dripless shaft seals and rudder ports

[Captain Jay Kavanagh]

We have got the Bite Me high and dry and are doing a little work.

one of the projects is a new Rudder port and dripless shaft seal.

I am probabling going with Tides Marine, but would appreciate any and all opinions on rudder ports and shaft seasls.

time to go crawl into a small space and undo large bolts that don't want to be undone.

[Capt.Troy Crane]

Jay,
from what the guys up this way say, I don't think you can go wrong with the Tides product. Heavy duty and built to last.

I use the Lassdrop shaft seals on my Bertram and have been very happy with the performance of them for the past four years.

It's that time again isn't it ??? like a rat in a tunnel, you gotta love the bildge work !!

Good luck,
Troy

[JD5652]

I have the PSS shaft seals that came on my boat and they have worked well over the last four years. Since the Maggie B is up on the heard this winter, I was looking at either rebuilding them or going with something different.

I have looked at the LasDrop design and the Gen II looks a little more robust. I particularly like the fact that it incorporates a brass hose barb instead of the plastic one on the PSS.

I've never heard of the Tides Marine product. It looks pretty robust as well. What's the scoop on the Tides product?

[T380Fisher]

I picked up a pair of Tides units from the guy next to me in my marina....he was repowering and had to increase his shaft size so his Tides dripless seals would not work for him any longer. I ordered new seals and stainless hose barbs and new silicon hose (basically I rebuilt both sides) and I think they are great. There is minimal alignment issues as the seal can compensate for minor alignment problems. You need to plumb water from the engines and a crossover so that both get water if one engine is not running. But I think that is common for all dripless products.

Overall, I thought they were very easy to install. Check for yourself http://www.tidesmarine.com/shaft-seals.html

[Banshee]

Jay,
Go with the tides!! Put on two extra lip seals on the shafts. You will not probably need any for the rudder seals. I think they will give a discount for being a charterboat. Their rudder bearings are the bomb as well, but pricey, but you will never ever touch them again.
JW
Ahh the love and money we show our rigs!!!!

[Captain Jay Kavanagh]

yes, am going with tides, I ordered the rudder port and bearing and will be ordering the shaft seal when I figure out what size tube.

I am having to replace the shaft tube, it is the original, bronze and it is a little eat up, Putting a fiberglass tube glassed into the boat.

"This is glue, strong stuff"
Jake Blues

[cdail28590]

I have thought about changing my shaft seals to the dripless seals. Can you post some pics of whats involved while you are working on yours?

[Capt.Troy Crane]

yes, am going with tides, I ordered the rudder port and bearing and will be ordering the shaft seal when I figure out what size tube.

I am having to replace the shaft tube, it is the original, bronze and it is a little eat up, Putting a fiberglass tube glassed into the boat.

"This is glue, strong stuff"
Jake Blues

Jay,
great idea. We did a repower job on the old Temptress (Sullivan model) last year and found the wood under and around the old bronze shaft log was in bad shape. Frenzy jumped on that project and put tubes in her along with new drippless bearings, great improvement to say the least. He had just put a tube on the "Fishing Frenzy" earlier that year and new what needed to be done.

Good luck,
Troy

[Banshee]

careful measuring of the OD of the shaft tube, removing the old stuffing box, making sure to polish the shaft where the new seal is going to ride, removing the coupling. Plumbing the seals from both engines. I Now tides marine was all this info on their site as well as last drop and PSS.
It can be an adventure, but its a boat, it will not go according to plan, there is a fubar lurking.
JW

[Captain Jay Kavanagh]

Jay,
great idea. We did a repower job on the old Temptress (Sullivan model) last year and found the wood under and around the old bronze shaft log was in bad shape. Frenzy jumped on that project and put tubes in her along with new drippless bearings, great improvement to say the least. He had just put a tube on the "Fishing Frenzy" earlier that year and new what needed to be done.

Good luck,
Troy

How did you get th old bronze ones out, we are stuck.

Gonna put the big come a long and the blue wrench on it tommorow.