Re: [Cal_Boats] Re: Cal 39 stuffing box(Wilkie)

David, You must be a contortionist(sp?). When it came time for new packing in my 29 I decided to do the PYI dripless seal. It was easier to remove the stuffing box and put the new seal in than to change out the packing. Did that 5 years ago, and have not had 1 problem since. And no dripping. You do need to keep an eye on the rubber bellows, I have heard one story that said it got ripped and leaked. I have friends who have done the same and nobody has had a problem with the PYI seal. But we're in fresh water with a five month season. Regards, David Dobbs Cal29 411 From: Wilkie <wi… [at] mariposasailing.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 10:52:14 AM Subject: RE: [Cal_Boats] Re: Cal 39 stuffing box It is a real struggle, but you'd be surprised at how little a gap you need to R&R the packing. I bought one of the little screw-hook tools expressly designed for this purpose. Was pleasantly surprised that West Marine still stocked them in my local store. David Wilkie Owen ____________ _____ Cal 2-29 "Mariposa" Santa Barbara, CA http://www.mariposa sailing.com From: Cal_Boats@yahoogrou ps.com [mailto:Cal_ Boats@yahoogroup s.com] On Behalf Of C. Peter Audet Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 8:27 AM To: Cal Yahoo Subject: [Cal_Boats] Re: Cal 39 stuffing box Walter, That's my concern: it doesn't look like there is enough room to back off the nut and slip the material in place. I suspect my solution will be related to our leaking rear transmission seal. I may pull the shaft back out of the way of the tranny and add the packing material at the same time. I REALLY hope that tightening the nut will do the trick. The fellow we rent our mooring from is going to try that. We didn't discover the problem until the day before we left for home, when I removed the generator muffler which completely obscured the stuffing box. Re-locating the muffler just got added to the "to do" list! :-) Carlos' comment about moving the engine could be a blessing in disguise (trying to be positive here), good time to change the engine mounts? Peter "Bribon" ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

David, I'm 6' 1" and about 225, so it is a squeeze. It's all about having one of those throwable boat cushions under your chest. It helps to have another set of hands (also with a boat cushion) to back off the packing nut if it's really tight. It's actually more mentally challenging than actually challenging. Once you've done it, you know how and it's a pretty easy task from then on. The gap to maneuver the little cork screw tool was not large, but once I made the commitment to go after it, it came out pretty easy. The "tool" is flexible. I've heard many good things about the PYI. On the other hand, I don't have any problem maintaining my flax packing. It's a proven system since the beginning of auxiliaries. If it fails I can replace it in the water without much drama. It drips about once every few minutes when it's idle and about twice a minute when it's running. I probably get more condensation inside than shaft water. David _____ From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of david dobbs Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 7:24 PM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Re: Cal 39 stuffing box(Wilkie) David, You must be a contortionist(sp?). When it came time for new packing in my 29 I decided to do the PYI dripless seal. It was easier to remove the stuffing box and put the new seal in than to change out the packing. Did that 5 years ago, and have not had 1 problem since. And no dripping. You do need to keep an eye on the rubber bellows, I have heard one story that said it got ripped and leaked. I have friends who have done the same and nobody has had a problem with the PYI seal. But we're in fresh water with a five month season. Regards, David Dobbs Cal29 411 From: Wilkie <wi… [at] mariposasailing.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 10:52:14 AM Subject: RE: [Cal_Boats] Re: Cal 39 stuffing box It is a real struggle, but you'd be surprised at how little a gap you need to R&R the packing. I bought one of the little screw-hook tools expressly designed for this purpose. Was pleasantly surprised that West Marine still stocked them in my local store. David Wilkie Owen ____________ _____ Cal 2-29 "Mariposa" Santa Barbara, CA http://www.mariposa sailing.com <http://www.mariposasailing.com/> _____ From: Cal_Boats@yahoogrou ps.com <http://ps.com/> [mailto:Cal_ Boats@yahoogroup s.com <http://s.com/> ] On Behalf Of C. Peter Audet Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 8:27 AM To: Cal Yahoo Subject: [Cal_Boats] Re: Cal 39 stuffing box Walter, That's my concern: it doesn't look like there is enough room to back off the nut and slip the material in place. I suspect my solution will be related to our leaking rear transmission seal. I may pull the shaft back out of the way of the tranny and add the packing material at the same time. I REALLY hope that tightening the nut will do the trick. The fellow we rent our mooring from is going to try that. We didn't discover the problem until the day before we left for home, when I removed the generator muffler which completely obscured the stuffing box. Re-locating the muffler just got added to the "to do" list! :-) Carlos' comment about moving the engine could be a blessing in disguise (trying to be positive here), good time to change the engine mounts? Peter "Bribon" _____ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=51733/*http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8 HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ> it now.

