possible shaft log leak CD27

[Pam]

After replacement of the cutless bearing and prop shaft, my CD27 is leaking from somewhere way in the back near where the shaft log exits the boat.

At the dock two days ago, the leak was visible as a trickle from below the shaft log (about 1 cup accumulated in the bilge overnight). Yesterday, motoring for six hours from the boatyard to its winter slip in Seattle, I pumped at least two inches out of the bilge every hour. The rate of leaking seemed to increase with increased RPMs.

Having read previous posts about leaking shaft logs, I'm concerned that this is what's going on. The mechanic who replaced the cutless bearing had a hard time of it and used a hammer and chisel at some point. (Or it could have been leaking before he ever touched it -- I had only owned the boat for a day before I turned it over to him for engine work. But the survey didn't indicate a leak there.)

The boat is now at the Seattle branch of the same boatyard, awaiting their inspection. If it is a leaking shaft log, is the proper repair replacement with a red brass tube (per postings from various people on this board)? Or are there other repairs possible? I intend to keep this boat a long time and want to do it right.

Also, are there other possible sources of leaks that would behave this way? I've checked the through-hulls and the mechanic says he's checked all the obvious things on the prop shaft., etc., but he'll be checking them again.

Thanks for any advice.

Pam

CD27 #21 "Naupaka"
Seatle, WA



pmcall@aol.com

[Scott Ritchey]

Pam

I replaced the cutlass and repacked the shaft log on my CD27 last winter. Assuming you don't have any extra holes back there (like a bilge pump outlet), about the only things that might leak are the stuffing box, the stuffing box hose, shaft log or a crack in the rudder tube (unlikely). The shaft is only about 2 ft long and it must be removed to replace the cutlass bearing. Make sure the rubber hose between the stuffing box and shaft log is in good condition, including the hose doubled clamps. Other likely causes of a leak at the stuffing box are a bent shaft, a scored shaft, a misaligned engine(not aligned with shaft), or a misadjusted stuffing box. A properly adjusted stuffing box should not leak when the shaft is not turning and should drip slowly (maybe 5-15 drops per minute) while turning. Look over the top of the engine with a good flashlight (off to one side or the other) to see the drips.

I'd recommend checking the hose and hose clamps first. Then check the alignment and stuffing box adjustment. You can do these checks with the boat in the water. Also, you can manually rotate the shaft to see if it turns true. The stuffing box should not appear to move when the shaft rotates (if it does, the shaft is bent).

With luck, maybe you only need the stuffing box adjusted. I recommend the dripless packing (green dog chew looking stuff). But you should have the alignment checked an any case. A misaligned shaft can break underway. If that happens, the prop shaft can slide aft and jam the rudder (bad) or miss the rudder and depart the boat completely (very very bad). If that happens a LOT of water will come in through the hole where the shaft used to be. You can also get a big leak if the stuffing box hose ruptures or the clamps fail.

The red brass tube sounds like the sutlass bearing, which should be new. The ony place you should see any dripping is the stuffing box.

After replacement of the cutless bearing and prop shaft, my CD27 is leaking from somewhere way in the back near where the shaft log exits the boat.

At the dock two days ago, the leak was visible as a trickle from below the shaft log (about 1 cup accumulated in the bilge overnight). Yesterday, motoring for six hours from the boatyard to its winter slip in Seattle, I pumped at least two inches out of the bilge every hour. The rate of leaking seemed to increase with increased RPMs.

Having read previous posts about leaking shaft logs, I'm concerned that this is what's going on. The mechanic who replaced the cutless bearing had a hard time of it and used a hammer and chisel at some point. (Or it could have been leaking before he ever touched it -- I had only owned the boat for a day before I turned it over to him for engine work. But the survey didn't indicate a leak there.)

The boat is now at the Seattle branch of the same boatyard, awaiting their inspection. If it is a leaking shaft log, is the proper repair replacement with a red brass tube (per postings from various people on this board)? Or are there other repairs possible? I intend to keep this boat a long time and want to do it right.

