[C38] steering post leak. My experience

Mon Nov 17 19:07:04 EST 2014

Perhaps adding some grease fittings may help.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Max Soto" <maxsoto at gmail.com>
To: "Catalina 38 Listserve" <listserve at catalina38.org>
Sent: Monday, November 17, 2014 3:20:51 PM
Subject: Re: [C38] steering post leak. My experience

Hi Steve, I'm in the middle or replacing the engine on Estancia, finally!!! 
Im taking lots of pics because I think that will make a great article for mainsheet. Right know I'm working on the ending bed, making it higher for a 40hp yanmar!! 
Hopefully, the boat will be ready in three weeks. 

Regards, 

Max Soto 
+506-8312-1367 
Alajuela, Costa Rica 

On 17/11/2014, at 15:25, Steve Smolinske < SSmolinske at rainierrubber.com > wrote: 

In the next issue of mainsheets there should be an article about the steering gland and packing, didn’t make it into the last one for some reason 

From: Listserve [ mailto:listserve-bounces at catalina38.org ] On Behalf Of David Stoltz 
Sent: Monday, November 17, 2014 12:15 PM 
To: Catalina 38 Listserve 
Subject: Re: [C38] steering post leak. My experience 

Hi Max, thanks. Keep an eye out I'm going to put some information up in the next day or 2 that might be helpful. 

On Nov 17, 2014, at 11:37 AM, Max soto wrote: 

Hi David, good to know that everything went out ok with the installation.. Thanks for the info about the 3/8" packing. Will give it a try at that size next month! 

Regards, 

Max Soto A. 

+506-8312-1367 

Alajuela, Costa Rica 

On Nov 16, 2014, at 20:52, David Stoltz < sportscinema at earthlink.net > wrote: 

Hi Max, 

Finally finished the replacement of the steering post packing and Edson told me it's 3/8ths., so that's what I went with. They said it's the only size they have ever used. 

Best, 

David 

On Aug 27, 2014, at 7:31 PM, Max soto wrote: 

Hi Don and David, 

Don, I have seen a pic of Discrete Charm's packing gland, and is different than the one that David should have on his boat. The Edson that David has can only take one strip (if I'm not mistaken), but the procedure is exactly the same... 
David, I think that the right measure should be 1/4".. 3/8 fits, but the gland will press it against the bottom of the gland instead of compressing it against the rudder post.. At least, this was the experience I had on my boat.... 

Regards, 

Max Soto A. 

+506-8312-1367 

Alajuela, Costa Rica 

On Aug 27, 2014, at 7:56 PM, Donald Strong < drstrong at ucdavis.edu > wrote: 

David: 
I failed twice at getting the packing right. Do not compress, twist or roll the packing material. 
1. Cut the ends at an angle so the material is the exact length, which you can get by coiling the packing strip around the rudder post and cutting diagonally with a razor blade. 
2. Make 3 strips as per 1 above. 
3. Make an implement out of a tube with the exact interior diameter of the rudder post. Thickness of this device should be just shy of the width of the packing material and the interior diameter of the gland. Implement should be a couple of inches long 
Cut this implement longitudinally into two halves. I used a thin pvc pipe, I think (or brass tube that I found in the dumpster on the dock)? 
4. Wrap the first exactly cut length of packing material around the rudder post. Make sure the ends match perfectly. Ease it down as far as you can get it with your fingers. put some grease on the rudder post so the material will slide. 
Place the implement around the rudder post above the packing material. Tape the halves of the implement together. 
5. Tap gently around the top edge of the implement until the packing material disappears into the gland. 
6. Repeat with the other two, offsetting the cut by 120 degrees. 

My success has been dry for 6 years. 

Good luck, Don 

n 8/27/14 6:35 PM, David Stoltz wrote: 

Hopefully this is are the last question I will ever have about the rudder post packing gland because this job is a BITCH... 

Any suggestions on fitting the new packing into to the recessed ares of the gland? 

It's 3/8" and a very tight fit. I was thinking about rolling it slightly to make it a bit thinner. Good or bad idea??? 

Thanks very much. 

On Aug 25, 2014, at 7:34 AM, Steve Smolinske wrote: 

Peregrine is in the yard having the rudder packing gland deglassed to the tube. Noticed last time out that the packing gland rotated when the wheel was turned. Also bilge pump was going off every twenty minutes. 

