Sea Cocks

[jonlaw]

I leave my boat, I always close all the seacocks, why ???.
cos when I go to close them in an emergency, they will close !!!!! Also the practice of moving them at such intervals is good practice!!


JOHN

 

[peteandthira]

I operate mine once a week, dunno what they do though..

 

[vyv_cox]

I thought the idea of closing them was to keep the water out? Hoses falling off seacocks when the boat is unoccupied is a tale beloved by yachting magazines but, in all likelihood, has never happened. Does no harm though, even if only to aid peaceful sleeping at home.

Same applies to turning off batteries. Ours are connected for 5 months of the year when we are aboard, although it might be argued that an electrical fault is far more likely during this period. We still turn them off in the winter, though.

 

[Landale]

Completely agree, I do exactly the same.

Last year on a charter boat though needed to change the heads pump when a hairline crack appeared and it started to leak - would the seacocks close - no way, but at least the syphon breakers worked!

I don't think the seacock had been moved for a long, long time /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Krusty]

Sure it is sensible to operate seacocks once in a while, but not too often. I find it does sqeeze out a little grease each time, advancing the day when they will not move.
Seacocks are not always closed when my boat is left, I admit, but part of our routine 'preps for heavy weather' is to close them; that checks operation often enough and when needed: it is when the boat is heeled and pounding to windward in a heavy sea that seacocks and hoses have to withstand very high shock-load pressures.
Closing the seacock protects the hose, but a fractured seacock can sink the boat so we have wood plugs of the right size tied to them and quick access. I hope it is standard practice.

 

[raven]

This might be a stupid question but has anyone had to try and use a wooden bung in anger?

I bought a pack to keep on board in case of emergency but have a feeling that trying to plug a hole with gallons of water flooding through might prove tricky. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[ChrisE]

Never had to use one in anger but have a bung tied on a short length of line to each seacock, ready for action.

I also like piota's idea about shutting seacocks when bashing to windward although none of ours are forward of the mast so praps no so much of a problem for us.