple was screwed into the shaft casing and the pipe fitted. Once the grease filled the pipe I gave it a quarter of a turn once every six weeks or so depending on the boat usage.

A great success all round and I would recommend it to anyone.

Kind regards

Brian Jones

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[MaxineandIan Round]

Hi

Timorley has a vetus stern gland fitting.

Water is taken off the seawater intake and pumped through latex lips to counter any water trying to enter.

Every season we top up the lubrication box with silicone grease. This is just once it keeps the latex in good condition and supple.

The lifetime of the lips is seven years, no daily greasing needed. 

It is a great thought that no longer do I have to lean and turn the greasing cap.

I worked with a Lieutenant Commander RN who was Engineering officer on nuclear subs, he told me the vetus style solution was used, if it failed there were two giant neoprene paddles that would have to be manned and pressed against the shaft by two ratings and the bilge pump running.

Seems technology is still wrestingling with this issue.

In regard to packing please remember to consider the rudder. I put two layers of 8mm in with copious grease the greasing nipple is long gone.

The top of the rudder stock sits in a plastic bath if this bath is filling up two quickly then the packing needs attention. Generally no new packing is needed it just needs to be removed greased up and replaced.

I am currently getting quotes for eberspacher

I teach on line and live as a digital nomad including the boat. I use Starlink placed on the foredeck.

This takes 140 watts to set up and 40 watts an hour in use.

My electrical system needs updating.

I am getting quotes for a vertical wind turbine to go on top of the mizzen mast and solar panels.

The nature of solar panels seem perverse to me, standard square blocks there is a new material that should be on the market next year that is so flexible that it can be worn as clothing.

When we spent 4 weeks in the Scillies I was moving the boat to run the engine to charge the batteries or runnung the engine as a generator.

There are in my opinion 3 workable anchorages in the Scillies. Porthcressa when north weather.

But New Grimsby is the best, anchored between the moorings and the harbour wall. At springs the seadog will just nudge the bottom.

If it turns stormy then a short hop to Green bay which has allround shelter is available. This passage is less than a mile and completely over sheltered water.

Next time I will put the boat at New Grimsby and not use the engine and source wind and solar power. I am beefing the tender up to go over to St Marys and the other islands

Regards

Ian Round

Timorley

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From: 'Brian Jones' via SeaDog <sea...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Friday, October 18, 2024 10:29:11 AM
To: SeaDog <sea...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [SEADOG] Stern Gland Packing

 

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[brian jones]

6mm packing yes you grease through the nut on the top gas pipe type nut with the correct hole and olive should work 

[Phil Edwards]

Many thanks to all who replied - I feel a lot more confident about attacking my stern gland now!!