Seacocks or not to seacocks

I

itsonlymoney

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How many people shut off there toilet (manual) raw water seacock when not onboard. I dont, but beleive that I should. If thats the case I got to thinking what else am I supposed to do and dont. Suggestions on a postcard, or just post it here.

Ian



<hr width=100% size=1>Play the best game you can with the cards you've been dealt ! ! !
 
Well I shut everything off and panic if I forget anything.

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>No one can force me to come here.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn
 
I think this subject has been covered before and there is a divergence of opinion. Personally I leave my engine seacocks open mainly because I spoke to my insurance company and they told me that they advised owners to do this because they got more claims from owners with blown engines as a result of forgetting to open the seacocks than from owners whose boats had sunk as a result of leaving the seacocks open
Whatever you choose to do, its always a good idea to operate the seacocks regularly to ensure they dont seize


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I try not to think about what I am supposed and not supposed to do, I know I dont do half the things I should, but the boat is still there........ I think!!!

For the record I have never closed them, this is due to not knowing where they are.



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Not had this boat long so I am not completely familiar as yet. No one told me until recently that secocks should always be off. Never had a seacock before and as far as I know I only have the one. Scared th S**t out of me. Now I have another worry "has my boat sank. and is it my fault" as if there isnt enough to worry about.

Ian



<hr width=100% size=1>Play the best game you can with the cards you've been dealt ! ! !
 
Hi jim
I think you were onboard sat. we arrived 6 ish if you saw me panicking see my post "Oops" total disaster cos I also got called back to sort out a bussiness problem lunch time so didnt get to come over.
Ian
PS dont know were mine are either

<hr width=100% size=1>Play the best game you can with the cards you've been dealt ! ! !
 
you are supposed to close all the seacocks BUT if you do this then you must remember to open them qv Deleted User below. This year i decided to closem cos i am unsure of the auto bilgges which i think may be making a nice alarm noise but don't actually erm turn on. Tho previosuly i have left them open.

Anyway, if you do close the seacock get some big stickers and signs all over the place on dash and in engineroom and on throttles saying NO ENGINES- SEACOCK CLOSERD and NO GENERATORS and NO BOGS etc.

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I never shut my seacocks but I always run to the back of the boat and check for water coming out of the exhsut as soon as I turn engines on !

Tom

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Ian

I think you will have two seacocks; one for the head intake which I think should be under the steps into the cabin (under the bin perhaps) and, if you have a macerator attached to your holding tank, one on the discharge pipe (may need to look for this but on my 2855 it is tucked away behind the engine in the engine bay - just follow the route of the discharge pipe). On Windermere this second seacock should be permanently closed to prevent accidental discharge but you should still check it regularly to ensure it hasn't seized up

This all assumes that your boat has an Alpha 1 drive, if you have a Bravo drive I believe the raw water pickup is pumped through a seperate through hull which should also have a seacock. (I stand to be corrected on that point)

Martyn




<hr width=100% size=1>The Dream is Alive
 
Thanks Martyn
I shall investigate further at the weekend but I have to say that I have not noticed anything under the step and I have used it for storage, could have missed it I suppose. Have got a macerator so I will trace that also.

Ian

<hr width=100% size=1>Play the best game you can with the cards you've been dealt ! ! !
 
leave em open

I agree with Deleted User, leave them open all the time but exercise them now and again else they seize, and do a full grease up of them as part of annual service.

The benefit of closing them is that it removes risk that the hose will fail, hence sinking the boat the boat. The downside of closing them is that it's an unpleasant hassle, and boating is supposed to be about enjoying yourself. The chances of hose failure/sinking on an otherwise well-maintained boat are tiny, so closing the seacocks every time is akin to chocking your well-maintained car with bricks when you park it, in case handbrake cable snaps. The benefit doesn't justify the hassle

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having rusted solid sea cocks open on my boat cuased the flooded engine room and ruined starter motor etc, the pipes to the heads had split Had the devils rusted closed it would have been a cheaper fix.
It is a trauma on the Falcon to get at both seacocks but I make sure they are shut when I leave the boat also had them renewed.

<hr width=100% size=1>KISMET HARDY
 
Well it’s about priorities!

My priority is the engines running well!

I am never worried about the boat sinking? They are built to float! I rather replace an intake water pipe if they look bad then closing the seacocks and then running the engine without water?

Tom


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Just an idea, if your seacocks are near battery switch. Clip one of those fluorescent spiral cords to seacock, and the other end to Battery Switch or somewhere obvious to remind you, as you start engines. They have these spiral thingies for motorcyle wheel locks to handlebars so you can not forget lock is on wheel as you take off.
Of course failing that I can not understand why there is not a micro switch interlock on the seacocks. It could only add a few quid to the cost of any boat.

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