Steve Smolinske 

Sent from my iPhone 

206 972 6297 

On Aug 25, 2014, at 8:10 AM, "Michael Norcross" < manorcross at gmail.com > wrote: 

David's woes inspired me to peer into the cavern..yes, water coming in thru the rudder seal and at good clip under sail or motor. Kicking myself, since I just hauled the boat to do a serious job on the bottom (soda blast etc). Below we go, water heater for sure is the first obstacle. 

Mike 

On Aug 24, 2014, at 8:45 PM, David Stoltz wrote: 

Thanks Max. 

Sent from my iPhone 

On Aug 23, 2014, at 6:44 AM, "Malcolm (Max) Winter" < malcolmwmax at aol.com > wrote: 

The rudder should be supported if you are going to remove the bolts supporting the Quadrant as well as the bolt at the post attachment to the rudder. It would drop through if not supported. 

Max 

---- Original Message ---- 
From: David Stoltz < sportscinema at earthlink.net > 
To: Catalina 38 Listserve < listserve at catalina38.org > 
Sent: Fri, Aug 22, 2014 6:06 pm 
Subject: Re: [C38] steering post leak 

Hi Mark, 

Thanks for getting back to me. Does the boat have to be hauled, or can I do it with the boat in the water? Will the rudder drop if I remove the 3 nuts at the top 

of the rudder post? 

Thanks, 

David 

On Aug 19, 2014, at 4:36 PM, Mixed Business wrote: 

The only way to access the the quadrant and post and cables is through the quarter berth access. Get all the ratchet extensions you have and a breaker bar to get the quadrant loose. Seriously like All the extensions you have. One guy working in the quarter berth on his stomach and another in the sail locker in the engine access. 

Too me and two others 4 hours to break it all loose... UNdo the cables and drop the rudder. 

Have fun. 

Mark 

Momentous 230 

Balt. 

On Aug 17, 2014, at 2:06 PM, David Stoltz < sportscinema at earthlink.net > wrote: 

Hi Steve, 

I finally got around to dealing with the rudder post this weekend and discovered that there does not seem to be a way to access it, except from below deck. 

I removed the floor form the rear lazaret thinking I could get to it that way...wrong (see photo). Also checked under the both cockpit benches for possible 

access. Any suggestions? 

Also, when I removed the rear lazaret floorboard I discovered a copper strip (see photo) that did not seem to connect to anything on either end, but that could be because of corrosion. Is this something that needs to be replaced and if so, does it connect to anything? 

Thanks very much. 

Best, 

David 

<photo 1.JPG> 

On Jul 27, 2014, at 7:04 PM, S Orton wrote: 

David, First look at the top of the gland and see if the gland can be tighten- should be 3 nuts. If the gland is bottomed out, just add another ring of packing- 5/16" I believe. This is the hard part, as you have to completely back off the three nuts (or bolts?) pry up the gland cap, and put in another ring of packing into the stuffing box, and tighten up the cap. When I say a ring of packing, I mean a linear piece of packing formed tightly around the rudder post and spliced together with a 45 degree cut. You are not removing the rudder post cap at the aft locker, so you don't need to worry about dropping your rudder and the upper part of the gland you are working on is above the water line. 

Good luck and as everyone will agree, this job is a bitch. Steve O (#304) 

> From: sportscinema at earthlink.net 
> Date: Sun, 27 Jul 2014 12:12:26 -0700 
> To: listserve at catalina38.org 
> Subject: [C38] steering post leak 
> 
> 
> Hi all, noticed more water than usual in the bilge after a round trip to Catalina. Discovered yesterday that it's coming in from the top of the rudder post 
> when under power. 
> 
> Questions; 
> 
> Is there a packing in there that can be replaced? 
> If so, how do I access it? 
> Is this something I can do with the boat in the water? 
> 
> Thanks, always appreciate all your help. 
> 
> David Stoltz 
> Andiamo #297 
> MDR, CA 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________ 
> Listserve mailing list 
> Listserve at catalina38.org 
> http://catalina38.org/mailman/listinfo/listserve_catalina38.org 

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David Stoltz 

Executive Producer 

310.785.9100 

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