Rudder Packing Gland Concerns - Pearson 424

[pma_foyl]

Good morning,
I'm having some concerns about the rudder packing gland on my Pearson 424. I recently noticed a tiny amount of water coming from the top of the gland (maybe a drop every 10 or 20 seconds) where the rudder shaft comes out.

I'm wondering a few things:
1) Do I need to tighten the gland? Is it a concern to have a tiny amount of water coming out?? For all I know, it's been this way for a long time. And, after not adjusting it for a decade, I'm a little worried, I could make it worse by adjusting it.

2) Can someone tell me about the nut configuration? I believe it's the "packing nut" on top and the "lock nut" below... but I'm not sure. Any insight on the process would be appreciated.

3) Does a small leak mean (or require) that I redo the packing material? Or is this really just an adjustment/tightening of the nut??

I appreciate your help. Thanks.

[Bellinghamster]

It'd be helpful if you could post a picture, but if it's got a big nut and a locknut on a threaded tube around the rudder post then almost surely a "traditional" packing gland.
Compressing the packing by turning the nut downward (after backing off the locknut) will improve the seal with reasonably low risk of making it worse. Even "rotten" packing will be squeezed tighter. Put replacing the packing on the to-do list for your next haulout.

See https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...nut-75525.html for a discussion

Hold the big nut while backing off the locknut and don't go gorilla on it. (Try to put minimal torque on the rudder tube). Start with 1/6 of a turn "down" of the packing nut, tighten the lock, move the rudder full-stop both ways a few times and check the leak. Repeat until satisfied, but be sure the rudder still turns freely. The packing should impart almost no discernable rotational friction on the rudder shaft.