Seacock handle turning, but not opening?

[Tim Good]

I’ve been lucky with seascocks generally. But on my heads the previous owner installed what I believe are large stainless ball valves on bronze skin fittings. You can clearly see plenty of barrier paint which has since hardened.

They’ve always been fine but recently I go to flush the toilet and it won’t. I’ve isolated the problem to the seacock and I jumped in with a torch to check. The ball isn’t turning when the handle is moved.

Is this common? Mechanically what’s happened exactly. It’s pain in the ass since we just set off in a circumnavigation and could have replaced these in the yard a few months ago.

 

[penberth3]

I’ve been lucky with seascocks generally. But on my heads the previous owner installed what I believe are large stainless ball valves on bronze skin fittings. You can clearly see plenty of barrier paint which has since hardened.

They’ve always been fine but recently I go to flush the toilet and it won’t. I’ve isolated the problem to the seacock and I jumped in with a torch to check. The ball isn’t turning when the handle is moved.

Is this common? Mechanically what’s happened exactly. It’s pain in the ass since we just set off in a circumnavigation and could have replaced these in the yard a few months ago.

I'll guess the spindle has sheared or its square end has rounded-off. It's not uncommon, usually because the ball is stiff in the seals.

 

[Plum]

I’ve been lucky with seascocks generally. But on my heads the previous owner installed what I believe are large stainless ball valves on bronze skin fittings. You can clearly see plenty of barrier paint which has since hardened.

They’ve always been fine but recently I go to flush the toilet and it won’t. I’ve isolated the problem to the seacock and I jumped in with a torch to check. The ball isn’t turning when the handle is moved.

Is this common? Mechanically what’s happened exactly. It’s pain in the ass since we just set off in a circumnavigation and could have replaced these in the yard a few months ago.

Not common, in my experience There are two opportunities for the handle not to rotate the ball. First is a failure of the drive of the handle on the shaft, usually two flats on the shaft that locate in he slot in the handle, easy to observe after removal of the handle nut.Second is a failure of the rectangle on the inner end of the shaft that locates in the slot in the side of the ball, impossible to observe without dismantling the ball valve.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

It happened to me; I'm afraid it is a common mode of failure of seacocks.

 

[GEM43]

Happened to me too, just as you describe. If the skipper is brave, I’m told, the valve can be changed with boat in the water by the insertion of a wooden bung in to the through hull (from the outside obviously ). I’m not brave, I paid for a lift and hold.

 

[geem]

Happened to me too, just as you describe. If the skipper is brave, I’m told, the valve can be changed with boat in the water by the insertion of a wooden bung in to the through hull (from the outside obviously ). I’m not brave, I paid for a lift and hold.

I did it on my last boat. It worked fine but was a little nerve racking

 

[merjan]

If you need/want to replace it with the boat afloat, you could give the Seabung a go

...if you can get hold of them during a circumnavigation

 

[Mark-1]

It’s pain in the ass

 

[Cerebus]

If you need/want to replace it with the boat afloat, you could give the Seabung a go

...if you can get hold of them during a circumnavigation

I remember reading about them in PBO many years ago.

If Tim’s seacock is closed, no good.

Is the company still trading?

Seabung - Breach Control Technology

This says not trading, but accounts are available in 2025? I don’t understand such things.

https://companycheck.co.uk/company/08521976/SEABUNG-LIMITED/companies-house-data

No use to Tim, he needs a new seacock (and a spare), but it sounds like he is ‘all at sea’ already. And a fix sounds pretty impossible and unlikely to last.

Good luck, Tim

 

[Boathook]

I prefer to change seacocks when the boat is ashore. Gives time to also check the skin fitting ....

 

[Tim Good]

Happened to me too, just as you describe. If the skipper is brave, I’m told, the valve can be changed with boat in the water by the insertion of a wooden bung in to the through hull (from the outside obviously ). I’m not brave, I paid for a lift and hold.

Yeah I mean I imagine the valve is well and truly stuck to the skin fitting if I tried to get it off I’m fairly sure the skin fitting would spin and leak.

 

[GEM43]

Yeah I mean I imagine the valve is well and truly stuck to the skin fitting if I tried to get it off I’m fairly sure the skin fitting would spin and leak.

That’s what I concluded too…..hence I paid for a lift.

 

[Tim Good]

That’s what I concluded too…..hence I paid for a lift.

Frustratingly there is very little tide in this part of the world else I’d just dry out and do it.

 

[merjan]

Yes, the seabung would be no use if it’s stuck in the closed position.
Once I unscrewed a seacock after diving under the boat and plugging a flexible plug into the thru hull from the outside.

Anyway I guess comments on “how to fix the issue” was not the OPs request, but best of luck. It sounds like a frustrating situation.

 

[geem]

Frustratingly there is very little tide in this part of the world else I’d just dry out and do it.

There is 2.5m of tidal range at the moment. Plenty for accessing a seacock. We have a big shiny moon out there

 

[Tim Good]

There is 2.5m of tidal range at the moment. Plenty for accessing a seacock. We have a big shiny moon out there

Yes true. Are you in the Canary Islands also?

Finding a suitable wall however is difficult. We have legs but the swell outside of the harbours is too much. Even in most of the harbours it’s too much.

In Arrecife, where we are now I think it’s possible but I firstly need to find a replacement skin fitting and valve. I’d ideally like to start moving towards Tru Design. This might as well be my first.

 

[geem]

Yes true. Are you in the Canary Islands also?

Finding a suitable wall however is difficult. We have legs but the swell outside of the harbours is too much. Even in most of the harbours it’s too much.

In Arrecife, where we are now I think it’s possible but I firstly need to find a replacement skin fitting and valve. I’d ideally like to start moving towards Tru Design. This might as well be my first.

If you are planing to sail around the world, it's a good idea to have comprehensive spares inboard. We carry a spare valve just in case.

 

[Tim Good]

If you are planing to sail around the world, it's a good idea to have comprehensive spares inboard. We carry a spare valve just in case.

Yeah I carry every valve but not these huge ones for the heads. Perhaps I should have done.

 

[bikedaft]

Yeah I carry every valve but not these huge ones for the heads. Perhaps I should have done.

always easy in retrospect!! don't beat yourself up.

i have changed seacocks in the water. bungs will seal most holes. not that difficult. a bit nerve wracking the first time. i was near a boatyard, during the day, if it had all gone wrong.

we also carry a large shifter to hold the hull fitment, to stop it from spinning. can make the right size up from a bit of steel with a hacksaw if needs be.

could you tip her over a bit - tied at bow and stern, halyard to tip her over?

 

[bikedaft]

ps plumbers trick - if water is coming in - you will only screw a valve onto the hull fitment if the valve is in the open position. works even with cold water mains pressure on land. hopefully your seacock is not too deep.

(i have also changed seacocks by putting my thumb over the hull fitment on the inside, after unscrewing the old seacock. only 1-2 litres came in.)