New Stuffing box Beneteau Oceanis leaking

[X-Five]

Hello everyone,

Our stuffing box was replaced in Lavrion, on the way back to Preveza we discovered quite late that it was leaking during long engine journeys. Now the boat is in Prevesa / Ionion and there they are at a loss as to how to get to the stuffing box and what the cause could be.
Does anyone have a tip?
Thanks!
Peter

[ferdinand191]

Have you tried tightening the packing nut until the leak stops? If that doesn't work, you might need to replace the packing. Also, make sure the shaft is properly aligned and the box is securely fastened.

[carstenb]

Originally Posted by X-Five

Hello everyone,

Our stuffing box was replaced in Lavrion, on the way back to Preveza we discovered quite late that it was leaking during long engine journeys. Now the boat is in Prevesa / Ionion and there they are at a loss as to how to get to the stuffing box and what the cause could be.
Does anyone have a tip?
Thanks!
Peter

Probably not gonna help you, but your shaft seal is probably a Volvo dripless. Same as we have on our Jeanneau. Open the engine compartment and look at the back where the shaft is coupled to the gearbox. Looking a little further back you should see the seal.

It is possible to change this while the boat is still in the water. We did, here is a video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OujEKCeaTqs

When replacing, the new shaft seal should be heavily greased. Volvos usually last 800-1000 engine hours. They should be regreased every 3-400 hours.
Get a straw, cut it down to half size, fill the straw with grease, slide the mashed end of the straw under the seal edge and push the grease into the seal. Give it a lot of grease

best of luck and best to do the seal change where there are no crocodiles

[pcmm]

Originally Posted by X-Five

Hello everyone,

Our stuffing box was replaced in Lavrion, on the way back to Preveza we discovered quite late that it was leaking during long engine journeys. Now the boat is in Prevesa / Ionion and there they are at a loss as to how to get to the stuffing box and what the cause could be.
Does anyone have a tip?
Thanks!
Peter

Who ever "they" is. If they can't find the stuffing box, get another contractor! its pretty easy. Just follow the shaft from the transmission back in the boat until you see the stuffing box! its not entirely unusual for a brand new stufing box to leak as the new packing needs to bed down and seat. Just crack the lock nut and turn the packing nut until the water just stops when at rest. Tighten the lock nut and you're done.

[X-Five]

I'm sorry, I didn't express myself clearly enough. I know how to get to the stuffing box, which is necessary to lubricate and bleed it after watering. But this approach requires long arms. We have a seawater lubricated Volvo Penta stuffing box that was recently replaced. Previously there were no problems in 15 years or 1400 engine hours. I'm looking for a tip for better access to the stuffing box to check whether it's tight or replace it again.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by X-Five

I'm looking for a tip for better access to the stuffing box to check whether it's tight or replace it again.

Depends what what model Beneteau it is.

[NYSail]

The Volvo shaft seal needs to be burped when the boat is dropped into the water to get the air out. Squeeze it and you will hear the air, then water will come out. Also it needs to be greased…… but not too much as it will clog the cutlass and no water will get through to cool the shaft. As was said, use a straw and put about 1/4 to 1/2 inch of grease in, flatten the end and slid it in then squeeze the grease in as you turn the shaft.

Mine are great and do not leak and stay cool.

Good luck!

[carstenb]

Stuffing boxes ate almost always “long arm” projects. If you don’t want to do that put a phone on a selfie stick turn on the video record and stick that back in there

Cheers

[X-Five]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

Depends what what model Beneteau it is.

Oceanis 54 BJ 2009