Odd place to put a seacock (Neptunian Ketch)

[CalicoJack]

Having owned the boat for six years I thought that I knew it pretty well, but whilst laying upside down in one of the lockers in the cockpit (as you do when you just want to have so much fun) I discovered that there are two sea-cocks (gate valves) on the discharge pipes from the manual and electric bilge pumps. These are mounted right up against the underside of the gunwale, almost at deck level, where they discharge over the side. Seems an odd place to have them. For water to get in from the sea the boat would have to be so far over that the mast would be almost horizontal to the sea, and believe me, if it was thats exactly the time I would not want to be turning off the bilge pumps, but turning them on full bore!

Any thoughts as to why they might be there?

 

[Tranona]

Belt and braces. However there can be situations where water could get in. Dried out on its side and before the boat lifts with the tide for example. Probably seized solid now anyway.

 

[CalicoJack]

No, surprisingly the wheels turned, but whether the valves opened and closed I didn't try to find out. Good thinking about drying out though.
Nigel

 

[ghostlymoron]

If you've got gate valves - ditch them and replace with ball type. Sounds like access could be a problem though.

 

[Leighb]

I better check mine then. I have a bilge exit in a similar place, it did not occur to me that there might be a seacock.

 

[robmcg]

I have 3 of them! 2 for the manual bilge pumps and one for the auto! Mine need changing too ( gate valves )