Gate valve corrosion, frightening!

Medskipper

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20 Dec 2001
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Couldn't understand why a gate valve on my toilet outlet was not closing off properly so I decided to look at it more closely.

You know the sort of thing, its in a tiny cupboard under the floor in the wets locker, the wets locker is about ten inches wide and the valve is about 3 foot down against the hull. Any way I turned it until I could not turn any more and then just tried to nip it up a bit more........ and, oh my god I was staring at my hand which was holding the red gate handle which was now no longer attached to the valve!! the handle spindle and part of the brass body had come away completely! for a second I was stunned expecting to see water rushing in! and then I realised thank god I am on dry land!!! If that had happened to me at sea the boat may very well have sunk! These valves were only replaced about six years ago, and they were so badly corroded they just fell apart in my hands!

Needless to say, I am now replacing all my gate valves, one for each toilet pan and one for each engine intake!

You have been warned! replace old valves in the bottom of your boats,

Regards Barry
 

aidancoughlan

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24 Jun 2002
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been there recently..... check out past threads on PBO forum on seacocks etc.
in a nutshell, go for Ball-valves not gate valves, avoid brass and 'tonval', and anything of which you are unsure what it is below the waterline.
hull fittings & valves described as 'DZR' brass are ok, as are Gunmetal.
Blakes are DZR brass, but you can get much cheaper and simpler ball valve versions.
 

Ifraser

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10 Feb 2004
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Poole Dorset
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Came across a similar situation on a 5 year old work boat on a seawater strainer intake for the fire pump. The engineer leant on it and it snapped right off...The metal had degraded possibly due to bad earth bonding. Luckily this was ashore during refit so no water ingress but its always a worry to think what else can break and sink your boat!! Iain
 
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