New member, have a question/problem

So happy to have access to this Forum, its a great resource. I have had a 38 Egg and smaller cruise boats in past years. I am a Va Commercial Watermen, own an oyster farm, and starting to slow down to cruise more. So, I am not new to boating.

First off, a little about the boat. We bought it in August this year after looking for a year. We boat in the Chesapeake Bay and bought the boat from Knot10 Yacht sales, $845000 with Crusader 454XLs with 330 hrr, 130 hrs on 8KW Kohler generator. Very very low hours and structurally, mechanically and cosmetically near perfect, Surveyor said its 1 in a 100, he is the primary surveyor from Prince William Marine in Woodbridge, Va . Only survey issues were halon need recertifying and engine intake hoses need replaced. We have put 40 hrs on her since purchase cruising, only issue has been the generator belt broke. Easy fix, I run the engines easy, 2000 rpm mainly 10-11 mph

Now my new problem. Starboard shaft log dripping, 50 drips a minute which I think is too much, I pump out about 3 gals a day. Port is fine. I assume with the low hours that they have never been repacked. The leaking one is really really locked tight and may need to be heated. With cost to haul a given I am considering installing new dripless seals. access is so tight

Questions/opinions are:

Repack existing shaft seals or go dripless?

How to get better access. Only open access to the leaking one is via the small hatch in the cabinet under Master Stateroom TV. So limited. One young man, one arm in the hole. Do the steps come up easily.

What about the port shaft access? How can I get better access to that

Thanks to all who read this and those who advise. Mike Lightfoot