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  #1   IP: 69.117.102.90
Old 11-18-2009, 11:40 PM
dr2061 dr2061 is offline
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Question stuffing box

I own a 1975 Catalina 30 and want to replace the flax in the stuffing box. The access panel at the foot of the stairs does not provide clear access. I can barely get my bear hand in there let alone two wrenches. So how do I get access to it?
I tried from the engine compartment and that is not much better. Help!!! Thanks in advance. Allen
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Old 11-19-2009, 07:35 AM
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Allen,

If the answer doesn't pop up on our Forum you could call Catalina at 818 884-7700 or contact them through their web site at catalinayachts.com. I don't recall this problem surfacing before within the Catalina 30 fleet, so you should measure the opening in your cabin sole before contacting them in case your opening is smaller than normal.

Don
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Old 11-19-2009, 09:38 AM
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My 77 C30 has great access through the same floor panel. How 'bout a picture??
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1977 Catalina 30
San Pedro, California
prior boats 1987 Westsail 32, 1970 Catalina 22
Had my hands in a few others
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Old 11-19-2009, 10:26 AM
Jesse Delanoy Jesse Delanoy is offline
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My '77 C-30 also has great access via this panel.

Jesse Delanoy
s/v Off the Grid - hull no. 664
Baltimore/Pasadena
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Old 11-19-2009, 11:35 AM
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Like Jesse, I have a '77 Catalina 30, and I will admit to some 'frustration' when adjusting the stuffing box. Once you get the nuts loose enough to spin by hand, access should be good, but I had to have one wrench (probably channel locks) in the access hole in the floor for one nut, and the pipe wrench coming at the assembly from the back end of the motor thru the access door in the counter.

There are lots of C-30 guys here....as Neil recommended pic of your technique could help us refine it
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"Holiday" - '89 Alura 35 #109
"Twice Around" - '77 C-30, #511 with original A-4 & MMI manifold - SOLD! (no longer a two boat owner!!)
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Old 11-19-2009, 06:22 PM
dr2061 dr2061 is offline
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stuffing box

Gentlemen,
I appreciate your pompt response. I will try to attach a picture within the next week or two Unfortunately, I can't get down to my boat for that period of time. I will be back in touch however. Thanks. Allen
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Old 11-26-2009, 01:10 AM
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Question stuffing box

Gentlemen,
As stated earlier, thanks for your quick responses. I have attached three photos to show you the problem. I hope I won't have to enlarge the access hole in the floor to do the replacement. I'm hoping you have a trick up your sleeve. You may have to view it from different angles. It appears that the pics came out very large. Thanks in advance for your help. Allen
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Last edited by Administrator; 11-26-2009 at 08:18 AM. Reason: Resized images. Please be careful about image size unless there is some reason to provide significant detail. Thanks!
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  #8   IP: 24.152.140.113
Old 11-26-2009, 02:17 AM
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Yours certainly isn't like mine. I'd say your best option is to enlarge the access hole. In doing so, my concern is the sole could become spongy in that area due to lost structure.

On the other hand, maybe you're a candidate for a Lasdrop shaft seal.
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1977 Catalina 30
San Pedro, California
prior boats 1987 Westsail 32, 1970 Catalina 22
Had my hands in a few others
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Old 11-27-2009, 07:28 AM
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We have a 78 Catalina 30. Your access opening looks of similar size and position to ours. Perhaps the rubber piping attached to the rudder tube is longer. Adjusting the length of this might help. When I get up to it, I will measure everything and take some pictures. Best of luck.

Take care, Russ
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Old 11-27-2009, 11:32 PM
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stuffing box

Russ,
Thanks for responding. Let me know what you discover when you viewyour stuffing box. I look forward to seeing your pictures so I can campare them to mine. Thanks again. Allen
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Old 11-28-2009, 08:37 AM
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Allen,

I have a 1975 Catalina 30, hull number 120, and had the same problem with access to the stuffing box nuts. I notched out the cabin sole enough to access the nuts. It is plenty solid there so I have had no structural problem ( I did this probably 30 years ago). I slid the original cover forward and filled in under the ladder.

