Bronze ball valves - suggestions

MapisM

MapisM

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I am considering to replace my 3" engine intake valves with the ones recently debated here.
But aside from their pros and cons (on which any additional views are welcome to be added to that thread), I'm still unsure that their peculiar dimensions will fit in my boat - and I will not be able to check that for a while.

So, I'm still considering also traditional ball valves with handle, and I thought to check if there's any consensus about which are the best.
I'd rather stick to bronze in principle, and the only ones I'm aware of available in 3" size are these ones from Maestrini.

Wadduthink?
 
MapisM said:
I am considering to replace my 3" engine intake valves with the ones recently debated here.
But aside from their pros and cons (on which any additional views are welcome to be added to that thread), I'm still unsure that their peculiar dimensions will fit in my boat - and I will not be able to check that for a while.

So, I'm still considering also traditional ball valves with handle, and I thought to check if there's any consensus about which are the best.
I'd rather stick to bronze in principle, and the only ones I'm aware of available in 3" size are these ones from Maestrini.

Wadduthink?
Click to expand...

The trouble with buying bronze fittings is most suppliers do not tell you the alloy specification of the bronze they use. There are many different types of bronze and not all bronzes are ideal below water. For example, both Admiralty Bronze and Manganese Bronze are actually brass and suffer from dezincing. Recommend you only buy from a suppler that can guarantee the spec/alloy of the material so you can be sure it is a true bronze or use DZR-brass from a reputable supplier such as ASAP. https://www.asap-supplies.com/fitti...-ball-valves/dzr-valve-female-each-end-405710

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
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Funny that you should suggest some valves actually produced by Effebi, an IT company based round the corner from my home.
Their website seems to be down at the moment, but below is an abstract from their catalogue with the specs of that particular valve.
Good stuff, but not bronze anyway.
In fact, in spite of their very large range of different ball valves, they don't make any in bronze, afaik.
Uc2AazjF_o.jpg
 
rotrax said:
ASAP do proper bronze ball valves, including 3 inch. £326.23 inc vat.
Click to expand...
I just had a look at their website, and I suppose that this is the thing you are talking about.
Otoh, if you check the second link in my OP, you will find out that they are exactly the same valves, actually built by Maestrini.
Now, kudos to ASAP for sourcing and selling good stuff, but nothing new under the sun, so to speak... :D
Oh, well. Maybe there aren't so many alternatives around!
 
rotrax said:
they are the ones IP use
Click to expand...
Sorry, I have no clue about what IP stands for?

Anyway, many thanks, indeed a bit of google revealed that you are correct about Groco.
Here is their stuff, just in case anyone else might be interested to check that out.
And they seem cleverly built on paper, with a lubrication fitting which I have never seen on any other ball valve - though obviously I have no idea about its effectiveness. They just seem hard to find in EU, at first glance...

I could find no references about Peko bronze ball valves, though.
 
MapisM said:
Sorry, I have no clue about what IP stands for?

Anyway, many thanks, indeed a bit of google revealed that you are correct about Groco.
Here is their stuff, just in case anyone else might be interested to check that out.
And they seem cleverly built on paper, with a lubrication fitting which I have never seen on any other ball valve - though obviously I have no idea about its effectiveness. They just seem hard to find in EU, at first glance...

I could find no references about Peko bronze ball valves, though.
Click to expand...

It’s Perko !
 
Doh!
Found it, but according to their website they don't produce inline threaded valves anymore, just those flanged on the hull side.
 
Interesting
I'm replacing some skin fittings at the moment and I have had problems.
Originally I intended to just replace the skin fitting but I couldn't make the new skin fittings fit into the old seacocks.

After some help from ASM, it seems that the old seacocks were made in the USA and the threads are slightly different.
To the untrained eye, my new 1-1/2 BSP shin fitting looked the same as the old seacock with 1-1/2 NPT (national pipe taper).
This really threw - even the professionals here.
I don't know if I've done the right thing but I have ordered some Maestrini sets (skin fittings, valves and tails) from asap supplies.
Should be enroute to me as I type.
 
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