Joe, I remembered back to a 1998 discussion on this list about the Goretex packing containing graphite. I have included below the result of a google search on the topic. " The Goretex packing we were discussing earlier this year is sold by W. L. Gore and is called "GFO". It is a graphite impregnated woven teflon material. It looks and handles like black flax packing. It is self lubricating and 'virtually' drip free. I have been using it for 2.5 years with great results. It is Mil-spec approved per "Mil-P- 24790". There was concern from several folks about galvanic corrosion between the graphite in the GFO and the surounding metals (CRES shafts and bronze packing nuts). To date I have not had any problems, nor has anyone sent me any first hand observations of problems. I put the word out thru some surveyor friends, and their SAMS Email net also didn't yield any first hand galvanic corrosion observations. I also exchanged Email with Nigel Calder w.r.t. the concerns attributed to him from his book. He said: >I used graphite packing tape for years with no problems. However, it is >not recommended for marine use because of the possibility of a galvanic >couple. This does not occur with the PSS shaft seal because the graphite >component is physically isolated from the shaft and has no direct >electrical connection (you would need a wire, or something similar, from >the graphite to the shaft to complete the circuit). In the case of the >packing, in theory the direct physical contact provides the circuit, >although as I said in my experieince (including salt water pumps on oil >production platforms) I have not seen problems. I think this is great stuff (and I don't sell it...)! You can find out more about it at: http://www.wlgore.com/corp/sealants/packings.html#marine or http://www.thomasregister.com/olc/goretetraetch/compress. htm The Gore Marine folks are: John Bilas: jbilas@wlgore.com George Cantler: gcantler@wlgore.com Order number: 800/455-2854 Good luck, Louis B. Brydon (WA6OCZ) O- brydon@ssd.loral.com SEASTAR - Redwood City, California, USA Regards Paul mv Serendipity New Jersey > At 06:48 PM 01/03/2002 +0000, prkoch@att.net wrote: > >Isn't it the GoreTex packing that has graphite and the > >potential galvanic problem? > > > >Paul > >mv Serendipity > >New Jersey > > Paul: I can't imagine them trying to push this stuff at National Boat Shows > if there was a broblem. Take a look at : > http://www.gore.com/corp/sealants/packings.html. I did a search on > "graphite" and "galvanic" (on the site) and found nothing mentioned. A > search using the word "problem" turns up three items. But then these sites > are put together by "people in the Sales department". (the usual, just > an inocent bystander..)... jd > Joe DellaFera / Margaret Murray > 36' Prairie DC "Prairie Star" > Pompano Beach, Fl.