CHanging Hull Fittings and any other good seacocks apart from Blakes?

[onleyb]

People,
I need to change my sea cocks and hence possibly the skin fittings. Is there any information books etc or can you give me or any advice on the best way to tackle this? Also Blakes sea cocks are pricey is there a better alternative?
Thanks in advance Bob

 

[reeac]

Conventional wisdom is that there are cheaper alternatives to Blakes but not better.

 

[Poignard]

[ QUOTE ]
A very good and affordable proper sea-cock is made by Groco in the US.

[/ QUOTE ]

Above quote is from the Lynn and Larry Pardey website
landlpardey.com

 

[npf1]

The Forepar Marelon ones could be worth a look - they are made of a strengthened plastic/fibreglass material so won't corrode/suffer from galvanic action.

 

[andy_wilson]

I think Blakes price / quality is probably about right in the market-place.

 

[alec]

Understand the problem.

I bought proper bronze skin fittings and seacocks which were only about 35% more than the usual stuff. I would only buy Blakes if I had the money or intended to keep the boat for yonks.

Next time you go to a boatshow, open sink cupboards and look at the plumbing on new boats. They seem to spec fairly ordinary stuff.

The beauty of Blakes is that the cock and skin fitting are all one. Plus you see them every time you make a visit - boaty mate ! .

Regards,

Alec

 

[Ships_Cat]

Reinforced plastic industrial ball valves are fine and no corrosion problems, ever. They are made for more arduous and often more dangerous duties than seacocks.

The anti-plastic brigade will now roll up no doubt and reel out a pile of marina myths about plastic /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif, so if inclined towards plastic research professional material rather than automatically believe the myths trotted out.

John

 

[boatbuilder]

As the majority of boats now made of plastic why is there such an uproar about plastic skinfittings and valves?
Doen't make sense to me.

 

[Ships_Cat]

As you probably guessed /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif, the usual uproar doesn't make much sense to me either.

John

 

[cliff]

Sorry, I would never fit "plastic" seacocks. Now if you are talking FRP (carbon fibre or kevlar or the like) then that is a different matter /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif but straight plastic (PVC or HDPE and the like) ones - never.
--------------------

"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>

 

[Ships_Cat]

No, as I said in my post, am talking about the glass fibre reinforced plastic industrial ones. In case of confusion am not talking about the things one finds in plumbing systems, or whatever may be found in the local plumbers' supply merchant's which are not suitable at all, but those used in industrial process pipework where they normally outlast metal valves. Very strong and very widely used on modern boats.

Does away with the troubles of lubrication (in fact are maintenance free), no corrosion issues whatsoever, etc, etc - in fact nothing bad about them. They do melt under high temperatures but if one has a high temperature fire that's seated in the bilges it is always goodbye boat in any event.

John

 

[brianbaldwin]

Can you use a brass skin fitting and a stainless steel or chromed brass ball valve as a seacock - I have seen plenty of these on hire boats??