Stern tube

I am installing a new 3ym30 yanmar does anyone have any info on where I could source a stern tube and drip less stuffing box ?
All the best
Jack

Fisheries Supply in Seattle has both. http://www.fisheriessupply.com
I can’t find the shaft log on their website, but it is in my old, very out of date catalog. I’ve seen they in the store recently. They’re made by Centek Industries in a wide range of sizes. Centek also makes the Vernalift mufflers. Fisheries calls it “Shaft Log/Rudder Post Housing (heavy-walled fiberglass tubing)”. Fisheries also carries a wide variety of stuffing boxes, dripless and drip.

They do lots of shipping, especially up to Alaska, so give them a call.

A shaft log like this?

I bought that one from Cape George Cutters.

Thanks for the info that’s is what I’m looking for
did Cape George have a stern bearing as well

I think it did come with a cutlass bearing but I’m not sure. I bought this about about 3 years ago. Cape George is really easy to work with and will lead you in the right direction. I’ve bought 3 more since then from Hamilton Marine.

As for the drip less stuffing box, can’t help I know little about them. I have a traditional packing.

Just curious, how do you plan on removing the old shaft log? This was quite an issue for me 3 years ago. I had a bronze log that was 14" long. It went through about 10" of the boat before it appeared on the inside of the hull. I had to buy/build a 1 1/2" X 12" long hole saw to cut it out. My boat is an early Canadian boat not from the SLM yard.

This job had me scratching my head for months before I finished it. Good Luck!

I had a Sabb engine it had a variable pitch prop so I just removed the complete assemble .

Hi Joe,
Sorry I didn’t get a chance to return your call. I was out of phone range sailing. I see you are getting some great info here, as always.

I would nix the drip less box in lieu of a dripless stuffing box. Let me explain. I personally almost had one the the name brand dripless units almost sink a boat I was capt on. It’s a long story and a unique situation, but it can happen. I have a friend anchored next to me that has ripped his and is sweating bullets trying to get it fixed in the water. His boat is a fin keel with a strut that makes it difficult.

So to my way of thinking, to much expense and vulnerability.

I use to have no engine and bone dry bilges. But you can still have them with an engine. What I do is pack the box with teflon impregnated packing here Marine Shaft Packing

I use a Buck Algonquon stuffing box you can find here Bronze Packing Boxes - Self Aligning - Spud Type - Right Hand Thread On Hydrasearch Recreational-Buck Algonquin

Last I use a thick heavy sticky teflon grease then coat the stuffing with it. Also put some inside the stuffing box before and after you insert the stuffing. Tighten the whole thing up. If you see any drips tighten some more. Because of the teflon you can be pretty tight without heat. Mine never even gets warm.

The grease I use is Quicksilver 101 with teflon. Careful, this stuff is sticky and will get on everything.

Hope this helps.
Cheers

I second Gary’s recommendation of a traditional stuffing box. I’ve heard a number of stories about problems with the PSS (Packless Shaft Seal) from PYI. On the other hand, the stories are several decades old and the PSS design could have been changed since then.

About 13 yrs ago, I converted from the traditional flax packing material to a teflon based system that’s different from Gary’s. It’s sold as a “Drip Less Moldable Packing Kit” and uses a soft moldable, teflon-based material. This is sandwiched between rings of standard shaft packing, with liberal use of included teflon paste.

It seems to work a lot better than the old flax material, with much less friction and longer between needed tightenings of the stuffing box. However, Gary’s teflon impregnated packing plus teflon grease may be even better and is also a lot cheaper. The two systems are both made by Western Pacific Trading, although it looks like West Marine puts their name on the kit.