Prop Tube Leak

[Dennis.G]

I have a bronze prop tube about 3' long between the cutlass and the stuffing box. The stuffing box is mounted on a small bulkhead below flooring. The tube is on one side of bulkhead and stuffing box on the other side. Somewhere in between water is leaking out. The bulkhead wood is soaked. The stuffing box is held in place by four 3/8" lag bolts, 1-1/2" long into the bulkhead. These bolts have lost tension due to softening of the wood. I will likely replace these with 3" long bolts to nuts on backside.

Question is what is normal way for the tube to seal to the stuffing box? Is is just a slip-in? Does it even do that? What should I expect to see in repairing this?

photo 1 is stuffing box. 2 is tube towards stern and cutlass. 3 is looking forward to the bulkhead (where stuffing box is on other side of).

Thanks much.

[Dennis.G]

here are photos