Seacocks servicing

[Piers]

Thanks Vyf.
The seacocks on my boat look like brass with a dull chromium plating on the outside. Do you think that would be ok for inland waters? After 17 years they look good from the outside, but I am a bit reluctant to tap them with a hammer as this might damage tha sealing to the hull?

Seeing some of the evidence of failed sea cocks which looked fine on the outside, I would't touch it unless the boat was ashore, or I knew I had a wooden plug just in case!

 

[vyv_cox]

If they are chromium plated it is almost certain they are brass. An alternative to hitting them is simply to lean heavily on the hose close to the valve. If the metal has dezincified it will break. As suggested, safer when ashore, but be aware that many people have done this accidentally when at sea, so well worth checking.

 

[FlyingDutchman]

Thanks, the boat is currently ashore so I will check (carefully) with a small hammer.

 

[Billjratt]

Most of us focus on the metal bits, however, when I changed my cockpit drain components recently, it was the plastic pipe which acted alarmingly.
The gate valves were seized open but robust, the pipe (green with helical plastic reinforcing) shattered.
If it was in a boat where the cockpit floor flexed due to a corpulent crew, there could be dire consequences.

 

[Clyde_Wanderer]

How long have HR been fitting brass fittings to their boats?
I was present in a HR at relaunch when one of the valves which initially had a small leak just desintegrated, luckily the boat was on the hoist slings and was lifted immediatly otherwise it would have been goodby HR.

I agree with poster who says there is no place on a boat for brass gate valves.
As a plumber I have had to drain many a domestic water tank as the outlet gate valve had seized up and would not close.
Gate valves generally dont close fully at the best of times and usually cause problems when opening any plumbing down streem of them.
C_W

 

[vyv_cox]

How long have HR been fitting brass fittings to their boats?

25 years according to their head man.