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Do You Carry Emergency Shaft Seal Material?

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by DOCKMASTER, Jan 3, 2022.

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  1. chesapeake46

    chesapeake46 Senior Member

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    Kidding aside, I have a roll of self fusing electrical tape, 3 inches wide on board in the event of a hose failure. Would this work on the dripless seal ?
  2. DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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  3. C team

    C team Senior Member

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    Very neat product! A little pricey but better than sinking your boat.
  4. OCKK

    OCKK New Member

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    I also looked at the SOS Seal or Sink product. However, I don't think use in an emergency would be as quick as they advertise as you would need to remove your water feed lines to your seal before you can install and completely zip it closed. For me, this would mean removing both the main feed line and the crossover line, and capping those lines so they don't continue to feed water into the boat. Doable, yes, but a few extra steps. Still like the concept and considering purchasing one, but would slow the install for sure.
  5. rtrafford

    rtrafford Senior Member

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    Yes, but you can pinch the coolant hose against the shaft, wrap it quickly with a rag, and deploy the zips with the hose still in place. The concept here is that the device SLOWS the flow of water. It doesn't stop it. You aren't stopping a water leak with a zip tie. You can only stop a water leak by wrapping the shaft log using a screen door, and then apply flex seal.
  6. rtrafford

    rtrafford Senior Member

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    Seriously, however, it's a useful product. You can puncture the membrane to make a hole for the coolant hose via a pre-installation, and deploy a zip tie on each side of that hole to account for the coolant line. I think this device is best serving when pre-installed for quick final securing...
  7. cleanslate

    cleanslate Senior Member

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    I’ve changed the flax packing in many a boat, while in the water.
    Pulled out the old and installed the new. It is a bit exciting, but I always have a cotton rags and screw driver handy to stop the flow if need be.
    It’s not a deluge of water, but a good flow. Nothing your bilge pump can’t handle.

    Never had dripless units on my boats, but as long as the shaft is still in place filling most of the hole, I assume it wouldn’t be too much water either if you had a failure. Is it like a bellows on an I/O? That sure can let some water in.

    I still would recommend packing cotton screwdriver and a mallet and or the Oakum…
    Simple to tap into place quickly to just stop the flow and regroup to something else if you want.
  8. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    If it is just the seal leaking, as Cleanslate mentions, it is not that bad of a flow.
    A good bilge de-watering system should keep your ankles dry.
    We are assuming you have a few big A pumps installed.

    However, I remember working the B Bay many years ago, responding to a distressed boat where the log hose self destructed (old age) and a good flow of water was coming up the shaft tube.
    Here is when that can-o-foam came in hand. Oh, south FL water is doable in your shorts (or less) year round.

    On those and later my work boats, cans of this stuff was always around.

    AND this thread reminds me, Last work boat sold. No cans-o-foam around. Need to pick up some.
  9. cleanslate

    cleanslate Senior Member

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    What foam? Expanding foam in a can?
  10. cleanslate

    cleanslate Senior Member

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    What model CC?
  11. mapism

    mapism Senior Member

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    Never heard of that thing, but...
    Eight seals failing over ten years, plus both shafts at the same time last week? o_O

    Its one of the two, methinks: either that guy is just lying, or he'd better spend a bit more for some half decent seals, before inventing emergency patches... :)
  12. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Any spray foam in a can with rigid long nozzle.
    Look also for the max expanding type.

    On wrecked boats we used it to fill splits or hull fractures. As a gasket for crude plywood patches. Plug ruptured hoses or drive bellows.
    Anyway to get it afloat or keep it from sinking. Not pretty but worked well on lots of emergency issues.

    Quick, non specific web search;
    https://www.lowes.com/search?searchTerm=spray+foam
  13. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Another EX used car sale person.
  14. DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    For $130 I think I'll order one of those SOS boots and see how they look and do a test fit while I'm on the hard for the winter. I'll take one for the team and let you all know what I find :):)
    T.T., Capt Ralph and Capt Cole like this.
  15. C team

    C team Senior Member

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    1973 36' Sports Cruiser
  16. cleanslate

    cleanslate Senior Member

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    Commander series?
  17. Adopo

    Adopo Member

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    I have seen a few ads of this type of kit as well, not inexpensive but I am sure worth it if needed.

    https://www.seakits.com


    Hit watch on youtube to check it out.