taking on water(Rudder Packings)

   I have a 1974 Ski Nautique which is taking on about 1 Liter of H20 per 5 minutes. When I removed my access hole behind the engine, I See a small stream of water running down the center of the hull.
   When the boat was on my driveway, I flooded it, and saw some dripping water from the rudder where it enters the hull. Can I tighten the rudder packings with out removing my floor? Do I have to take out the tank to do it?

Thanks

   Thanks alot Pbrain. I first thought it was a leaking exaust pipe until I saw the water in the center in the access hole.
   I'll give that a shot after my vacation! Im going slaloming right now!

Thank you!

If you go to youtube, search 1974 Ski Nautique...the videos are from in the boat, but still worth a look. If i can get your email, ill send you some pictures, I'll take more today!

well was there packing flax inside of it? did you loosen the jam nut? did you adjust the other gland on the prop shaft? is the packing flax in good condition? Sounds like it's not adjusted correctly and/or missing flax or the flax needs replaced.

with the amount of water you are getting you need to fix it ASAP

Chris,
The Flax is the Packing around the shaft that keeps the water out.
There are a number of discussions on Packing on the site. Just enter Packing in the search and you will get about 19 pages of them.
79 was asking if you removed the Jam Nut and then removed the Gland nut and checked for Packing. You may not have any or it may be installed incorrectly or just worn out.
If you are leaking around the Rudder area it would be worth it to replace the old packing.
Be aware that the Rudder will fall when the top bolt is removed. I just had the wife put a jackstand under mine AFTER I was in the boat. Do not want to jackstand putting too much pressure on that rudder.

That is alot of water coming in to wait for the fall. I am not as experienced with the different years as most others on this site..
But I know that I did not have to remove my fuel tank in the 80 to get to the bolt and nuts. There was just enough room to get a wrench in there and remove the Nut and Rudder.
My packing was installed incorrectly and when I made a turn to Port, it would leak badly... nothing when turning to Starboard. But that is really not important.
Taking the time to fix that leak is.

thanks for your help. What size Flax do i use? is it 3/16 or 1/4"?

Bad News! It is not the Rudder leaking! I got under there in the water, and the starboard exhaust hose is leaking. The last 1 foot section of hose that connects to the transom has a crack on the top. Water was shooting out at a pretty significant rate. No doubt that this is the leak causing all of the Bilge Pumping! I am hoping, by jacking up the gas tank, I can get the clearance to change that 1 foot section right now. Due to the condition of the hose, it needs to be fixed pronto! Also, the exhaust leak is pumping fumes into the boat!



Chris

Yea, I just need to order the hose. I would like to change All the hoses, but now, I am focused on that one section! Dry rot is the problem. After 30+ years, and the heat, it needs new exhaust hoses.