Shaft Seals for your Boat
Key components/features of the SureSeal
include:
- Housing- Made from fiber-reinforced
composite material, the housing is stronger, smaller and more durable.
- Dimensionally unaffected by
temperature changes, the SureSeal will not absorb water.
- Bearing- The integral PTFE
bearing extends the useful operating life of the SureSeal under normal
operating conditions.
- Should the water injection system fail
to provide lubrication to the lip seal and bearing surface, the integrity of
the SureSeal PTFE bearing and fiber-reinforced housing is unaffected.
This feature allows the vessel operator to simply replace the worn lip
seal, restoring the “100% watertight” characteristic of the SureSeal .
- Hose- Connecting the SureSeal to
the boat has been made easier via an "articulating" hose. Matched to each
housing size, the hose design positions the unit relative to the stern tube so
that the required operating clearance is achieved without measurement
(simplifying installation). This greatly reduces the side loads to the
SureSeal when shaft misalignment occurs (as much as 1/4" in any
direction), extending lip seal and bearing life.
- Hose Clamps- The hose clamps themselves
are an improved design which won't tear or mar the hose surface, require less
tightening force and adjust to the changes in the hose diameter caused by
variations in temperature and pressure.
- Seal Replacement- The new design
incorporates a removable front cap which allows access to the lip seal making
it easier to remove and replace, especially in "cramped quarters".
SureSeals™ are sold with their
corresponding hoses only. To determine which parts to order and whether or not
you have sufficient space for their installation, you need to measure ”A”, the
shaft diameter and ”B”, the O.D. of the stern tube (which corresponds to the
hose I.D.). Find the combination of these two dimensions in the following table
and the corresponding part numbers. For each model SureSeal™, find dimension ”C”
and confirm that there is AT LEAST this much CLEAN, SMOOTH shaft before the
stern tube available for locating the unit.
Next, the diameter ”D” should be noted. Confirm that a minimum distance of 1/4
inch can be maintained between the body of the unit and any other part of the
boat (hull, stringers, etc.) to allow for any lateral shaft movement.
In twin-engine applications, SureSeals™ may be ordered with an optional ”second
injection fitting” to accommodate a crossover line between Tides Marine
SureSeals™.
