markhill
New member
So how many of us close our engine sea cocks when the boat is not in use. We are out on the water at least twice a week and generally leave them open. However we close the loo sea cocks.
Sea Cocks - Informal Survey
- Thread starter markhill
- Start date
D
Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
Ashamed to admit we have left our boat in the Med for weeks on end without closing any seacock. When I am rummaging around in the bilges, I do make a point of operating them a few times and giving them a good tug to check they're still in good order but thats it
Btw, I did happen to speak to my insurance company about this subject a while back and their informal opinion was that they get more claims from owners who blow their engines by setting off with the engine seacocks closed than from owners whose boat has sunk due to leaving seacocks open. So, their advice was not to close the engine seacocks ever although it would be good practice to close the others
Btw, I did happen to speak to my insurance company about this subject a while back and their informal opinion was that they get more claims from owners who blow their engines by setting off with the engine seacocks closed than from owners whose boat has sunk due to leaving seacocks open. So, their advice was not to close the engine seacocks ever although it would be good practice to close the others
lydiamight
Well-known member
Always close all eight seacocks when leaving the boat. All seacocks are lever valves so it's no great problem. Keep the ignition key or main battery key (if it's the removable type) on a piece of cord and store it over the lever on the valve for the engine cooling intake. When you go to get the key you have to turn the seacock on to unhook it from the lever--I find it's pretty foolproof.
Mirelle
N/A
Exactly the same
MART1N
New member
Erm..... never closed any......ever.
Its_Only_Money
New member
Sound's like your insurer's have given the answer that will minimise the chances of a problem, but what would they do if the problem occurs (which is the point of insurance surely), ie would they cover a sunken boat where the seacocks are left open and would they cover the claim of an owner who starts up with them closed????
I would have thought both those cases stand a good chance of being thrown out due to contributory actions by the insured????
I would have thought both those cases stand a good chance of being thrown out due to contributory actions by the insured????
pissativlypossed
New member
Close them all everytime, being a boreing fart I have a routine everytime I set off, and so far have had no problems.
jfm
Well-known member
priorities - non-sinking of the boat isn\'t the highest
Leave em open. We exercise them from time to time, but when leaving the boat we leave em open. Having to shut them all is a faff, and breaks a cardinal rule in that it would detract from enjoyment of boat.
If she sinks then ok she sinks, but only .00001% chance of that happening, and if it does then she's replaceable. Whereas all those 10minutes of going round 5 hatches and opening/shutting a dozen seacocks twice nearly every weekend represents a 100% chance of wasting all of that completely irreplaceable time
Leave em open. We exercise them from time to time, but when leaving the boat we leave em open. Having to shut them all is a faff, and breaks a cardinal rule in that it would detract from enjoyment of boat.
If she sinks then ok she sinks, but only .00001% chance of that happening, and if it does then she's replaceable. Whereas all those 10minutes of going round 5 hatches and opening/shutting a dozen seacocks twice nearly every weekend represents a 100% chance of wasting all of that completely irreplaceable time
Vagabond
New member
I check them to see if they are free but I never close them.
duncan
Active member
As someone who used to leave them open but returned one morning to a sunken boat (insurers did settle) I now turn them all off when leaving the boat (for some reason?). In practice I have a BIII outdrive that also delivers water and cannot be sealed. Insurers loss adjuster highlighted the risk but Mercruiser engineers pretty much refused to fit a seacock on the basis that if you didnt open it the drive would fail, and potentially in spectacular style. Advised insurers and they said it was up to me to consider the issues raised and act as I saw fit......
btw- you are normally covered for your negligence under the policy wording
btw- you are normally covered for your negligence under the policy wording
mjf
Active member
Re: priorities - non-sinking of the boat isn\'t the highest
I am with you 100%.
Exercise them when you see them and leave open. The toilet ones on my baot are a sod to reach and having my head upside down through the sole just before locking up would spoil my day
I am with you 100%.
Exercise them when you see them and leave open. The toilet ones on my baot are a sod to reach and having my head upside down through the sole just before locking up would spoil my day
hlb
RIP
I've always closed mine. Also had far to many experiences of near sinking boats. Now have a bilge alarm as well. Big one so anyone in the marina can hear!
itsonlymoney
New member
Only got one for the heads but close it every time we leave boat.
Ian
Ian
jerryat
Active member
I've never left my boat without turning off all seacocks. For the few seconds it takes, not bothering just doesn't make sense - to me anyway!
Cheers Jerry
Cheers Jerry
tome
New member
As a raggie with a low anxiety threshold I close all seacocks and turn off the gas before leaving the boat (except for cockpit drains as I don't want it to fill with rainwater). Doesn't take long, and I feel I'm doing the decent thing by her.
I also give her a little pat on the bow and a 'well done girl' before I leave. As I walk up the pontoon to my car, I try not to look back in pride. Haven't succeeded yet.
I also give her a little pat on the bow and a 'well done girl' before I leave. As I walk up the pontoon to my car, I try not to look back in pride. Haven't succeeded yet.
Stoaty
Member
My wife turns the seacocks and gas off just before she takes the rubbish off.
tome
New member
Aren't you the lucky one?
Medskipper
Active member
Yep, always shut them off when I leave the boat, I leave myself a big notice at the helm though just to remind me to turn the engine intake stop cocks open again, bad news if you start the engines and head off with them closed!! in fact some one told me that if it were to sink and the insurance found that they had not been closed and this was the result, they might not pay out, or would seek to reduce the claim! but don't know if this is true, maybe somebody here knows better?
Barry
Barry
amf
New member
Shut off gas and toilet sea cock when leaving boat after weekend but have outdrive.
BTW: Why don't outdrives have sea cocks? Can you still sink if seals fail etc?
BTW: Why don't outdrives have sea cocks? Can you still sink if seals fail etc?
Its_Only_Money
New member
[ QUOTE ]
BTW: Why don't outdrives have sea cocks? Can you still sink if seals fail etc?
[/ QUOTE ]
Carry out an impellor change (engine mounted pump obviously), and you'll find yourself sinking for the period that you have the front plate off......so yes, a busted hose low down on the engine would cause flooding.
Quick fix is to get a bag/binliner over the lower leg, the water pressure should hold it against the inlet and slow the flow while you seal off the hose inside.
BTW: Why don't outdrives have sea cocks? Can you still sink if seals fail etc?
[/ QUOTE ]
Carry out an impellor change (engine mounted pump obviously), and you'll find yourself sinking for the period that you have the front plate off......so yes, a busted hose low down on the engine would cause flooding.
Quick fix is to get a bag/binliner over the lower leg, the water pressure should hold it against the inlet and slow the flow while you seal off the hose inside.
