Seacock Elbow Modification.

[Simon F]

Hi Folks,

I'm pondering the doability and affordability of fitting a holding tank in my Albin Nova, and the outlet seacock in the current setup has a 90 degree elbow which is set at a slightly unfortunate angle for the outlet of the tank. Ideally I don't want to fit a pump and ball valve on the tank outlet and instead let gravity discharge the contents, so a route out of the boat through the hull that's as vertical as possible, would be a good thing. can I realistically re-orientate the elbow if I borrow a huge spanner to hold the seacock and something to give the torque to unscrew the elbow and then refit it a quarter turn clockwise?

Thanks

Simon

 

[Boathook]

If you able put a 90 degree swept bend in rather than an elbow. Less likely to block and easier to rod through.
I had a gravity empty holding tank on my last boat and found out !

Edit.
I think that it was actually a 120 degree hose tail that I fitted
TruDesign 120 Degree Male Threaded Hosetails | Tek-Tanks

 

[Simon F]

If you able put a 90 degree swept bend in rather than an elbow. Less likely to block and easier to rod through.
I had a gravity empty holding tank on my last boat and found out !

Edit.
I think that it was actually a 120 degree hose tail that I fitted
TruDesign 120 Degree Male Threaded Hosetails | Tek-Tanks

Yikes! Thanks Boathook. From that point of view, the most effective setup would be if the elbow was straight onto the thru hull before the sea cock. Not really an option though, unless I leave it till the boat's out of the water next.

 

[Minerva]

Yikes! Thanks Boathook. From that point of view, the most effective setup would be if the elbow was straight onto the thru hull before the sea cock. Not really an option though, unless I leave it till the boat's out of the water next.

I might just be a feartie, but I wouldn’t be loosening seacock arrangements afloat.

 

[Halo]

Looking at the close up of the elbow and valve it looks like there is some sort of pin preventing the elbow being rotated relative to the valve. Or am I imagining it??

 

[MontyMariner]

let gravity discharge the contents

That means that the bottom of the tank needs to be above the outlet and to get any head on it probably above the waterline, which I wouldn't have thought to be a good idea.
I have a pumped tank, it is arranged that the bilge pump pipe goes into a two way valve, the other input is from the tank outlet so the pump is dual function.

 

[Boathook]

Looking at the pictures again. I wouldn't try to remove the elbow until the boat is ashore. Very good chance that the seacock will move even using spanners to hold it.

 

[LittleSister]

Hi Folks,

. . . can I realistically re-orientate the elbow if I borrow a huge spanner to hold the seacock and something to give the torque to unscrew the elbow and then refit it a quarter turn clockwise?

In order to have the elbow (or some new elbow) turning in a different direction you will need to either:
- unfix the thru-hull from the hull, fix the elbow (perhaps temporarily) to it the thru-hull, and then reseal and clamp up the thru-hull in the new position; or
- fit a half-nut on the thread on the thru-hull (or sea-cock) before the elbow, so that it can be clamped in place when it is facing the desired orientation.

(I couldn't find 1 1/2" BSP half-nuts when I was doing a similar job, so had to use the first option above. I did this when replacing a couple of seacocks and in the process intended to improve the accessibility/operability of the handles of the seacocks. I did this with some care, and having to get in and out of the boat (then ashore) repeatedly to make sure I had the rotation orientation of the thru-hull right so that when I subsequently fitted the seacocks the handles would be in the correct orientation. One of them worked fine, but the other I somehow got the orientation of the thru-hull 180 degrees out, so that the handle has full movement, but is located on the far side of seacock when you put your hand into its inconvenient location. It's annoyed me ever since!)

 

[Boathook]

Back nuts.
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[Simon F]

I might just be a feartie, but I wouldn’t be loosening seacock arrangements afloat.

In case I accidentally unscrew the seacock from the thru-hull you mean? You're probably right.

In order to have the elbow (or some new elbow) turning in a different direction you will need to either:
- unfix the thru-hull from the hull, fix the elbow (perhaps temporarily) to it the thru-hull, and then reseal and clamp up the thru-hull in the new position; or
- fit a half-nut on the thread on the thru-hull (or sea-cock) before the elbow, so that it can be clamped in place when it is facing the desired orientation.

(I couldn't find 1 1/2" BSP half-nuts when I was doing a similar job, so had to use the first option above. I did this when replacing a couple of seacocks and in the process intended to improve the accessibility/operability of the handles of the seacocks. I did this with some care, and having to get in and out of the boat (then ashore) repeatedly to make sure I had the rotation orientation of the thru-hull right so that when I subsequently fitted the seacocks the handles would be in the correct orientation. One of them worked fine, but the other I somehow got the orientation of the thru-hull 180 degrees out, so that the handle has full movement, but is located on the far side of seacock when you put your hand into its inconvenient location. It's annoyed me ever since!)

That's just the kind of thing that's always happening to me!

 

[Simon F]

Back nuts.
Search | ASAP Supplies

That's very helpful; thanks.

 

[Simon F]

Looking at the close up of the elbow and valve it looks like there is some sort of pin preventing the elbow being rotated relative to the valve. Or am I imagining it??

I think that's a vestige of the manufacturing process. Maybe a channel where the bronze was poured into a mold.