Tides Marine Strong Seal Dripless Shaft Log

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Pathfinder

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Aug 19, 2008
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30649
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172
Seal was leaking last season. Replaced the rubber seal with the shaft-mounted spare, It still has a leak when in gear. Not major but annoying. Any suggestions for solving the problem short of replacing the unit?

Have considered replacing it completely with a Tides Sure Seal, PYI/PSS, or Lasdrop. If this is the solution, I would be interested in any pros or cons, based on your experience, to consider before deciding.
 
We went to Lasdrop. We are not happy with them. We should have stayed with Tides.

Push the seal assembly back from the gearbox as far as possible and evenly polish the shaft with emery cloth so as to clean the sealing surface. I would wrap a loop of emory cloth arough the shaft and pull it through moving around the shaft. Don't flatten it in any one spot.
 
I had some complicated dealings (my fault) with Tides a few years ago and was extremely satisfied with doing business with them.
 
All my friends with dripless seals had problems. I use gore packing in normal packing boxes without drips or complaint.
 
"All my friends with dripless seals had problems. I use gore packing in normal packing boxes without drips or complaint."

+1 - I replaced my dripless with regular packing glands adding gore packing about 9 seasons back, no problems, no repairs, no complications and will not leak if you strike an underwater object.
 
I had the Tides Strong Seal for a long time with the original engines and the only time they ever leaked at all was when I had the port engine go down with a dead starter ( actually the starter) and I tried to secure the prop shaft with many overlapping hitches back and forth of 5/8' line .

Even at slow speed on just the stbd engine the port prop had enough leverage to overcome the extensive shaft securing attempt and the line slipped down slightly to contact and slightly deform the dripless seal and it started to very noticeably leak.

Removed the line, and continued on at 6-8 knots letting the port wheel free-wheel and the Strong Seal immediately regained full sealing with no leak at all.

Even though those seals were still perfectly good after more than 10 yrs, I replaced both seals and the original slightly scored (at the cutlass bearing) Aquamet shafts when repowering way back in 2003.
The new set of Strong Seals have been leak-free, with no maintenance at all except checking the hose clamp tension, since that time . So I'm a big believer in those impressive to me dripless seals. I've had them for 20+ yrs. and maybe 4000+ hrs use with no leaks other than that momentary incident of my own making.

I believe that seal model is no longer offered and has been replaced by Tides with their newer, "improved"(?) SureSeals model. If they are at least as good as the Strong Seals, I'm for them.
 
The only issue I have heard of is calcification leading to an acid flush. It depends where you boat.
 
The boat was in Florida for about ten years. For the last three years on the Potomac River and Ches Bay. The starboard Strong Seal was replaced at some point with a Sure Seal. The port Strong Seal is the current issue.
 
quote:
Originally posted by smitty477

"All my friends with dripless seals had problems. I use gore packing in normal packing boxes without drips or complaint."

+1 - I replaced my dripless with regular packing glands adding gore packing about 9 seasons back, no problems, no repairs, no complications and will not leak if you strike an underwater object.

Click to expand...


I would do the same if there was a reasonable way to get to them on my boat.
 
"I would do the same if there was a reasonable way to get to them on my boat."
Hello David,
A few years ago I helped a friend pull his transmission on a 31 Sea Ray when his trans cooler failed and destroyed the gear. If that is anything like yours I can say there is really no room in there to work - I still have scars from that R & R.
 
I ONLY sell PSS Dripless seal system, have sold many sets, NONE have failed and all are still working well. I have replaced many brands with PSS.I've had them on my vessel since 1996, still fine without any adjustments....they also seal when a shaft is bent...good stuff.
 
It should not leak, if it still leaks you either messed up or!!! did not properly clean. Their system is flawless, just need to follow through the proper procedures. I have had two boats with this system. What I was not happy about is the failure on the first boat in 6 seasons. I always wondered about the spares on the shaft, first boat did not have them, newer boat does. My concern about having the spares was they would dry up. Also, make sure your motors are aligned, if not that will waste a seal quickly.
 
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