How to get to stuffing box

[rollo_cd26]

HELP me. I am a slim 6'5" tall, access to the stuffing box on a CD-26D is almost nil. What were they thinking? How do I get in there, batteries on one side, fuel tank on other? Hire a midget? Pull engine? Cut cockpit floor? No quarter berth access to go through. Seriously, there is little room to do this and hard to get there. The boat is out of the water for 4 years and no way to test if the packing leaks, last report was few drips, no leaks. I have been all over the Compass Marine Projects site looking at how to repack.

[Russell]

If hell does indeed exist, I believe that boat designers and boat builders and destined to spend their eternities stuffed into the cramped maintenance spaces they created.... under the cockpit behind the engine will be a common one.

Sorry I cannot offer any helpful advice, I assume squeezing over the top of the engine is not an option? Take a good look at the engine, sometimes there is parts you can remove to make it easier without having to remove it entirely (exhaust risers, heat exchangers, hoses, etc...).

When the people who made my radar arch came to install it, I asked how they were going to get into the starboard cockpit locker to fasten the one bolt that was going to end up in there, they were big guys. Their response "oh we have a special tool for that mon, is okay." I was perplexed, imagining a system of mirrors in addition to an oddly shaped rachet set. Well about 30min later a scrawny 12 year old kid shows up and they point to him and say "See, deres our special tool" then stuffed the poor kid in the locker, well stuffed isnt correct, he fit with ease (I dont think Trinidad has strict child labor laws).

[Cathy Monaghan]

I have a some old foam padding that used to be used beneath a sleeping bag while camping. It's only about a 1/2 thick so I fold it in thirds and place it directly on top of the engine. Then I slither into the engine compartment from the base of the companionway and lay on top of the engine. I'm not saying it's easy, but that's the best way for me. Now I've got a CD32 and there isn't a battery or tank in there to contend with, so maybe there's more room to move around on our boat, but there isn't much. Anyway, if you can find a foam stadium cushion or something similar, it may make it easier for you.

-Cathy
CD32 Realization, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay

[rollo_cd26]

Hiring a 12 yr old maybe the only option. I can just barely get inside the battery locker and kinda wriggle into the opening under the cockpit, but I am afraid that I better take a cell phone to call for the fire department to extract me from this place so close to hell. Crawling over the engine is not possible as there is barely 10 inches between the hard top of the engine and the companion way. I would still have to remove the muffler and exhaust hoses etc. Maybe it will never leak?! Maybe never look there again and it will be alright.

[Russell]

Really any hole in the boat in my opinion should be readily accessable in an instant. I couldnt live with the arrangement you have, sudden failure with no way to access the failure spot for emergency repairs would scare me.

Perhaps making an access hatch in the quarterberth is a good idea. My CD36 has one there and when I had the old perkins engine it was very useful (no normal human could fit over the engine, much like your situation). With my new engine I can fit over the engine so dont use the quartberth hatch often, basicly only when the engine is too hot to lay on from recent running.

Cutting a hatch and installing some barrel bolts to hold it in place should be a quick and easy project well worth doing.

Being you have such a rare model CD you might have trouble finding out what others do on the 26D to access the stuffing box.

[Russell]

I realized after posting that last message that perhaps the 26D does not have a quarterberth, I just looked at the line drawing and that does seem to be the case. That makes your problem even trickier. My 36 also has the access via the locker, and on a boat 10' bigger and me being smaller then you, I have trouble getting through there on my boat, I can imagine why it might be a concern getting stuck there.

Really I guess the dream solution would be a partially removable cockpit floor with a water tight seal. I have seen many boats who have this for engine access. But retrofitting such a thing would not be simple and likely very costly to do it right.

I dont know what to tell you other then, that sucks.

[Joe Myerson]

Hi Rollo:

I've got a 25D--and I'm not sure if our boats are similar or not.

I can access the stuffing box by removing a bulkhead in the port cockpit locker. It's very tight, and I have to put down some kind of padding before stretching out to get back there, but it is barely possible.

Of course I'm a relatively thin 5-foot six. But with my shorter arms, it is a painful stretch. After too much time in that locker, I end up calling the chiropractor.

Good luck,

--Joe

[JWSutcliffe]

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.

[rollo_cd26]

"I dont know what to tell you other then, that sucks."

Yes, it does! Amazing but true, it sucks.

My CD-26D has a cut-through on both sides of the bulkhead under the cockpit floor, port and starboard that are aligned. It looks like this painful descent into the nether world was a planned and anticipated means of torture for the rare owner of the rare 26D. I can see the stuffing box, squirt it with PB blaster, but can't imagine working down there. It will be like a trip to the moon, life support, take everything you possibly need, plan for an emergency, hope the place does not explode or catch fire. The best advice I saw in the archives was to remove or wire open the locker door, that would reallys suck if I was down in there and it went shut! I suppose everyone reading this will want to read the report, with pictures, of this "journey to the center of the boat".

BTW, while I'm there would it not be a good time to replace that hose thing and the bolts for the shaft coupling?

[Joe Myerson]

The best advice I saw in the archives was to remove or wire open the locker door, that would reallys suck if I was down in there and it went shut!

Just ask Associate Member Bob Emmons about the joys of getting locked into your cockpit locker (or look up the thread).

I keep a piece of braided nylon line attached to the hasp of the port cockpit locker (the only one that a human being can fit into on the 25D), and I tie the locker open every time I crawl in there.

I also carry my cell phone with me, since I'm almost always working on the boat alone. If I were trapped inside, I could always call 911, or something.

Good luck!

--Joe

[David Patterson]

Recently, while working alone on my CD25D, I contemplated the possibility of getting locked in while working on the thru-hull in the port cockpit locker. My fear-reduction was accomplished by locking the padlock onto the open hasp, which keeps the hasp from closing and latching (it IS spring-loaded). Then I just propped the lid open with whatever was handy. I was secure knowing that if the lid ever did drop because of a loose knot or some random happening, my locked-open hasp would save the day. I also took my cell phone. Should have had a bottle of water too.

[Dean Abramson]

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.

Skip, please send me your son's phone number.

[Russell]

Indeed tying open the locker to prevent accidental closeure is a must do especially if working alone. Ideally you have someone present though because it is inevitable that once you spend 20min squeezing yourself in there you will find you forgot some needed tool, its nice to have someone hand you want you forgot then have to squeeze back out and start over.

[jcmacleod]

Does the cd26 have the ysm8 yanmar?I just sold my cd27 which had that engine, and the best way is to get some kind of cushioning to lay on top of the engine. Put a cushion at the bottom of the engine compartment on the bottom lip that the engine cover slides over, to support your knees. Then put your arms out straight ahead of you (with tools in hand) and slide over the top of the engine arms first. Lay on the engine . Now you are supported by your knees and on top of the engine. Once in that position you can now reach the coupling,stuffing box and shaft log without straining to hold that position. You can work comfortably. To get out ,just extend your arms in front and slide out backwards. It works if it is a ysm8. Have done it several times. Good luck(Be prepared to fish a couple tools out of the bilge. Even though you tell yourself , "dont drop tools" you always do.
John

[JWSutcliffe]

Dean, if any of my engine mounts fail tomorrow when we try to align the driveline I am probably just going to leave him in the engine compartment out of sheer frustration, so his phone number won't help.