Hi Gang,
I caught wind from a thread of a different subject that the rudder shaft is sealed with an o-ring. I have been getting water in my boat, more this season than last, which prompted me to take apart the exhaust at the transom to re-seal them. I also found a potential problem with my transom drain, so I replaced the drain tube. Unfourtunatly none of this seemed to improve the water in the boat problem. I decided that my rudder shaft seal might be the culprit.
Today I decided to take the the rudder shaft stuffing box apart on my 1987 Comp. While doing so, I noticed that the big brass nut over the shaft pass through was only finger tight. I continued taking it a part to see what the seals look like. The only seal I found was a white plastic contoured material imbedded in the big brass gland nut. I decided to reassemble and tighten the gland nut down firmly in hopes that it would improve the seal.
But I am also suspicious that I don't have all of the parts. Perhaps an o-ring should reside beneath the white material in the nut? Do any exploded diagrams exist? Do any of you have experience with these rudder shaft seals? Should their be an o-ring incororated?
Thanks,