Changing to Blakes for Inlet Stopcock?

[mattonthesea]

I have a Penta 2020 with one of these water inlet filter combined with a stopcock (I've forgotten the term for it: a tap that takes twenty turns from open to closed). I've never been able to get the filter out, particularly as it is in a place of low visibility. I have been thinking about replacing the stopcock with a Blakes and changing to one of these types of filters.

Recently, we visited the pondweed heart of Limehouse Basin. Despite clearing the filter once on lock out, we suffered from overheating by the time we got to the M25 bridge. We switched off and cleared the weed again; with the light wind I could keep a course of sorts. However, it was not an easy operation and I got to thinking of how this could have been nasty in different circumstances. It would have been much easier to open a plastic, screw-top filter, clear it and replace. I suppose the Blakes mention is that it quicker to turn off.

Have any of you had similar thoughts and acted on them? What were your conclusions?

Thanks in advance

 

[Poignard]

Good idea!

I replaced a Stuart sea-cock with filter attached for a Blakes 3/4" sea cock and a Plastimo strainer at about water line level and i am entirely happy with the set-up.

Easy to clean and you easily check and see the water is flowing.

It's also handy when running the engine with the boat ashore. Open the seacock, take off the filter lid and let a hose pour water into the filter. The engine draws only the water it needs and any surplus flows down through the seacock onto the ground.

 

[Tranona]

That is called a gate valve and has no place on a boat. The normal modern arrangement is a ball valve either DZR or composite with a water filter such as the one you linked to above the waterline immediately above the intake if possible. The ball valve is 1/4 turn on/off and in the event of a blockage you can rod straight down. A ball valve is a direct replacement for the gate valve. A Blakes is really not suitable as the outlet spigot comes up at an angle rather than straight through, plus you would have to drill a larger hole and 3 new holes for the bolts.

 

[Poignard]

I couldn't put a rod through my Blakes seacock even if I wanted to (and why would I?) because it has one of these fitted:

 

[pvb]

I have been thinking about replacing the stopcock with a Blakes and changing to one of these types of filters.

The filter's OK, but a simple ball valve would be a much neater solution than a Blake's seacock.

 

[Tranona]

I couldn't put a rod through my Blakes seacock even if I wanted to (and why would I?) because it has one of these fitted:

View attachment 122494

Not always a good solution as they can get easily blocked by certain types of weed such as the OP experienced. Not so much of a problem in the application they were designed for - toilet inlets. The more common setup of straight through ball valves and above waterline filter provides more options for dealing with blockages.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Not always a good solution as they can get easily blocked by certain types of weed such as the OP experienced. Not so much of a problem in the application they were designed for - toilet inlets. The more common setup of straight through ball valves and above waterline filter provides more options for dealing with blockages.

Good point, about the filter.

As you say a gate valve has no place at all on a boat, they fail too readily and dont seal well. Any suitable bronze/DZR ball valve will do and I would always go for 3/4 pipe for engine cooling if I had to change hull fitting (Our last boat had 1/2v inch as they skimped and it overheated)

 

[Poignard]

Not always a good solution as they can get easily blocked by certain types of weed such as the OP experienced. Not so much of a problem in the application they were designed for - toilet inlets. The more common setup of straight through ball valves and above waterline filter provides more options for dealing with blockages.

I've never had a problem with the Blakes strainer plate getting blocked. I suppose if I ever did, a blow through with the dinghy pump would soon clear it.

 

[Tranona]

I've never had a problem with the Blakes strainer plate getting blocked. I suppose if I ever did, a blow through with the dinghy pump would soon clear it.

You can argue forever whether one solution is better than another, but straight through ball valves are almost universal for engine inlets and Blakes were never intended for that application, although some builders did fit them, primarily I suspect because they were cheaper than the more common bronze strainers at the time and above waterline strainers were rare.

Personally I would much rather clear the weed from an above the waterline strainer than have to take the pipe off the engine to use a dinghy pump that may or may not work.

But then some people seem to like a challenge!

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

You can argue forever whether one solution is better than another, but straight through ball valves are almost universal for engine inlets and Blakes were never intended for that application, although some builders did fit them, primarily I suspect because they were cheaper than the more common bronze strainers at the time and above waterline strainers were rare.

Personally I would much rather clear the weed from an above the waterline strainer than have to take the pipe off the engine to use a dinghy pump that may or may not work.

But then some people seem to like a challenge!

