I have a 1985 C-27 tall rig with a Universal M-18 diesel. The manual says to tighten the packing nut on the prop shaft to get a drip rate of 4 to 10 drops per minute with the engine off. When I had been running and shut the engine off I observed a very fast drip rate...perhaps 50 drips per minute. When I went out to the boat the next day with the tools and manual to make the adjustment it was only dripping at about 6 drops per minute. I started the engine and ran in gear for about five minutes under load at the dock. I shut the engine off and again I observed a rapid drip rate of 50 dpm or more.
I know that I should not over-tighten the packing nut so as to avoid running the shaft seal dry which can overheat the seal and wear the shaft. I left it as it is because I don't know whether to tighten it some or just wait for it to slow down as the boats sits at rest. After a day of sailing that ends with motoring into the marina, I find that I do have to do about 10 or 12 strokes on my Whale Gusher manual bilge pump to empty the bilge. Should I tighten my packing nut some or what? I would appreciate some advice.