Also, are there other possible sources of leaks that would behave this way? I've checked the through-hulls and the mechanic says he's checked all the obvious things on the prop shaft., etc., but he'll be checking them again.

Thanks for any advice.

Pam

CD27 #21 "Naupaka"
Seatle, WA

RitcheyVS@aol.com

[Pam]

Thanks for this helpful description. The mechanic (and I) will be looking at all of these things. The cutless bearing, hose, clamps, and prop shaft are all new. The stuffing box was repacked by the mechanic, who adjusted it and made sure the shaft was aligned. But he'll be double-checking it now.

To clarify about the red brass tube: According to some posts I've come across in the archives, this is a replacement for a broken shaft log. The fiberglass shaft log is cut out of the boat to accomplish this repair. I'm trying to figure out whether this is the preferred repair method, if it does turn out that the shaft log itself is cracked/leaking.

Thanks again for the information.

Pam

Pam

I replaced the cutlass and repacked the shaft log on my CD27 last winter. Assuming you don't have any extra holes back there (like a bilge pump outlet), about the only things that might leak are the stuffing box, the stuffing box hose, shaft log or a crack in the rudder tube (unlikely). The shaft is only about 2 ft long and it must be removed to replace the cutlass bearing. Make sure the rubber hose between the stuffing box and shaft log is in good condition, including the hose doubled clamps. Other likely causes of a leak at the stuffing box are a bent shaft, a scored shaft, a misaligned engine(not aligned with shaft), or a misadjusted stuffing box. A properly adjusted stuffing box should not leak when the shaft is not turning and should drip slowly (maybe 5-15 drops per minute) while turning. Look over the top of the engine with a good flashlight (off to one side or the other) to see the drips.

I'd recommend checking the hose and hose clamps first. Then check the alignment and stuffing box adjustment. You can do these checks with the boat in the water. Also, you can manually rotate the shaft to see if it turns true. The stuffing box should not appear to move when the shaft rotates (if it does, the shaft is bent).

With luck, maybe you only need the stuffing box adjusted. I recommend the dripless packing (green dog chew looking stuff). But you should have the alignment checked an any case. A misaligned shaft can break underway. If that happens, the prop shaft can slide aft and jam the rudder (bad) or miss the rudder and depart the boat completely (very very bad). If that happens a LOT of water will come in through the hole where the shaft used to be. You can also get a big leak if the stuffing box hose ruptures or the clamps fail.

The red brass tube sounds like the sutlass bearing, which should be new. The ony place you should see any dripping is the stuffing box.

After replacement of the cutless bearing and prop shaft, my CD27 is leaking from somewhere way in the back near where the shaft log exits the boat.

At the dock two days ago, the leak was visible as a trickle from below the shaft log (about 1 cup accumulated in the bilge overnight). Yesterday, motoring for six hours from the boatyard to its winter slip in Seattle, I pumped at least two inches out of the bilge every hour. The rate of leaking seemed to increase with increased RPMs.

Having read previous posts about leaking shaft logs, I'm concerned that this is what's going on. The mechanic who replaced the cutless bearing had a hard time of it and used a hammer and chisel at some point. (Or it could have been leaking before he ever touched it -- I had only owned the boat for a day before I turned it over to him for engine work. But the survey didn't indicate a leak there.)

The boat is now at the Seattle branch of the same boatyard, awaiting their inspection. If it is a leaking shaft log, is the proper repair replacement with a red brass tube (per postings from various people on this board)? Or are there other repairs possible? I intend to keep this boat a long time and want to do it right.

Also, are there other possible sources of leaks that would behave this way? I've checked the through-hulls and the mechanic says he's checked all the obvious things on the prop shaft., etc., but he'll be checking them again.

Thanks for any advice.

Pam

CD27 #21 "Naupaka"
Seatle, WA

pmcall@aol.com

[Islandboy]

Ahoy Pam, I know it has been a long time since your original post but if you are still active on this site I would be most interested to hear what the final outcome was re the cause of leakage. Was it a damaged shaft log??
I am in the middle of this same project of changing out the cutlass bearing on Philly Girl my CD-22D and am trying to cover all the bases.