The Cal 39 I just purchased has a newer (2000) Yanmar engine in it and it appears to be easy to get to with "plenty" of room but I'm wondering if the flax size will be the same as what you guys are using?and what that size is? Thanks - Paul West Cal 39 Wing Foot (soon to be Adventure Kwest) From: Wilkie <wi… [at] mariposasailing.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:32 am Subject: RE: [Cal_Boats] Re: Cal 39 stuffing box(Wilkie) ? ? David, ? I'm 6' 1" and about 225, so it is a squeeze.? It's all about having one of those throwable boat cushions under your chest.? It helps to have another set of hands (also with a boat cushion) to back off the packing nut if it's really tight.? It's actually more mentally challenging than actually challenging.? Once you've done it, you know how and it's a pretty easy task from then on.? The gap to maneuver the little cork screw tool was not large, but once I made the commitment to go after it, it came out pretty easy.? The "tool" is flexible. ? I've heard many good things about the PYI.? On the other hand, I don't have any problem maintaining my flax packing.? It's a proven system since the beginning of auxiliaries.?If it fails I can replace it in the water without much drama.? It drips about once every few minutes when it's idle and about twice a minute when it's running.? I probably get more condensation inside than shaft water.? ? David ? From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of david dobbs Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 7:24 PM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Re: Cal 39 stuffing box(Wilkie) David, You must be a contortionist(sp?).? When it came time for new packing in my 29 I decided to do the PYI dripless seal.? It was easier to remove the stuffing box and put the new seal in than to change out the packing.? Did that 5 years ago, and have not had 1 problem since.? And no dripping.? You do need to keep an eye on the rubber bellows, I have heard one story that said it got ripped and leaked.? I have friends who have done the same and nobody has had a problem with the PYI seal.? But we're in fresh water with a five month season. ? Regards, David Dobbs Cal29 411 ? From: Wilkie <wi… [at] mariposasailing.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 10:52:14 AM Subject: RE: [Cal_Boats] Re: Cal 39 stuffing box ? ? It is a real struggle, but you'd be surprised at how little a gap you need to R&R the packing.? I bought one of the little screw-hook tools expressly designed for this purpose.? Was pleasantly surprised that West Marine still stocked them in my local store. ? David Wilkie Owen ____________ _____ Cal 2-29 "Mariposa" Santa Barbara, CA http://www.mariposa sailing.com ? ? From: Cal_Boats@yahoogrou ps.com [mailto:Cal_ Boats@yahoogroup s.com] On Behalf Of C. Peter Audet Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 8:27 AM To: Cal Yahoo Subject: [Cal_Boats] Re: Cal 39 stuffing box Walter, That's my concern: it doesn't look like there is enough room to back off the nut and slip the material in place. I suspect my solution will be related to?our leaking rear transmission seal. I may pull the shaft back out of the way of the tranny and add the packing material at the same time. I REALLY hope that tightening the nut will do the trick. The fellow we rent our mooring from is going to try that. We didn't discover the problem until the day before we left for home, when I removed the generator muffler which completely obscured the stuffing box. Re-locating the muffler just got added to the "to do" list! :-) Carlos' comment about moving the engine could be a blessing in disguise (trying to be positive here), good time to change the engine mounts? ? Peter "Bribon" Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! - http://webmail.aol.com