Help! Is this seacock open or closed?

[Bbroomlea]

I'm in the process of preparing for winter and wont be returning to the boat for a couple of months. Its staying in the water until February before being lifted for a few jobs before the spring.

So, on my checklist is the seacocks and not sure if they are open or closed - first year with the boat! I can work the toilet inlet out and the engine one but the one I'm not sure about is the toilet outlet as the valve is turned to direct waste to the holding tank.

Picutres are here - more concerning anyway is the pipe that needs attaching a little better - its not slipping any more and its been like this since we bought the boat and the pipe isnt long enough to push it all of the way on but I want it sorting but for peace of mind before I want to make sure the seacock is closed. I'm guessing its closed as the boat has always been on windermere and so should never have needed using but you never know!

Any help really appreciated - now off to buy some greenhouse heaters!

 

[VicS]

With the handle in line with the valve body it should be open!

With the handle at right angles it should be closed.

 

[GSL]

Vic is right, that one is open!

GL

 

[Moody]

With the handle in line with the valve body it should be open!

With the handle at right angles it should be closed.

DITTO

 

[mainshiptom]

open but filter is full of xxxx.


Tom

 

[Bbroomlea]

Vic is right, that one is open!

GL

Great!! Wonder why the previous owners left it open - unless they didnt use the holding tank!!

I'll call the marina tomorrow and ask them to go and close it - otherwise I may not sleep this week

 

[PaulGooch]

That hose looks very dodgy. Good practice with all hoses fitted to sea cocks is to fit double hose clips,

 

[Bbroomlea]

That hose looks very dodgy. Good practice with all hoses fitted to sea cocks is to fit double hose clips,

Thanks for the tip - I will do that. The seacock never needs to be open but will get some longer hose and fit the double clips just in case!

 

[old_salt]

Thanks for the tip - I will do that. The sea cock never needs to be open but will get some longer hose and fit the double clips just in case!

Another little help depending on the manufacturer it may have a line cut in the end on the valve spindle indicating the line of the hole though the rotating bit.

A good tip, valves with a screw down hand wheel is when they are in the OPEN position turn the wheel back 1 turn then you will always have freedom of movement to work out it's open.
No movement then it's shut, if they feel as tho they "are stuck shut" a little help with a wheel key wont snap the spindle you will then get some movement to work them free.

 

[kashurst]

take care....

before you shut off that seacock from the toilet - holding tank system, just check that the relevant Y valve is also appropriately set so that toilet waste goes into the holding tank and not down to the now closed sea cock. I am sure the previous owner would never dream of taking a dump in lake windermere, but I once got this wrong on a previous boat and the clean up operation when the pipes came off was memorable...........






by the way can you smell something funny?

 

[davedpc]

Have you considered oil filled tube heaters ? I think they rate 20watts per. foot and the're less expencive.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

For any hose fittings below the waterline, they must be double clipped. In your case it looks as if the hose is the right length as there is a right angle bend on top of the seacocks but the hoses are only single clipped which actually is very bad practice by the boat builder or whoever fitted the hoses. Always remember that a hose failure at an open seacock is likely to lead to sinking of the boat so it pays to regularly check hoses and fittings and close seacocks when not in use. Also, its worthwile opening and closing seacocks on a regular basis to ensure that they still work. Seacocks left for long periods in an open or closed position tend to corrode and stick in that position. Also it is possible to break the mechanism. If the lever moves too freely, its possible that the shaft to the valve itself is sheared and you may think that the seacock is closed or open when it isn't

 

[Doug_Stormforce]

......The seacock never needs to be open .....

If so then once you have closed it remove the handle and stash it in your "onboard spares" This will stop any keen crew from opening it by mistake.

Every six months re fit it and open/close the valve to ensure it does not jam.