Added rudder plate and new stuffing.

[inboardsonly]

First thing I would do.... Clean the bilge with bilge cleaner and a scrub brush....makes working down there a lot more pleasant!

I always add a bit of bilge cleaner to the bilge at the start of the season, tow it up to the lake, and then hose it out before launching for the summer.

Less smell, no oily sheen when pumping out, and not so messy when you have to work in there!

[AirTool]

I always add a bit of bilge cleaner to the bilge at the start of the season, tow it up to the lake, and then hose it out before launching for the summer.

what brand of cleaner do you use?

[gsxrgessler]

Thanks for the photos, I'm just about to start on the rudder packing, and this answered a few questions. Now if someone will just do the drive shaft!

[Super_sport]

The drive shaft packing works the same.. but as you can guess, its a little harder to get to.. and you cant pull everything apart like you can with the Rudder. But basically the same deal, loosen nut, pull it back (there may be a collar there that you have to undue the set screw on), then slide the nut as far back as you can, so you can see into it (I used a small mirror).. then use a scribe or pick or you can make one out of a coat hanger and bend the end and sharpen it as a pick... then pull out packing. get the teflon type and get extra just in case. cut 4 individual single winds.. Use a sharp razorblade and cut at a 45 deg. angle so there is a little overlap when you put the ends together... I used a piece of plastic pvc tubing that was similar ID diameter as the shaft. cut a 2 inch piece off the pvc, then cut that 2 inch piece in half (actually slightly over half) lengthwise, so it almost snaps on the shaft. then insert one wind of the packing at a time, and then use the pvc piece to push it into the nut.... you do this for each piece of packing, making sure to turn the cut 1/4 turn for each wind so they dont line up inside the nut. then slide the nut back down, hand tighten, then give it another 1/4 to 1/2 turn with wrench... relocate the collar (if there is one), tighten the set screw, and go for a ride... then recheck for leaks and if it is leaky a liittle, then give the nut another 1/4 turn... it should leak 2-4 drops every so often to lubricate the packing. it should not be super tight! Its harder to explain than it is to actual do.. just get two packs of packing, in case you cut wrong.