A note for anyone putting air through your engine inlet seacock either by dinghy pump or by mouth; in order to avoid water ingress take the hose off at the hose-barb and substitute a short length of spare hose.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

That is called a gate valve and has no place on a boat. The normal modern arrangement is a ball valve either DZR or composite with a water filter such as the one you linked to above the waterline immediately above the intake if possible. The ball valve is 1/4 turn on/off and in the event of a blockage you can rod straight down. A ball valve is a direct replacement for the gate valve. A Blakes is really not suitable as the outlet spigot comes up at an angle rather than straight through, plus you would have to drill a larger hole and 3 new holes for the bolts.

The OP should bear in mind when/if replacing the existing valve with a ball-valve, that if the installation has been in situ for a long time it would be advisable to also change the skin-fitting and hose-barb, as these may well be in a dangerous condition due to de-zincification.

 

[Poignard]

You can argue forever whether one solution is better than another, but straight through ball valves are almost universal for engine inlets and Blakes were never intended for that application, although some builders did fit them, primarily I suspect because they were cheaper than the more common bronze strainers at the time and above waterline strainers were rare.

Personally I would much rather clear the weed from an above the waterline strainer than have to take the pipe off the engine to use a dinghy pump that may or may not work.

But then some people seem to like a challenge!

.
I am not arguing anything.

The OP asked for people's thoughts and conclusions only and I gave him mine. That was all. I am not telling him what to do but simply what I did.

Then, instead of merely answering his post, you, in your usual supercilious and patronising manner, decide to criticise what I said.

The OP has had thoughts and conclusions from me and from you.

Let him draw his own conclusions from what has been said, and form his own opinion; which I am quite sure he is capable of doing for himself.

I suggest you start to make it a habit to confine your answers to what is asked of you and keep your nose out of what other people say.

It is people like you who sour forums such as this with your continual desire to show off and make yourself seem better than you are by trying to belittle others.

 

[pvb]

I suggest you start to make it a habit to confine your answers to what is asked of you and keep your nose out of what other people say.

It is people like you who sour forums such as this with your continual desire to show off and make yourself seem better than you are by trying to belittle others.

This is a public forum, intended for a free exchange of opinions, some of which will differ. Tranona has a lot of relevant experience in the boating industry, and his views shouldn't be dismissed so readily. Maybe you've had a bad day, but your comments aren't welcome in the forum.

 

[Poignard]

This is a public forum, intended for a free exchange of opinions, some of which will differ. Tranona has a lot of relevant experience in the boating industry, and his views shouldn't be dismissed so readily. Maybe you've had a bad day, but your comments aren't welcome in the forum.

You are another of the same type, eg:

 

[doug748]

.......


Have any of you had similar thoughts and acted on them? What were your conclusions?

Thanks in advance

I had a similar set up supplied by the engine manufacturer and never much liked or trusted it. I fitted a Blakes (without the weed plate) with a bronze remote filter, bit like this:



Normally mounted vertically of course, and a bit of a bugger as they have no spigots, flanges, slots or holes for the purpose. Many people might prefer the plastic version but it was what I had so I fitted it.
It has the virtue of being indestructible, tho it does look like it belongs in a Victorian steam laundry. It all works fine

.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Gentlemen of the forum, some rather touchy tempers. Many of are experts in one thing or another and all of our opinions are welcome

 

[Poignard]

Here's the one I took off. I think they used to be very common

 

[Poignard]

Gentlemen of the forum, some rather touchy tempers. Many of are experts in one thing or another and all of our opinions are welcome

‘
Many contributors to these forums are not experts, and never claim to be, but they may have found a solution to some problem that worked for them and are happy to offer that experience to someone who asks for it; for the recipient to make of it what he/she will.

Unstated, but implicit, in their contribution is "I would not dream of telling you what you should but do but this is what I did and it worked for me. it might be what you're looking for; it might not. "

What is offensive, is to then have that picked apart by some self-appointed know-all; motivated by no other desire than to try and show how clever he is by belittling what others have said. It is a personality trait that I detest.

It is also very bad for a forum such as this, since it kills debate by discouraging newcomers, and the diffident, from offering their advice in case it gets sneered at by the great know-all.

All should be encouraged to participate and their well-meant contributions welcomed, not put down..

 

[PetiteFleur]

Definitely fit a ball valve, replace the skin fitting and then fit a large plastic strainer above the water line. DZR material for the ball valve and skin fitting. Makes it very easy to clean the filter quickly without closing the ball valve.

 

[mattonthesea]

Thanks everyone.

Looks like I need one of these DZR Ball Valve, Skin Fitting & Hose Connector Assembly 3/4" - Marine Scene Would it need a wooden backing plate like Blakes and Forespar Marelon? I guess it would be less likely to distort in accidentally knocked.

Matt