[C38] Mysterious stuffing box behavior

Thu May 19 11:12:29 EDT 2011

Larry,

 I have exactly the same locker as Hassle.

Max

2011/5/19 Larry Malmberg <Larrypi at roadrunner.com>

>  I'm confused too Max.  Our port locker in the cockpit (sail locker?) is
> open all the way to the hull except for a step where the start battery is
> located, the step has a shelf for storage where we keep extra oil and
> coolant, there is a large access to the engine compartment there as well,
> kind of T shaped.
>
>
> Larry Malmberg
> Team Hassle
>
>
>
>
>
>  ------------------------------
> *From:* listserve-bounces at catalina38.org [mailto:
> listserve-bounces at catalina38.org] *On Behalf Of *Max Soto
> *Sent:* Thursday, May 19, 2011 7:52 AM
> *To:* tdtron at earthlink.net; Catalina 38 Listserve
>
> *Subject:* Re: [C38] Mysterious stuffing box behavior
>
> 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
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Listserve mailing list
>>> Listserve at catalina38.org
>>> http://catalina38.org/mailman/listinfo/listserve_catalina38.org
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>>
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>
>
> --
> Max Soto
> C38 #198 ESTANCIA
> Puntarenas, Costa Rica
>
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>

-- 
Max Soto
C38 #198 ESTANCIA
Puntarenas, Costa Rica
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