Medskipper
Active member
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
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