Mud up your seacocks

[davidfox]

I am intending to go to Gravelines next week and as i will have to sit in mud for part of each tide i was wondering if this would have an effect on my seacocks - i have been advised to close them, is this necessary? the mud is very soft and its a dreadful faff having to keep opening and closing them.

 

[bromleybysea]

I was in Gravelines (delightful place with very helpful staff and a good restaurant in the same building as the marina offices) recently. I turned off my engine cooling water seacock as a precaution and left the others open and had no problem. The mud looked very soft to me. As the ball/gate is a few inches above the hull opening, I guess it's theoreticallty possible for a seacock to become blocked even when closed.

 

[properjob]

Whilst a craft is afloat there is water in the skin fitting, seacock and hose up to the level of the waterline. Close the seacock and there is still water in the skin fitting, seacock and hose.
When the craft settles gently in the mud water trapped in the skin fitting below the seacock prevents mud entering the skin fitting.

I have had 4 different boats on a mud berth over the past 10 years with no 'mud in hose' problems. I always close all my seacocks, it's never been that difficult on any of my boats.

 

[aquaholic]

You may even be lucky like we were at easter, arrived in the marina and moored on the first hammerhead as you go through the gate, they let us stay there for 3 nights, water didnt drop below 2 meters

 

[davidfox]

That makes sense. thanks all