Re-bedding through hulls.

[bumblefish]

There is an article in Sailing Today, (am I allowed to mention it here?) on installing seacocks/through hulls. They are bedded dircetly to the hull with no other material, other than sealant. All mine have a round of marine ply and I am about to re-bed at least 2 of them. Am I correct in assuming you only need to use marine ply if the curvature of the hull at the point of entry/exit precludes a good seal, so you shape the ply to fit or am I missing something?

 

[Aja]

All mine have round ply 'spacers about 3" (8cm) in diameter between the seacock and the grp hull.

Father's wooden boat is similar - but his are definitly 3" - its an old boat!

Suspect you can tighten more without damage to the hull and displaces any stress further.

Regards
Donald

 

[pete]

Mine are all directly to the hull with sealant I think you are right about the ply taking up the profile of the hull.

Pete

 

[Topcat47]

Mine are bedded directly onto the hull but I use ply backing pads inside, pleanty of jallop on all the mating surfaces before tightening up.

 

[bumblefish]

Also, they showed a method for testing for leaks before re-floating, any hints on testing methods? Or are you so confident you don't need to?

 

[rogerthebodger]

Only use ply if the seacocks are metal. If plastic the expansion of the ply when it gets wet can crack the plastic through hull fittings