Raymond
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Old 11-30-2009, 07:50 PM
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stuffing box

Raymond,
Thanks for the info. I guess there's no way to avoid cutting into the cabin sole and enlarging the access hole in order to get to the stuffing box. I feel a little better knowing that I'm not the only one who has run into this problem. I guess there's some truth to the old saying that "misery loves company". (Actually, sorry to hear that you had the same frustration but glad to hear that it all worked out.) Allen
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Old 11-30-2009, 07:57 PM
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I looked at your pics again and noticed that my access hole goes all the way to the face of the galley riser. My shaft exit and stuffing box are still considerably more aft than yours though.
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1977 Catalina 30
San Pedro, California
prior boats 1987 Westsail 32, 1970 Catalina 22
Had my hands in a few others
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Old 12-02-2009, 10:00 AM
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stuffing box

Neil,
Thanks for taking the time. Now all I have to do is make sure that when I cut through the fiberglass to enalrge the hole I don't cut something (like a wire or something) because I can't see it or feel it. Yes, I have a dental mirror for that purpose but who knows what could be lurking just out of sight. Take care. Allen
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Old 12-02-2009, 10:33 AM
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Allen,

I am not 100% sure, but yours doesn't seem that much different in physical location than mine, but perhaps your access hatch in the floor is not the same. I can see my stuffing box nuts & some threads from the hatch in the floor, but I still have to have one wrench in each hatch to access...I cannot get a wrench on the forward nut thru the floor.

One thing I definitely have there in the floor hatch area is the shift cable & a bilge pump hose...my shift cable is just barely to port of the floor opening and I wouldn't think to look for it there except that there are two bolts thru the floor the mount it solidly underneath the sole before it goes to the engine. When you blindly poke your hand into the rough fiberglass you find it after a few cuts & knicks too

You def. have some control cable to port, and you may have a bilge pump hose or two there too. Be careful and take your time. That pic from the stbd access hatch (near the alternator) should give you a good view if you supplement with a good strong light to locate the things you don't want to cut.

One other thing I did was to cut out the extra top section of the settee cover just to stbd of where the counter cabinetry ends. I haven't figured out a good way to support the cabinet yet, so it sags about a 1/2", but the access to the back end of the motor (coil, water pump, shaft, etc.) is greatly improved..it's hard to tell, but yours may have that as well, judging from the vantage point of the pictures.

Here is a pic of where my stuffing box nuts are located...you can barely see the forward nut (sorry for the poor lighting). Usually what I can do is see a little water flinging out of the forward nut when the shaft is spinning from this vantage point (with a flashlight) - I'd rather sponge a few ounces of water out of the bilge than risk the shaft getting hot.
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"Holiday" - '89 Alura 35 #109
"Twice Around" - '77 C-30, #511 with original A-4 & MMI manifold - SOLD! (no longer a two boat owner!!)
http://www.moyermarine.com/forums/signaturepics/sigpic3231_6.gif

Last edited by sastanley; 12-02-2009 at 10:59 AM. Reason: add pic & clarify
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Old 12-02-2009, 01:12 PM
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Allen,

Here's mine. Although the same model year, Shawn's boat is a few months earlier than mine. Looks like Catalina was making changes in this area around that time. Now that I look at your picture again, I think after enlarging the access hole as far forward as possible you can shorten the black hose and move your stuffing box aft to get excellent exposure.
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1977 Catalina 30
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prior boats 1987 Westsail 32, 1970 Catalina 22
Had my hands in a few others

Last edited by ndutton; 12-04-2009 at 10:15 AM. Reason: Another thought
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Old 12-02-2009, 01:48 PM
Jesse Delanoy Jesse Delanoy is offline
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Mine looks just like Neil's. Great access through the floor panel.

Jesse Delanoy
s/v Off the Grid
'77 Catalina 30 no. 664
Baltimore/Pasadena
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Old 12-02-2009, 09:12 PM
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whoa!

Wow! Yeah...mine is nothing like Neil's!

I'll have to grab the camera when I hopefully get to the boat this week to complete winterizing, just for comparison..it is much more like Allen's.

I do notice that Neil's got a bolt in the 'recess' , far forward to port, that I assume clamps the shift cable..mine is not identical, but in a similar location..one thing not to cut
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"Holiday" - '89 Alura 35 #109
"Twice Around" - '77 C-30, #511 with original A-4 & MMI manifold - SOLD! (no longer a two boat owner!!)
http://www.moyermarine.com/forums/signaturepics/sigpic3231_6.gif
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Old 12-02-2009, 10:02 PM
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Yup, the bolt anchors the shift cable. There's all kinds of stuff not to cut in there, bilge pump discharge, various electrical wires, grounds and fuel lines. Best not to bury the sawzall to the hilt.
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1977 Catalina 30
San Pedro, California
prior boats 1987 Westsail 32, 1970 Catalina 22
Had my hands in a few others
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Old 12-03-2009, 11:13 PM
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updated pic

So, it seems, as Neil surmised, that there is a shift in C-30's of this vintage.

