Auto seacock display?

[Neil]

For the second time, I've ran the engine with the raw water seacock closed. Never went far enough on the engine enough to cause the overheat alarm to go off, but still.......

What I need is a flashing red LCD, "Seacock?" placed just above the ignition switch, to come on when I turn the key, and go off with the oil pressure and alternator lights......

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

wouldn't be hard to wire a contact breaker in that the seacock closes when opened, so that the ignition circuit is only 'made' when the seacock is open....

Something like this would do it...

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/microswitches/7496502/

 

[cryan]

How about a bit of cardboard stating Sea Suction Open on one side and Closed on the other which you place above the starter keyhole. From experience electronic valve indicators even on 250 million pound cruise ships are about as reliable as chocolate teapots. Most ships I have been on use either plastic/wood/metal signs which the engineers place in prominent potition on the console to remind them.

 

[Salty John]

Hang the ignition key on the seacock.

 

[SlimRick]

Leave the seacock open?

 

[prv]

Leave the seacock open?

+1

If you think the hose is likely to spontaneously split and flood the boat, fix that problem rather than just mitigating it by closing the valve.

Pete

 

[AndyJ76]

Maybe you can find a more local distributor of these http://www.biasboating.com.au/Monitored_Ball_Valves_p/b1341.htm

 

[cryan]

The problem with leaving them open is that they tend to jam open meaning that in the event of an emergency you cant shut them. Also if you lose a seal or tube in your coolers you will fill the engine with salt water.

 

[prv]

The problem with leaving them open is that they tend to jam open meaning that in the event of an emergency you cant shut them.

True enough. I exercise the valves from time to time (when I'm doing something nearby) to prevent this. Albeit I will admit that the toilet outlet doesn't get that much attention because it's at the bottom of a cockpit locker, but for the same reason opening and closing it each time would be impractical.

Also if you lose a seal or tube in your coolers you will fill the engine with salt water.

Don't understand this one as an objection to leaving the seacock open. If the heat exchanger develops a leak between the two sides (which I think is what you are saying) then it will mix fresh and salt as soon as the engine is started, whether you close the seacock when moored or not.

Pete

 

[Neil]

Maybe you can find a more local distributor of these http://www.biasboating.com.au/Monitored_Ball_Valves_p/b1341.htm

Clearly I'm not the only one!

 

[cryan]

Don't understand this one as an objection to leaving the seacock open. If the heat exchanger develops a leak between the two sides (which I think is what you are saying) then it will mix fresh and salt as soon as the engine is started, whether you close the seacock when moored or not.

Pete

Not really, when the engine is running it is designed so that the pressures in the coolers fail safe so you will lose fresh water to the salt side and oil to fresh water side etc etc. when you stop and leave the sea suction valves open the depth of the valve will allow the head of sea water to overcome the seal and allow flow in the unsafe direction. So yes there will still be a leak but damage will be minimised. this is especially important f your oil is directly cooled by sea water as salt in the sump is hard to remove.

 

[yodave]

I was worried about this too, so I simply wrote "seacock" on a piece of paper that I positioned over the ignition when i turned it off. I no longer need the paper as I'm firmly in the habit of checking the seacock and also checking over the side for water through the exhaust every time I start the engine.

 

[cryan]

I was worried about this, so I simply wrote "seacock" on a piece of paper that I positioned over the ignition when i turned it off. I no longer need the paper as I'm firmly in the habit of checking the seacock and also checking over the side for water through the exhaust every time I start the engine.

^^This is the easiest and best solution.

 

[rgarside]

Hang the engine key on the seacock handle!

 

[nimbusgb]

A simple magnet and reed switch would do it but a checklist is far far simpler!

 

[JSYmartini]

I have one of these on each inlet:

http://halyard.eu.com/pleasurecraft/productdetails?product=60&category=Exhaust Systems

 

[Gymnopedie]

I have an impellor with all the vanes missing hung on the engine stop handle as a permanent and vivid reminder to check over the side that water is emerging from the exhaust

 

[Anwen]

Lee Sanitation are the UK importers of the Tru Design sea cocks, including the monitored position variants. See here: http://www.leesan.com/index.asp?m=3&b_idno=23&t=Tru+Design+Plastics

 

[cliff]

Hang the ignition key on the sea-cock.

Oh, come on. That is too simple and practically foolproof although thinking about it if someone starts the engine twice with the sea-cock closed then maybe we need something even more foolproof like just leaving the sea-cock open AND hang the ignition key over the sea-cock.

 

[macd]

Like most of us, I suspect, I just don't have any say in the matter but am programmed to check for abundant water coming out of the exhaust before even thinking of engaging gear.