[C38] Mysterious stuffing box behavior

Thu May 19 10:51:36 EDT 2011

I don't know if it is just me, but this locker is totally different than
mine... I remember seeing this pics years ago, but still today , I can't
figure it out, and my only explanation is that the modification was very big
and I didn't get that, or that  (this is getting common!) there are two
different kind of lockers. Mine goes all the way to the hull, and has a
liner with no  anti skid pattern..
How about other boats??????
I need to install a generator behind the engine, so the room I can make for
myself, the better!

Regards,

Max

2011/6/18 tdtron at earthlink.net <tdtron at earthlink.net>

>  Dan,
>
> While mentioning the sail locker cutout, you reminded me that I came across
> a couple of old photos of my locker cutout which I have attached.  The holes
> on the engine side of the locker were left over from the previous owner's
> hot water heater which I moved to the engine aft of the transmission.
> That location was not possible before the sail locker modification.
>
> The cutout is supported by angle aluminum bolted with countersunk #10
> stainless bolts and nylock nuts.  The four screw heads in the first photo
> are holding my pressure water pump up side down between the hull and sail
> locker bottom.  We found that location to be a very quiet place for the pump
> and after the sail locker cutout modification, that location also became
> easy to service, another previously wasted unaccessible area.
>
> On the sail locker cutout, I did add a vertical brace between the forward
> inside corner of the cutout and the hull.  I bedded a piece of pressure
> treated wood to the hull and made a support of aluminum angle connected to
> the perimeter aluminum angle which made the floor of the sail locker very
> stiff and strong.
>
> Of all of the modifications I made to my 38, I think this was the most
> practical and best.
>
> Tom Troncalli
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* <dmills3 at comcast.net>
> *To: *Catalina 38 Listserve <listserve at catalina38.org>
> *Sent:* 5/18/2011 12:40:01 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [C38] Mysterious stuffing box behavior
>
>  Marci, We bought our boat in Rhode Island and last year did the opposite
> trip you are doing. We brought it to the Chesapeake Bay. We Had a situation
> that may be close to yours.
>
> We had 5 total crew and was motor sailing hard in Long Island Sound to try
> to get to the East River to catch the tide right. We heard water splashing
> around and the quarter berth was getting wet (we have an opening there to
> get to the back of the engine, not sure all Catalina's have it). There was a
> lot of water under the engine and the spinning shaft was splashing it
> around. When the shaft wasn't spinning there was no splashing.
>
> Before starting our adventure I got a lot of information from the C38
> website, most importantly the leaking stuffing box on the rudder post. Below
> the front of the engine there is a drain hole that allows water to drain
> from under the engine to the bilge. Ours was clogged up and allowed the
> build up of water under the engine and the shaft to splash it around. When
> running hard and even sailing fast the rudder post will let in a lot of
> water because the stern is squatted down.
>
> Check under the front of the engine and make sure that hole is clear. I
> think you will find that to be your problem as well as a rudder post leak.
>
> I still have to fix mine. I'm going to cut out the sail locker bottom as
> suggested on the C38 website to gain access to the rudder post.
>
> Dan #108
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Max Soto" <maxsoto at gmail.com>
> To: "Catalina 38 Listserve" <listserve at catalina38.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2011 11:35:51 AM
> Subject: Re: [C38] Mysterious stuffing box behavior
>
> Marci,
>  I guess that the shaft was spinning while sailing with the transmission in
> neutral. I'll check the packing gland and also check for movement of the
> stuffing box while running with the engine, it should denote problems like
> the ones you just mentioned...
>
> Hope this helps..
>
> Max Soto
> C38 #198 ESTANCIA
> Puntarenas, Costa Rica
>
> 2011/5/18 Marci Brown <mb at seafor.us>
>
>>  A troubling stuffing box situation began last week (and continues): We
>> ran the engine reasonably hard for about 4 hours when doing the NYC East
>> River trek to Long Island Sound. I was in the galley when Keith raised the
>> sails and cut the engine (leaving transmission in neutral). Immediately I
>> heard water pouring into the boat from the stuffing box area. I shouted for
>> Keith to throw the transmission into reverse. No more water! Whew! Water
>> quickly exited the boat via bilge pump - with the exception of 10 gallons
>> sitting under the engine that I had to pump out by hand. Diagnostic
>> guesstimate #1: New zincs on the prop shaft causing wobble that is stressing
>> the 2-year old flax packing gland... right? The cutlass bearing is fine.
>> Other thoughts: Folding prop has inherent balance issues,
>> engine/transmission/prop shaft alignment fine tuning necessary, packing
>> glands wear out quickly under stress?? Would anyone like to tackle this one?
>>
>>
>>
>> *Marci J. Brown*
>>
>> PO Box 520549, Winthrop, MA 02152 USA
>>
>> *Ph:* 757-515-3151 | *Email:* mb at seafor.us
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>>
>
>
> --
>
>
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-- 
Max Soto
C38 #198 ESTANCIA
Puntarenas, Costa Rica
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