This is a bad cell phone pic, but it is what I had with me. You can just see the nuts showing up in the forward of the access hatch.

It gives perspective to illustrate that they moved the 'hatch' on my #511 hull forward to match Neil's, but it appears that the stuffing box/thru hull may be in a similar location to Allen's boat.

But it also appears on later hulls (between 511 & 600) that in addition to moving the hatch forward, they also moved the stuffing box/thru hull itself aft, when looking at Neil's #600.

I wonder if our props & struts are in the same place???
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"Holiday" - '89 Alura 35 #109
"Twice Around" - '77 C-30, #511 with original A-4 & MMI manifold - SOLD! (no longer a two boat owner!!)
http://www.moyermarine.com/forums/signaturepics/sigpic3231_6.gif

Last edited by sastanley; 12-03-2009 at 11:24 PM.
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Old 12-04-2009, 10:08 AM
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stuffing box

Shawn,
Thanks for the picture and info. It appears that I will have to cut into the cabin sole in a forward direction up to the counter wall. I have two concerns, first what type of saw should I use given that there isn't enough room for a jig saw (blade would be too long) and a dremel saw might not cut through the thickness of the fiberglass and second, what is down there under sole that even with a dental mirror I might not see. I have two screws in the area and I haven't yet been able to determine what they secure. (Such fun and games!!) Allen
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Old 12-04-2009, 10:08 AM
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Seems strange that it took Catalina nearly 600 boats to figure out there was a design problem here. This must have been obvious on hull #1.

I suspect that the struts vary too. Relocating the shaft log aft would change the prop shaft angle as it exits the hull (a shallower angle) which would directly affect the strut since it's all about angle. Could be that it results in more efficient thrust from the prop being closer to horizontal although probably so slight that it's not significant.

I'll repeat a comment in an earlier post. If I had access problems with a maintenance item like the stuffing box, I would consider replacing it with a no-maintenance shaft seal. I'd go through the agony of working in that area one last time and be done with it.
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1977 Catalina 30
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prior boats 1987 Westsail 32, 1970 Catalina 22
Had my hands in a few others

Last edited by ndutton; 12-04-2009 at 10:14 AM. Reason: Felt like it
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Old 12-04-2009, 10:41 AM
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Thumbs up

Allen,

you can get a 'cutter' that looks like a drill bit for a Dremel..works kinda like a Rotozip. They also make those new larger (almost 2" diameter) cutting wheels that clip on..they work pretty well. You have to pick up a quick connect shaft, but it comes with the a kit anyway.

Neil, good thinking. I think I might do the dripless seal if I ever go thru the hassle of replacing the prop (which I want to do) & the cutless bearing, which I am pretty sure is original.

I could probably cut a notch in mine as well to give me better access to the nuts. I've also noticed on mine that the P.O. did some type of marine tex repair just behind the shaft hose (thanks Pops!)
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"Holiday" - '89 Alura 35 #109
"Twice Around" - '77 C-30, #511 with original A-4 & MMI manifold - SOLD! (no longer a two boat owner!!)
http://www.moyermarine.com/forums/signaturepics/sigpic3231_6.gif
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Old 12-05-2009, 06:24 AM
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Could you use a large keyhole saw to start your opening?

-jonathan
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Old 12-06-2009, 07:36 AM
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I wouldn't recommend a keyhole saw or any hand tool. Fiberglass cuts best with fine toothed blades. Anything designed for cutting metal will to a good job on fiberglass. Remove all the screws in the area, move whatever they're holding away from the bottomside of the cabin sole, slide pieces of sheet metal over the top of the hoses, wires and cables as a cutting shield. I like a sawzall for this type of cut. Using only the tip of the blade will keep things safe underneath and allow you to hold the tool far enough away to cut close to the galley riser. Go slow and you'll be fine.
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1977 Catalina 30
San Pedro, California
prior boats 1987 Westsail 32, 1970 Catalina 22
Had my hands in a few others
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