yachtorion
Well-Known Member
I'm curious. Given the difficulties in knowing exactly what the material is, corrosion galvanic and otherwise etc... why does anyone still fit anything other than marelon thru hulls and valves?
Metal Thru Hulls
- Thread starter yachtorion
- Start date
robmcg
Well-Known Member
Price!
yachtorion
Well-Known Member
Hmm... you have a point.. Based on rounded ex VAT pricing from ASAP...
3/4inch Marelon thru hull and valve - £43
vs.
DZR Valve/Thru Hull/Hose Tail: £26
But then for £17 extra over DZR (£7 for Bronze) - wouldn't you rather have the Marelon over the metal?
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pvb
Well-Known Member
But if you're competing in a difficult market, and need to keep costs competitive....
Tranona
Well-Known Member
The "problem" is vastly overrated. Firstly there is little evidence that even plain brass ball valves systematically fail in service, although through hull fittings and tails do from time to time. Tens of thousands of ball valves are fitted to boats (think, many boats have as many as 10 such valves!) and if the doom mongers were right the sea would be littered with boats that have sunk from failed valves.
DZR has been widely available for many years, although until recently it was often difficult to distinguish from plain brass. European builders have used plain brass as well as DZR and don't seem to have an epidemic of failure. Non metal valves are common in the North America and down under, mainly because DZR has not been available and they are cheaper than bronze. So manufacturers meet that local need. Some designs are not straight substitutes for metal valves so not so attractive as replacements here, plus as you have found they are generally more expensive, reflecting the low demand and lack of local manufacture. Although the price difference on individual items may appear small it is significant if you are replacing whole assemblies, and the complete set in a boat.