With Your Packing Gland You should have one drop of water every 10 seconds, all the time. No, you should have one drop when the shaft is still, and 10 drops every 60 seconds while the shaft is moving. Wait a minute, I read no drops while the shaft is still, and 5 drops at high rpm's. It seems every boat owner has an opinion, and that's because every boat owner wants a dry bilge. Unfortunately, if a dry bilge is what you desire, you better buy oars.
Leakage is necessary to cool the stuffing box and reduce the wear.
There are three conditions that will shorten the life of any packing gland. The first is excessive heat, usually caused by over tightening the gland nut. To control heat generated by the friction between the shaft and the packing gland, a small amount of leakage provides lubrication and cools the packing gland. The best way to ensure you have enough water leaking through the gland, is to place the back of your hand against the stuffing box while the shaft is turning. If the temperature is uncomfortable, it means it is too hot.