Seacocks Repalce or not

vas said:
well done!

that's the NZ Tru-Design ones.

that's what I have and I'd use them again in my next boat (if I ever get one) as judging from their performance I doubt I'll have to replace them ever on MiToS

V.
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They were the ones I was on about in post #10 but couldn't find a link. :encouragement:
 
jfm said:
I had plenty of dzr and wasn’t sure 100% that I didn’t have brass. And the boat is 5 yrs old now.
So I bought all my own maestro in bronze (at a jaw drop price, for the 4 inch) then hired professionals to install them.
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Were at least the skin fittings bronze? And if yes, did you replace them too?
I'm asking because obviously I assume you did if they weren't, but I'm also right now replacing the 3" engine intake valves on my boat, and the OEM Maestrini bronze skin fittings still look in very good conditions, after 15 years.
In fact, also the advise from my yard is to not bother.
For some reason, the valves were "only" DZR, unfortunately.
Btw, for their replacement I'm leaning towards those new things from Guidi with no ball inside - I will report about them in due course.
 
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MapisM said:
Were at least the skin fittings bronze? And if yes, did you replace them too?
I'm asking because obviously I assume you did if they weren't, but I'm also right now replacing the 3" engine intake valves on my boat, and the OEM Maestrini bronze skin fittings still look in very good conditions, after 15 years.
In fact, also the advise from my yard is to not bother.
For some reason, the valves were "only" DZR, unfortunately.
Btw, for their replacement I'm leaning towards those new things from Guidi with no ball inside - I will report about them in due course.
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Some were dzr, so no they were not all bronze. My worry is that some parts like hose tails were brass. I replaced everything: scoops, skin fittings, valves, hose tails,nuts. Everything. Over €6k just in materials! I am overflowing with peace of mind though :D
 
Aha, I see.
Just do us a favour, J: do NOT ask Y if it's good enough to replace all that stuff every 5 years, and publish their (obvious) approval here.
I would hate to see that recognized as a new insurance standard.... :D :p
 
MapisM said:
Aha, I see.
Just do us a favour, J: do NOT ask Y if it's good enough to replace all that stuff every 5 years, and publish their (obvious) approval here.
I would hate to see that recognized as a new insurance standard.... :D :p
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Harsh but PMSL :D:encouragement::cool:
 
All my Fairey boats, built in the 60's and 70's have bronze skin fittings that show no signs of degrading at all.

To my mind, bronze = DZR for skin fittings and hose tails its fit and forget.

Ball valves of course might need to be swapped, DZR would be fit and forget if they never seized, so they need regular operation, which of course isn't fit and forget!
 
Sneds said:
Why would Sealine use a material that isn't suitable for salt water use, cost I get but surely they're not fit for purpose?

Seems like asking for trouble to me
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Afaik the RCD calls for products to be good for 5 years, no more.

You would be surprised how many European boat builders fitted brass fittings and valves as standard.

With a stray current or other bonding fault brass does not last 5 years.
 
I agree with Hurric, this isn't a job that should be tackled 'in the slings', for two reasons. Firstly the skin fittings can be a bugger to remove (often needing to be cut out) and secondly the sealant for the new fixings needs to be given time to set properly. It just doesn't feel like something that should be rushed, far better to take the time to get it tight.

I had all of mine replaced last year and the labour was surprisingly expensive. From what I've read over the years, it does strike me as a job that can be done quickly if you know what you're doing and don't faff about. For info, Tallers Cornet in SCM did mine who I trust to do stuff like this properly in my absence.
 
Just to clarify my "in the slings" comment, the boat would be lifted Fri PMwith the work being done that PM and Saturday and then re-launched do Monday
 
Sneds said:
Just to clarify my "in the slings" comment, the boat would be lifted Fri PMwith the work being done that PM and Saturday and then re-launched do Monday
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I still think that 11 sea cocks done in the slings is a "big ask".
No margin if something were to go wrong.
Also, you need access inside the boat - you need to climb on and off lots of times.
The old fittings don't "just come off" - they have to be cut off.
Believe me - you need to "block off".
 
Hurricane said:
I still think that 11 sea cocks done in the slings is a "big ask".
No margin if something were to go wrong.
Also, you need access inside the boat - you need to climb on and off lots of times.
The old fittings don't "just come off" - they have to be cut off.
Believe me - you need to "block off".
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I read Sneds reply (post#34) and I did wonder if a yard would let people enter and exit the boat multiple times while in slings, it's a H&S nightmare.
 
Hurricane said:
I still think that 11 sea cocks done in the slings is a "big ask".
...
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Especially if they are 20 years old - little hope of any of them unscrewing easily!

P.S. it is a good investment to change them - some years ago we looked at a very nice yacht as a possible purchase. Behind some panels I found mud and learned that it had spent a couple of weeks on the bottom of the Thames after a skin fitting failed - and it was a lot less than 20 years old!
 
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