sea cock inner cone

[sheppard]

The conical tap in one of my Blakes sea cocks has an eroded ‘pit’ opposite the hose input. The sea cock seems sound, not a drip leaking, as the topmost half cm of brass is sound (and this top rim is the bit, the brochure says, which keeps the ocean out).

When I asked in chandlers about a new conical insert, they sucked air through their teeth, shook their heads oh-so sadly, and generally looked at me as though a flock of seagulls had roosted on my head for a week. They sold only the set, with the outer sleeve that is set into the hull, because they match each other, apparently. In other words, instead of a £40 inner cone, they sell the whole unit (£100, which is ok), but which means a lift out, cutting out the old sleeve, fibre-glassing and so on, adding a zero to the cost and making a big deal out of what I thought was a simple replacement.

Anyone had experience with fitting an inner cone only? Did the fact that you had a non-matched pair cause a problem, as in water moving inwards, boat moving downwards, and so on?

 

[Guest]

Is the pit a problem? Is it so deep that you're worried about structural failure? I'm not an expert, just curious.

 

[Stemar]

I have a vague memory of having read that they're machined to fit as a set, so an off the shelf replacement cone is unlikely to fit.

If the top section is OK, I can't see any reason to worry for another year or several. If it ever does start to leak, you can lap it with fine valve grinding paste.

 

[Tomkat17]

Why don't you borrow a cone from someone and test the theory that everyone is different.

 

[Krusty]

Panic not! The Blakes seacocks in my boat were pitted, just as you describe, when I bought her 20 years ago, and I reground them (coarse paste, then fine) until the top 'band' was as wide as yours is now.
I have refreshed them with a very light regrind, fine paste only, maybe four times since, and they do not leak.
The tricks are: 1, a good fill of a good underwater grease: 2, careful adjustment of the retaining ring, barely tight with a film of grease under it: and 3, closing them only when it really is quite risky to leave them open; (there was a thread about this a while ago).
I only shut mine when leaving the boat for a few weeks, or when pounding to windward in a seaway, when the transient pressures might peak high enough to split a hose or blow it off. Otherwise, if the hose is sound and properly installed, with twin hose-clips (in good nick) at both ends, why shut the seacock?
Trouble and expense will find you soon enough: you don't have to go looking for it!

 

[bumblefish]

When I bought Barella/Bumblefish, must get round to the re-naming soon, the Blakes on the heads outlet was jammed, it took a mighty force to get it moving and then only after I had removed it from the boat. The corrosion on mine was on both the cone and the seat, I opted to replace it with a new one with the greasing nipple built in. Apart from the cost of the new seacock the cost of a local chap, Garth GRP, to glass over the new one and bed in a fibreglass backing pad, was quite reasonable and I thought worth the expense. If in real doubt get a new one with the nipple.

 

[VicMallows]

As Piota stated, there was a recent quite extensive thread on this which you should find easily.

My outlet is badly pitted in the area opposite the hose in the normal 'closed' postition (90deg to the open) ..... but you can simply turn the handle another 45 deg and use another section of the cone.

If you don't like that solution, I can see no reason why the cone cannot be machined a liittle, as long as the precise taper is maintained and you grind-in afterwards.

Vic

 

[Searush]

Fixing pitted sea cock inner cone

Clean out the pit carefully. Heat it up on a gas stove use a little flux and some hard solder to fill it. Carve it smooth with a sharp knife or rasp & some glasspaper.

With a little waterproof grease it will be as good as new.

 

[VicMallows]

Re: Fixing pitted sea cock inner cone

Agree. Epoxy even works quite well! But I've got a good few years to go before the new position pits, and will then do both at once. (whether the cone or I last longer is quite another matter /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

Vic

 

[Stemar]

Re: Fixing pitted sea cock inner cone

[ QUOTE ]
Clean out the pit carefully. Heat it up on a gas stove use a little flux and some hard solder to fill it. Carve it smooth with a sharp knife or rasp & some glasspaper.

With a little waterproof grease it will be as good as new.

[/ QUOTE ]Once you've got it roughly to shape, wrap some emery or wet 'n dry round the male part, rough side in. Insert and twist back & forth. That should get it pretty close so you can finish off with the grinding paste

 

[sheppard]

Re: Fixing pitted sea cock inner cone

Thank you all for your suggestions! Most helpful of you. There are several solutions (dont you hate that word?) for me. I'm glad in particular I dont seem to have to chop the outer sleeve out of the boat!

 

[boatmike]

The old phrase "if it aint broke dont mend it" comes to mind.....