Traditional packing should drip slowly while the shaft turns and stop drips at rest. A constant or fast drip means the packing is shot — and an unaddressed leak sinks boats at the dock.
What to Check
1
Adjust the gland nut
Snug the nut a quarter-turn at a time. Should stop the drip at rest and slow it underway.
2
Replace the packing
Flax packing should be replaced every 2–3 seasons. Modern Gore GFO packing lasts 5–7 years.
3
Worn shaft
Old packing scores the shaft. If the shaft has a groove, polishing or shaft replacement is needed.
4
Dripless seal failure
PSS, Tides, or Volvo dripless seals fail catastrophically. Bellows replacement every 6 years.
When to Call Us
Any stuffing-box leak you can't slow with adjustment needs immediate attention. We re-pack stuffing boxes and rebuild dripless seals at the dock or in haul-out.