3607 rudder removal

[gmac98004]

Hi Gang,

I’ve been tracking all of the “Rudder Packing” and “Water in Bilge” threads that have been posted over the last few years.

I have a 1998 355 Aft Cabin with no air conditioning. Here are a few of my facts:
1. Water pools up in aft cabin bilge (under bilge pump location).
2. Water pools up on galley bilge location (also under bilge pump location).
3. Water seems to be salty.
4. No leaks noticeable under water heater.
5. Water pump doesn’t cycle on/off. (thanks to all of you for helping me replace that bugger!)
6. In April had port rudder packing replaced while out of water. The packing was almost all dissolved.
7. Stbd rudder packing was too difficult to access but the mechanic did “tighten” it.

So, after that scenario in April, I still have some water coming into these bilges and would like to re-tighten both port and stbd rudder packing nuts and eliminate that as the possible culprit.

Can someone please tell me how best to access the stbd rudder packing nuts? Took off the counter top and the drawer of aft cabin cabinet but need at least another 6” of reach. Am I missing something obvious? Or maybe there is a great tool that can solve this situation?

Thanks for all of your wonderful help!

Be Safe, Greg

[Viper]

Greg, have you also ruled out the shaft logs? If they're original and not dripless, it is normal for them to leak periodically when static and more so while underway.

[km1125]

Source of the post Hi Gang,

I’ve been tracking all of the “Rudder Packing” and “Water in Bilge” threads that have been posted over the last few years.

I have a 1998 355 Aft Cabin with no air conditioning. Here are a few of my facts:
1. Water pools up in aft cabin bilge (under bilge pump location).
2. Water pools up on galley bilge location (also under bilge pump location).
3. Water seems to be salty.
4. No leaks noticeable under water heater.
5. Water pump doesn’t cycle on/off. (thanks to all of you for helping me replace that bugger!)
6. In April had port rudder packing replaced while out of water. The packing was almost all dissolved.
7. Stbd rudder packing was too difficult to access but the mechanic did “tighten” it.

So, after that scenario in April, I still have some water coming into these bilges and would like to re-tighten both port and stbd rudder packing nuts and eliminate that as the possible culprit.

Can someone please tell me how best to access the stbd rudder packing nuts? Took off the counter top and the drawer of aft cabin cabinet but need at least another 6” of reach. Am I missing something obvious? Or maybe there is a great tool that can solve this situation?

Thanks for all of your wonderful help!

Be Safe, Greg

You really should start a new thread on this, or it's going to get very confusing. The title is "3607 Rudder Removal" and you're talking about packings on a 355. You'll probably get more/better responses.