Stuffing tube lube nube

[sundog]

I use teflon liners in my stuffing tubes and I have been using Gorilla Snawt to lube flex cables but when my chapstick size tube ran out, I thought I'd try Grimracer Speed Grease. Man, this stuff is thick. And when I filled up the stuffing tube on my rigger and turn the prop, there is quite a bit of resistance. I'm sure this is not conducive to high speeds. What th'? Am I just supposed to put a light coating on the cable? Or maybe switch to thick oil? And will that stop water seepage, or is that a real concern? Any thoughts are appreciated.

[Jesse J]

as with any grease, it will reduce viscosity with temps and flinging it around inside your tube. It will only be this thick for maybe a lap then it will reduce to a film.

I like Jeff Wholt's method of a small amount of grease, like a thin film, then some clipper oil down the tube before each run.

[gmartin]

blue marine grease works well and no water that i can tell my prop is 2-3 inches under water and 1-2 turns its good

[sundog]

as with any grease, it will reduce viscosity with temps and flinging it around inside your tube. It will only be this thick for maybe a lap then it will reduce to a film.

I like Jeff Wholt's method of a small amount of grease, like a thin film, then some clipper oil down the tube before each run.

Yes I think I'll try the thin film of grease. When packed in there, it slows things down too much. I was just concerned of water entering the shaft if I didn't pack it in.

[Fluid]

Grease should NOT be the method used to keep water out of the hull. Use a short length of fuel tubing around the inner end of the stuffing tube, adjusted so it barely touches the shaft. I use synthetic automotive gear oil on my shafts (no Teflon) and never get more than a drop or two of water in the boat after a long run. Set lots of SAW records with this same technique, and it works great on wire or flex cable.

[Fluid]

Grease should NOT be the method used to keep water out of the hull. Use a short length of fuel tubing around the inner end of the stuffing tube, adjusted so it barely touches the shaft. I use synthetic automotive gear oil on my shafts (no Teflon) and never get more than a drop or two of water in the boat after a long run. Set lots of SAW records with this same technique, and it works great on wire or flex cable.

[sundog]

Thanks Fluid, that's what I was needing to know. Yes, I use that method (actually heat shrink tubing) on the stuffing tube of one of my boats and have had no worries from it.

[properchopper]

As an alternative to the silicon tube or shrink; try using an antenna cap. Simple, clean & works great !