How to get to stuffing box

[SurryMark]

I'm pretty sure I saw aluminum hatches at Hamilton a couple of days ago, including a round one in white aluminum. I think the starting price was about $400, but there have been times when I thought I was literally giving an arm and a leg to reach something down there.
Hamilton's website could use an access hatch itself, but search for hatch, scroll down through a bunch of plastic ones to get to the Bomar cast aluminum.

[Duncan]

Mark,

I was actually looking for the Bomar cast aluminum access hatches that you see on a lot of workboats.

I know Hamilton used to sell them--but they don't seem to have 'em any more.

Apparently the plastic models are not strong enough to replace the aluminum products.

Sorry for the inadequate links.

--Joe

Hi Joe
I've seen a cockpit hatch made by Anchor Hatches on a Friendship Sloop down your way, and it was a beauty. I think most of their business is workboats, as you mention.

The hatch was about 20" square, and he had ordered through from someone in Fairhaven, MA, for $400.

I'm pretty sure that Tim Lackey of Northern Yacht Restoration used one of those Bomar plastic hatches, but I can't find it on his site. I just remember it had two latches and didn't look like it suited the boat.

[mike ritenour]

Many years ago I installed a 24", aluminum, single throw, four dog hatch in LaVida's cockpit deck and it has proved invaluable.

If you search for "cockpit hatch?", you should find the thread on it.

Tod Mills posted pics of me inside the "engine room", something that could not be accomplished with out the hatch.

It has been one of the most important modifications I have made on LaVida in my 20+ years of sailing her.

Rit

[Dean Abramson]

I am watching this thread morph into one about installing custom hatches in cockpit soles.

While that is no doubt a great addition on many boats for many reasons, I think that doing that merely to access a stuffing box is perhaps a bit of overkill. If you can't get to it, Rollo, just hire a little guy who can.

You might not have to adjust it again for years.

Installing a hatch would be expensive and perhaps problematic. I really don't think you need to do this. Just IMHO.

Dean

[Joe Myerson]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the info on finding rugged hatches for the cockpit sole.

I was just posting those links (somewhat faulty) for Rollo's benefit.

While I've seen a pic of Rit in his "engine room," I'm not looking for such a hatch myself. I'm with Dean on this one--and I'm not an especially large person, so I know I can reach deep into the bowels of my boat.

Back to Rollo's original question: With some stretching, and possibly help from another pair of hands, you should be able to get to that stuffing box.

Sorry if I shifted this thread away from Rollo's original question.

Oh, BTW, I'm sure if you telephoned Hamilton, somebody there would have found the item I was seeking. That'd probably work with Jamestown, too.

Best,

--Joe

[mike ritenour]

Dean and Joe,

I agree that unless it's necessary, a hatch in the cockpit is overkill and if you install the wrong hatch, could be problematic.

However, since I take LaVida offshore and remote ports, access was very important to me.

On LaVida the hatch gives access to the:
stuffing box
steering quadrant and sheeves
rudder post packing gland
top of fuel tank
transmission
rear of engine
throttle and shift cables
seacocks
wiring for the pedestal electronics
raw water intake

Without it I would have extremely limited access with my 200#, 6' frame.

It was a life saver when we lost our transmission on the remote shore of Newfoundland.

We had to replace it TWICE (many thanks, once again, after all these years, to Dick and Tod for their help in Port Aux Basque) and if we didn't have the hatch, it would have been a complete engine pull out.

Fair Winds,
Rit

[SurryMark]

I posted because I've thought about a hatch myself. I asked Jamestown Distributors if their $112 Bomar is water tight and suitable, and got this reply:

Access Hatch by Bomar
Features:
Black, White, or Off White
Molded of high impact UV stable polypropylene
Clean textured lid
Low profile for floor mounting
No screws visible from the exterior
180 degree opening
Strong lid with support bars
Double gasket for optimum sealing
New patented easy opening, easy closing slam latch standard
I don’t have any rating information but these are used as cockpit hatches.

Jack Mann
Tech Support
800-423-0030

[rollo_cd26]

What a wealth it is having the deans of sailing lore weigh in on this subject. Thank you all!

I am anticipating a test run tomorrow into the depths of stuffing box gehenna just to see if I can get there. I have my spelunking cap ready to go and I am ready to dismantle the locker covers, and remove the batteries to get in there. Uh oh, the previous owner installed a propane locker aft of the diesel tank, there another obstacle.

One more question, is it possible to test the integrity of the packing while on the hard? It seems the head pressure of a few feet of water could not be duplicated. Can I engage the transmission and rotate the shaft out of the water as well?

[Cathy Monaghan]

I am in the process of replacing my prop shaft and installing a PSS dripless seal. At 6'1"/250 I tried in vain to gain access like Cathy describes, but all I can get in is one arm and my head. Access through my cockpit lockers is worse. My solution has been to coax my somewhat smaller son to crawl in and do the inside work. Not ideal, but its the only thing that has worked for me.

Good luck with yours.

Hi Jim,

When I slither over the engine, the first part of me to enter is my arms. You kinda have to "dive" in, arms first. It aint easy, but I can do it. So can Bruce. But maybe our CD32 has a little more room over the engine than your 31, I don't know. And before wedging myself in there I open the access panel in the quarter berth and set some of the tools I'll need there such that I can reach them.

-Cathy

[rollo_cd26]

Well I went there today. Not easy. I mention yoga as a preparation, you will need to practice "obidient child" pose for a year before trying this. I tied the locker lid back, placed a foam mat on the innner hull, and slid in twisting my 6'5" 240 frame into a corkscrew to clear the lip of the locker and the battery shelf. Not as bad as I thought to get there. On my elbows I laid hands on the stuffing box expecting to need wrenches. No, it was not even finger tight! OMG, imagine the boat sinking drip by drip. BTW, the boat is in the dry in a big building. I discovered that I have about 1/3 inch when the packet nut is backed off to get the packing out and in, too little. Who at Cape Dory taught of this? I decided to probe around and see how "deep" the existing packing is, maybe 1/2 to 3/4 inches. How to get it out? I have thought about making some room by withdrawing the prop shaft about 3 inches to slip off the packing nut. Not much shaft to work with. I decide to stop and think, liberal amounts of gin and tonic are called for.