Cockpit drain on Crabber 17

[NigelCraig]

I would have posted this in Cornish Crabber forum but it seems to have fallen into disuse.

I was wondering what maintenance is needed on the cockpit drain on Crabber 17? The aft cockpit drains through a plughole at approximetely the centre point, through a hose to a skin fitting well below the waterline, just adjacent to the keel. There is a seacock in the central cockpit where it exits, but as it sits on a (drying) mooring the seacock is left open permamently to drain rainwater. There must be some sort of non-return valve but the water level is always visible through the cockpit drain.

There isn't a problem but I just wondered if there is anything that should periodically be replaced.

 

[Tranona]

Doubt there is a non-return valve. Just a straight pipe through a seacock. Check that the seacock opens and closes properly. Should be open all the time unless you want you cockpit to fill with rainwater when unattended.

 

[prv]

Only job to do periodically is open and close the seacock so that it doesn't seize up in the open position. Eventually you'd need to replace the hose but we're talking decades.

Pete

 

[NigelCraig]

Only job to do periodically is open and close the seacock so that it doesn't seize up in the open position. Eventually you'd need to replace the hose but we're talking decades.

Pete

Thanks, I'll do that - do you think it would cause any good/harm to spray the seacock with silicon lubricant

 

[Tranona]

You should not need to. It is a plated valve running in a composite bearing which is self lubricating. If it is stiff it is usually because there is a build up of deposits on the edge of the opening in the ball. That is why it is worth operating it regularly. When the boat is out of the water, clean inside the skin fitting and the bottom of the valve.