Stuffing box

[Fishbust]

Hi all,

2002 320 Catalina I bought this boat last summer, packing leaking, old, adjustment bottomed out....

My first inboard. I removed old packing, cleaned and then installed new packing, white ptfe, 3/16”, 3 rings offsetting every 3rd, adjusted only hand tight (maybe just one flat) thinking it would leak like a siv so I could adjust it in the water but it doesn’t leak at all. I was told it should leak 2 drops a minute running.

Been a month, used boat half a dozen times. I check it after motoring back to mooring each time....no leak not wet, warm but not hot. I take a temp reading on it and it is always just under 20 degrees above sea water temp.

My first packing job and this is not what I expected. Is something wrong here or something right?

[Compass790]

Sounds good to me, as long as it doesn't get too hot you'll be ok.
I think the necessity for dripping was pre PTFE packing but I'm not a stuffing box expert.
Ran a boat like that for about 7 years with no issues.

[Sailmonkey]

It’s normal. Providing it’s not getting too hot to touch you’re OK.