Walb, you need to take the boat out on the water and tighten the packing nut to reduce the water flow. If you tighten the nut until it goes no further and it still is leaking too much then you need a replacement cord. No matter how much you are in the water the seals (packing cord) won't change and only tightening the nut to compress the cord more against the shaft will the leaking then stop.