Need Advice for Replacing and/or refurbishing the prop shaft and propellor

[prooftheorist]

Also, does anyone know if the Atomic 4 30HP fits into the Ariel? I know it fits into the Triton, and I believe they have identical companionways....

Thank you,

Kevin

[Bill]

Hi Kevin,

Bill forwarded your question about Ariel drive shafts to me. I have a 1965 Ariel with a now not working Atomic 4. Several years ago, when the A4 was still working, I had a serious stuffing box leak while the Ariel was in the Sacramento Delta. The stuffing box problem could not be corrected in the Delta. I had the Ariel moved back down to the bay and KKMI, Richmond fixed the problem.

KKMI replaced the stuffing box with a PSS Shaft Seal (www.shaftseal.com). In the three years or so that the A4 was still running the Shaft Seal performed perfectly. They are not inexpensive ($300 or so plus labor).

( Missing graphic -- PYI Inc. | PSS Shaft Seal)

Given my year-plus of lost sailing time and the expense, I would not be inclined to make changes to a drive shaft/stuffing box system that could be avoided. Not broken….. etc.

Wish you well—good sailing,

Kent Smith
Cloud 9 (388)