Ski Boat Forum
Repairs and Maintenance => Boat Maintenance - American Skier => Topic started by: Ericelgin1 on August 29, 2010, 08:18:59 PM
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My newly purchased 1984 18 foot skier has a leak in the shaft seal.....is this something that can be fixed easy? I don't think that the shaft is bent; there is no shake when you run the boat. The seal looks newer and has a water hose that feeds in to it from the motor. Let me know your thoughts?
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From what I have been taught there is supposed to be a slight drip in the seal. Can anybody else confirm that?
John Doerfler
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Yes, but its supposed to be a drip every second or two, no more than that is really needed.
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From your post it sounds like you have an aftermarket shaft seal if there is a hose running from the engine to the seal. These usually have a small diameter hose from the engine to cool the seal they use. When working properly these should not leak at all. The conventional teflon packing should have a slow drip and are simple and do not require additional plumbing.
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Thank you guys for answering...i think Ron hit the nail on the head, do you think I would be better off to get the other style of seal?
I should also add that I skied behind it for the first time Sunday morning and it rocked! Thanks again!
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The last 2 times I went out in the boat...........the damn thing stopped leaking. Which is rad! Do you think it just needed some use?
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Was the boat out of water for a long period??? If the packing (inside the fitting) is made out of hemp or a similar material then the answer is yes... Hemp dries out & shrinks and will leak until its been wet for a while and then it expands & fills in the space. Its used often in wood boat building as caulk between planks, packing material for through hull fittings, etc...
Modern materials & better engineering have replaced it, but that may be why your shaft packing was leaking and has since stopped.