A cautionary tale....ends with a smile!

boatone

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29 Jul 2001
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Just a few cables from Boulters Lock
www.tmba.org.uk
Boat went back in again yesterday but not without incident! Had removed sea toilet whilst ashore (replaced with Porta Potti) and removed, cleaned up and replaced Blakes type outlet sea cock. Didnt try to remove inlet sea cock for some reason but just checked wheel valve working ok and greased and shut. Also sealed off both inlets with plugs inboard of actual valves.
When boat went back in water checked and found water seeping in around hull fitting of inlet valve........usual language of which 'oh s*d it' probably mildest example ..so straight back out again and held on hoist whist investigation took place. Stilson on said sea cock almost immediately resulted in whole assembly breaking away close to hull entry point due to severe corrosion......talk about a lucky break as obvious if not been discovered would not have been long before failed big time. Anyway, new replacement soon fitted and back afloat by lunchtime.
Been down tofday to check all ok, run up engines. new fenders out and filled water tanks. Lovely feeling gently bobbing up and down and the sun was shining.Real danger might be almost ready to go boating!

TonyR
boatone@boatsontheweb.com
www.boatsonthethames.co.uk
 

tcm

...
Joined
11 Jan 2002
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23,958
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Caribbean at the moment
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Re: bad advice

Back in november you asked about this. Some people said to leave the seacock as it was, just turn it off. Byron and Paul. er and me...

pleased it turned ouot okay tho.
 

boatone

Well-known member
Joined
29 Jul 2001
Messages
12,844
Location
Just a few cables from Boulters Lock
www.tmba.org.uk
Re: bad advice

Wouldnt dream of laying this at anyone elses door - my decision to leave it alone as no real signs of anything amiss. Severe corrosion had set in from the inside of the skin fitting and you could see from the disintegration that it had been there for some long time. All I will say is that from now on skin fittings will receive positive inspection whenever the boat is out of the water. Only took an hour or so to completely replace old with new plus less than £30 for parts.

TonyR
boatone@boatsontheweb.com
www.boatsonthethames.co.uk
 
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