STERN TUBE WATER INLET BROKEN

[Stella Maris]

Help !!

I trying to launch in 2 weeks and in trying to remove the hose that supplies water to the inlet on my stern tube, I broke the whole fitting. (see pics)





I undid the hose clamps but the rubber hose was so tight onto the barb that as I rotated to work it off the whole fitting came off. I am seeing that it was treaded into the stern tube, so I'm hoping I can re-tap and insert a new fitting with a barb.

Any thoughts. I read elsewhere that some people don't even worry with this water inlet.

It is being fed by a thru hull so there is no pump or pressure on the water supply. 

[normane]

Your shaft seal is a Volvo rubber seal, and provided that it is a few inches below the waterline the water feed is not really necessary. If you decide to do away with the water feed you must seal the hole in the tube and make sure it stays sealed.  What is essential, whether you have a water feed or not is that you grease the seal with waterproof grease before launching.  Volvo supply little tubes of expensive blue grease for the purpose.  The other essential is that immediately after launching you "burp" the seal to let out the air trapped against it, because sea water needs to reach the inner lip of the seal in order to keep it cool.