Leaky shaft seal?

[Ericelgin1]

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?

[John Doerfler]

From what I have been taught there is supposed to be a slight drip in the seal.  Can anybody else confirm that?
John Doerfler

[Mike Harry]

Yes, but its supposed to be a drip every second or two, no more than that is really needed.

[RonT]

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.

[Ericelgin1]

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!

[Ericelgin1]

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?
 

[Joel]

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.