NSW
2711 posts
I had an interesting incident on Sunday. Took the boat for a couple of hours test run on the newly rebuilt engine. I checked the bilge regularly for the first hour and a half and as it was dry I stopped checking. I got back to the mooring and the bilge had a few litres in it.
I found a leak from the rear end of the stern gland between the rubber tube/boot and the stern tube, the opposite end from the gland, quite fast at about 2-3 litres an hour. It was clearly coming from this join as the shaft slopes down and the rest of the gland was bone dry.
I left a message for the boatyard owner to be ready to have it lifted on Monday morning. He was at the yard so I motored down, about 20 minutes.
I expected that the vibration on the run to the marina would make the leak worse.
Got down there and there was no sign of a leak. Stopped completely, bone dry. Ran the engine in the pen in neutral and reverse, no leak.
I had kept the bucket with half an hours worth of water in it or he would have thought (had it confirmed) I was stupid.
I couldn't leave the boat with the possibility of the leak starting again so have had to slip the boat to check the stern tube, replace the rubber boot and reclamp it.
I have only ever had leaks get worse. Not stop on their own for no reason.
????
NSW
2140 posts
I guess the real problem with leaks that stop of their own volition is that they are just as likely to start leaking again of their volition.
NSW
2711 posts
While these issues are annoying if I sold this S&S34 I would never get a boat as well set up. If you haven't sailed one of these boats you probably wouldn't understand how brilliant they are under sail. It always brings a smile.
The gland has been overhauled and all appears good. I only briefly thought that as the leak had stopped I would leave it. It leaked for a reason, even if it isn't obvious, so could have started again at any time. Touch wood it won't need to go back to the yard for a couple of years.
NSW
190 posts
Is it possible that the shaft may have picked up some material got out of balanced causing excess vibrations, then shaken it off ?
NSW
2711 posts
G'day Keith,
Possible but not likely. While there was a bit of vibration when I first took it away from the yard it disappeared after a minute or so and I ran it for another 1.5 to 2 hours before the leak started. The leak was from a spot that should have been sealed regardless. It also doesn't explain why the leak stopped of its own accord.
If vibration was the culprit the new tube, longer than the one replaced and better clamped, should solve it.
