Why Repack The Gland?:

The rudder gland in most boats is an adjustable gland. The rudder passes through the gland and packing is used to seal the area around the shaft to prevent water leakage. If you begin to notice water leaking in through the rudder gland it may be time to repack your rudder shaft gland. However, just because water is leaking is not an absolute indicator that the gland must be repacked. The gland is filled with a packing material which can wear over time. When the material begins to wear, water may begin to leak through the gland. 

Before taking the effort to repack the gland, which can be an expensive procedure if you must haul the boat to do it, you can try tightening the packing nut to compress the packing material and improve the seal on the rudder shaft. If you tighten the nut and the leaking stops, you have solved the problem and you won't have to haul the boat. Keep in mind rudder shaft seal maintenance is an ongoing maintenance item. Over time the packing material will wear until the shaft begins to leak again. When a simple tightening no longer stops the leakage it is time to replace the packing material in the gland.

When Do I Need To repack The Rudder?:

You should consider repacking the rudder gland whenever you have the boat hauled out of the water. Hauling is such an expensive proposition you need to plan ahead and conduct as much maintenance as you can any time you have the boat out of the water.

You should also repack the gland any time you can no longer stop a leak by tightening the packing nut.

Tools Needed For Repacking The Gland:

The exact tools needed will depend on the boat. In general, you will need 2 wrenches, one for the packing nut and one for the stop nut that keeps the packing nut tight, a packing hook, new packing material, and a pair of Vice Grip pliers. These tools are needed whether you haul out the boat to make the repair or do the repair in the water.

If you are making the repair in the water you will need an additional pair of vice grips, some neoprene material and some Saran Wrap.

Out Of Water Repair:

This is, by far, the easiest way to accomplish the repair. With you boat out of the water, you can take your time with the repair and you can do it the right way the first time. Common sense should tell you there is absolutely no danger of your boat sinking during the repair if you have the boat hauled onto dry land. In water repair is a completely different story.

The out of water repair is pretty straightforward.

1. Remove any hardware securing the rudder above the rudder tube that will prevent removing the packing nut from rudder shaft.
2. Remove the packing nut
3. Remove all the old packing from inside the packing nut
4. You may also need to remove any packing that is inside the packing gland rudder tube.
5. Install new packing
6. Install the packing nut and tighten it down
7. Re-attach any hardware
8. Check for leaks and if you find any tighten the packing nut

In Water Repair:

This is probably the most dangerous way to accomplish this repair. You do face the possibility of sinking your boat if you do this the wrong way so, undertake an in water repair at your own risk.

So why would anyone want to attempt and  in water repair? Cost is usually the main factor here. Hauling a boat can be expensive proposition. If repacking your rudder gland is the only reason for hauling the boat you might consider doing the repair in the water.

In water repair creates a critical situation and you want to make sure you approach this task only after considering all the implications of the in water repair.

It is vital you understand that as soon as you remove the rudder bracket that holds the rudder in place inside the boat, any safety collars in place on the rudder shaft and the packing nut, the rudder can, if not secured properly, slide out of the rudder tube and fall to the bottom leaving a hole, the rudder tube, quickly filling your boat with water. At this point you are sinking and you are in trouble.

Steps for the in water repair are a little more complicated.

1. Seal the shaft opening around the rudder shaft as best you can. You can wedge pieces of neoprene around the shaft. You can also wrap the shaft with saran Wrap. Yo may not stop water entry but you can slow it down significantly.
2. Remover the rudder arm and any other hardware that would prevent removal of the packing nut. While removing this hardware you may need to secure the rudder so it will not drop out of the tube. You can do this with a Vice Grip plier.
3. Remove the packing nut.
4. Remove the old packing
5. Install new packing
6. Tighten the packing nut
7. Reinstall the hardware to the rudder shaft
8. Remove theVice Grip
9. Remove the Saran Wrap and/or neoprene
10. Check the rudder gland for leaks
11. If the gland is leaking tighten the packing nut