Please advise on repair HELP

[Bankerbiz87]

Unable to get a good boat mechanic in our area we are going to attempt replace the packing in stuffing box we have water coming on the star board side. How many packing swill we need and where can we purchase parts for our 1982 Carver Mariner 28ft. Any information will be appreciated! Thank you !

[Lyndon670]

Did you attempt to tighten your existing packing? You are going to need to know the size of your packing, but any good marina parts department should have it in stock. It is suppose to leak water to keep the shaft lubricated....how much is it leaking?

[My Jurisdiction]

Any marine store carry the packing. It is 1/25 for my boat. It only takes 3 inches of the packing. I have a 3007 aft cabin 82'. I have twin 305 220 crusaders. The packing was .99 a foot. Be careful loosing the brass nut. And if the Nutt won't retread you will have to the shaft from the trans. I had to have my engines realigned this past winter. I hope this helps My Jurisdiction.

[Viper]

Unless it's been done in the past and chances are you won't know, I'd start a new reference point and remove all the existing packing and replace with new. Make yourself a thin sturdy pick that's hooked on the end by no more than 90 deg for pulling the old packing out.

Cut 3 strands for each side. I like cutting the ends at a 45 deg angle so they mate together when installed. Prepare all the strands before you get started by fitting to the shaft between the log and coupler, and cut for a snug fit without leaving a gap between the two ends.

When you have 3 cut for one side, undo the nut and start picking out the old packing. Ensure your bilge pumps are functional as you will get some water coming in during this process but it is completely manageable so no reason to panic. You can also tie a rag around the shaft at the log to slow the water a bit.

Install each section into the packing nut but stagger them so the ends aren't in the same spot. I stagger the joints at about 12, 4 and 8 o'clock. Install the packing nut hand tight, then tighten until you have a drip once every few minutes and stop. DON'T be tempted to tighten until it doesn't drip anymore. Take her out for a spin, have someone take the wheel while you take a look and ensure everything is okay. When you get back to shore, chances are she will be leaking more. Again, tighten only enough so that it leaks once every few minutes, this is normal. You must not overtighten or you will overheat the packing and log. Next time you go out, take a temp IR gun with you and shoot the log. It shouldn't be much higher under way than at rest. If it is, it's too tight.

I'd monitor now after the next few runs and repeat the tightening process if needed, then you should be good to go.

[Lyndon670]

Well explained Viper!

There also is a new packing material available that is apparently all the rage - I'm not certain but it may be teflon based.

[mjk1040]

I would try tightening the packing first. Now in our '86 Mariner 32 we had V drives. The starboard packing is left handed threads! Lyndon is correct, the newer packing material have Teflon in them and are better IMO. If you really need to replace the packing's, Viper has given you the best instructions you will get. You may have to take one of the old pieces of packing out to get the correct packing size for your application. If you have the original manuals, you should be able to look up the packing size. It's shame you can't find a good mechanic in your area, I'm fortunate to know a mechanic that has worked on Carvers for 30 years and knows Carvers inside and out and another mechanic that has worked on boats all his life and both are a wealth of knowledge. Good luck! Mike

[Viper]

I should add, if you don't have a very sharp utility knife, don't bother trying to cut the packing, you'll just make a mess of the ends. If you can't get a good clean diagonal cut, make a straight cut. Better to have a good straight cut than a poor, frayed diagonal cut.

I think you have V-Drives so the task will be a real pain.

[Bankerbiz87]

Do you know what size packing for 1982 Carver Mariner

[bud37]

That looks like a buck algonquin type, I believe it is important that they be adjusted just so there is even pressure on each side of the gland.....I might try loosening it up and then tightening slowly and evenly, it may be that it is crooked and applying too much pressure on one side....sorry don't remember the packing size....