Blakes Seacock Keeper plate question

[mickywillis]

OK, may sound really stupid, but can somone just confirm this for me please?
On the keeper plate of a Blakes Seacock, are the notations on it OPEN-CLOSE-OPEN or CLOSE-OPEN-ClOSE???
Boat put back in water yesterday and had a blond moment when I opened the seacocks to check for leaks.
After servicing the seacocks this winter, the handle was in line with the main body of the seacock. But now I can't remember if this is the CLOSED position or the OPEN!!
When I left the boat, I put the handle at 90 degrees right angle to the main body, so I'm now concerned if I left them open or closed??
Help save me from pulling my hair out and panicking for the next week until I can get back down onboard to check please!!

 

[Steve_N]

They are fully open with the handle in line and away from the hose fitting.
90 degrees either side of that is approaching closed but the handle has to come right back to about 120 degrees to fully close them.
So you have done it almost right, but sorry they won't be closed in the 90 degree position.

Edit: the attached picture shows the handle with the seacock closed. Handle back a bit and in line with the bolts and they are still partly open.View attachment 30003

 

[Steve_N]

P.S. new Blakes seacocks have a stop built into the handle.
You can see how far around the handle has to come to hit the stop in this picture - it's almost up against the hose outlet and well past the 90 degree position.

 

[Tam Lin]

Ah, it all depends where the handle fits, mine comes off and so I can put it on in any one of 4 positions!

 

[alahol2]

Ah, it all depends where the handle fits, mine comes off and so I can put it on in any one of 4 positions!

It also depends on which way the cone was oriented after servicing. There's an arrow on top of my cone that points to the opening in the cone (IIRC).

 

[VicMallows]

Just have a look at how it works when you next take it apart. It is only fully OPEN in one specific position. Anything 45deg or more away will be closed. If your cone or bore are badly eroded in one area and can not be resurfaced, choose a different 'closed' position. (why does the supposedly top quality BLAKES bronze deteriorate so badly? )

 

[Boo2]

why does the supposedly top quality BLAKES bronze deteriorate so badly?

I read that it's down to bacterial action on the metal when in the closed position, rather than anything specifically to do with the metal. Newer Blakes seacocks are DZR rather than bronze, fwiw.

Boo2

 

[macd]

Newer Blakes seacocks are DZR rather than bronze, fwiw.

Hard to pin down how new is 'newer', but it's probably well over 20 years since they became DZR brass.

 

[Steve_N]

It is only fully OPEN in one specific position. Anything 45deg or more away will be closed.

Errr no it won't - that is the point I was trying to make.
The size of the openings in the body and the cone is such that 45 degrees isn't good enough - the ports will overlap and it will still be open.
This has been well covered on here before.

 

[VicMallows]

I am beginning to think there are more variants of Blakes seacocks (all purporting to be 'genuine') than might be expected for such a basic design! I certainly only have experience of those on my own boat.

 

[ostell]

Have a look on the top of the square. All the older ones I've seen have a small arrow moulded in, difficult to see, You'll need a torch. This is pointing to the port so if the arrow is pointing to the outlet hose then the valve is open. And conversely pointing away from the hose then it is closed.

I used to have a boat where the wife would frequently knock the handle off then just put it on in any position. That little arrow saved the day.

 

[xeitosaphil]

Blakes sea cocks open or closed?

Perhaps its just me but, surely if its open the toilet will flush - if its closed it won't? or a leasts thats how it works on my boat using SL seacocks which are basically the same?