Boating Packing the Gland

“I think I need to re-pack my stuffing box,” said Boston Bob. “I've never had so many drips.”

“How can a sailboat-er know one drip from the other,” answered Cap'n Crunch. He doesn't like sailboat-ers because he claims they force him out of the channel.

“Screw you Crunchy. I've changed the packing in many sailboats but this is somy new sailboat and I'm a little apprehensive,” said BB.

Let me give you a little background. BB's son lived in New York City, Manhattan is the expensive part, don't you know. Anyway, in 2008 he was let go from his Marketing position at a big firm. Bob expected his son to move out of Manhattan to cut his expenses but he didn't. New York unemployment being what it is, the son could have lived nicely in another part.

The kid needed money so Bob depleted his savings, took a job driving an airport taxi and finally sold his boat just so the kid could live in Manhattan. We all suspected that Mrs. BB was behind a lot of that. BB hung in there, bought a smaller sailboat. Once the kid went back to work BB moved back into a more appropriate size for a sailor of his skill but he kept dring people back and forth to the airport.

“What is so different about this gland,” I asked. He described a fairly typical gland with limited access. Since the gland tightens around the shaft to prevent water from getting past the shaft it is important to do it properly and in a timely fashion. Bob's concern was the inacceability. The previous owner was a gadget freak and crammed every toy who has more miles he could find into the engine comaprtment.

“What can you see,” asked bluewater Ben who has more miles under his keel than anone else in the club.

STAY TUNED WHILE WE GO CHECK OUT BOSTON BOB'S PACKING.....

So off we dawdled down to BB's newer sailboat for a look-see at his stuffing box. We expected to find it hidden all the way in the stern bilge and we weren't disappointed. BB and Skinny 'leen and Bluewater Ben took turns crawling into the engine. None of them came out smiling but Ben seemed to have a plan.

“Do you have a small spanner wrench or a pipe wrench we can grind the handle down? Damned tight in there,” he said.

I carried a flexible video camera in my camera bag. While BB, SE and Blue went off measuring and cutting we fixed the camera through the ventilation clam shell. I set up a monitor for our viewing pleasure.

“Don't you have a color TV,” complained Run-aground Ralph who had returned from a Doctor's appointment. It seems we all spend way to much time in appointments.

“Wouldn't matter, the color monitor would show black and white because there isn't enough light,” I defended myself. “Just like your Colonoscopy you just had, had it's own light to see such a perfect asshole.”

As the adept trio returned we could hear Bluewater Ben explaining, “We'll loosen the nut and see how much water comes in....”

They were carrying tools; two spanner wrenches, razor knives, a bent ice pick and some flax packing.

'Skinny 'leen' crawled all the way aft and checked the shaft log which carries the shaft through the hull. She took the flex camera around the tube and rubber hose and we saw the hose clamps and everything appeared in good shape.

BB carried the spanners down and held his breath while they backed out the nut. We, the rest of the “Dead End Canal Yacht Club” stood on the dock and peered at the monitor.

We could see a little water coming down but it didn't look like much. “How much water does it take to sink a sailboat,” smirked Cap'n Crunch. “Not that I want nothing bad...” A chorus of shut the f##k-up cut him off.

Anyway it got fixed and just in time for a beer. Mrs. BB came along on our happy hour and was the designated driver. Boy does the beer ever taste great after a lot of hard work especially if a sailor is buying. On this occaison I let him!

Boatguy Ed (boatguiEd@aol.com) is a manufacturer of the worlds BEST anti-fouling bottom paint,www.supershipbottom.com.

NEVER, EVER TRY TO BUY HIM A DRINK!

This blog/column is meant for educational purposes only. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Void where prohibited. Some assembly required. Do not read while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment.