Aft keel bilge water

[Free State]

our A27AC is getting alot of water in the aft keel bilge. The water was salty to me. My stuffing box on the aft engin room wall in in good shape and I see what I think is the prop shaft tube. My question is there 2 stuffing boxes, I am trying to find the source of the water. Any advise would be appreciated.

[Panhdjoe]

The stuffing box on my 1984 27AC is seen from the opening in the aft cabin floor. the only other stuffing box is the rudder wich is under the cover in the center of the transverse berth in the aft cabin, if it leaks the water will stay in that compartment. the propshaft stuffing box in easy to see and should drip every few seconds. That should be the only leak. My bilge pump is almost directly under the propshaft stuffing box. Check the through hulls in the engine room. my boat has 3, engine cooling, head intake and head pump out. they should have no leaks. Rember through hulls have sunk more boats than the Spanish armada. If the bilge pump is working properly only a few inches of water will stay down in the hollow keel. Please let us know if the problem presits. My 27 is the most water tight boat I have had, and Albins generally have excellent hulls. Joe

[Veebyes2]

There is only one stuffing box &, like Panhdjoe say, it should only drip while underway. After sitting still for awhile it should stop dripping. Do you have a shaft pillow bearing midway between stuufing box & tranny? Mine did. Took it out. It caused shaft heating.

[Free State]

I have the stuffing box at the back of the engine room. This is a traditional stuffing box and woks fine a couple of drips a minute during operation and none when shut down. I see from looking forward fron the deck plate in the aft cabin floor I see a steel tube that i think the prop shaft runs through and exits the hull at the aft end of the aft bilge. It looks like I may have water seeping in around this tube. Has anyone seem this area leak?

[Panhdjoe]

What year is your boat, and could you post some pics of this setup? I am curious. as it is different from mine.