"The Bilge Pump Is Running"
20 May 2014 | Indiantown, FL
Just 15 minutes after we left the ball field in Stuart, this is what Patty stated. So, we check the bilge, salt water. Not good. While I turn around, Patty starts manually emptying the bilge. We pick up the first ball we come to. First, thinking it might be the raw water pump, although we are not overheating, I remove the engine cover. All is good. I then empty the “garage” to check the back side of the engine. I replaced all the hoses this past winter so probably not that. I had one concern and I was right--the dripless shaft seal. If I just touched the bellows, water would come in. So long as the shaft wasn’t turning, we were “dry.”
It is a PSS dripless, distributed by PYI out of Seattle. It looked as thought, if I could move the collar to compress the bellows some more, we would be good. I looked up the telephone number on the Internet and called. When the phone was answered, I asked for a technician. The individual informed me that it was 6:30 am in Seattle, but he would be willing to help. After discussing the problem, he confirmed I could loosen the two set screws attaching the collar to the shaft and compress the bellows and I then should be okay for a year. He did state that after a period of time, the rubber bellows will dry out and need to be replaced.
We left again at 10:00 am. Patty checked the seal several times and all was dry. We had no further issues, went through the St. Lucie lock, raising us about 12 feet, and on to Indiantown. We arrived at 2:00 pm with the welcoming party shown above greeting us.
I talked with Billie again this afternoon, and we’re set to be tipped around 8:30 am. Then, across the lake and on to Moore Haven.