seacocks

[winsbury]

With all the difficulties identifying whether parts are bronze, DZR or brass and the high cost of fitting bronze replacements why are the glass reinforced nylon seacocks not more popular ? They are cheaper, dont suffer electrolosys, dont suffer dezincification, lighter weight and arguaby more pleasing to the eye.

 

[CLB]

With all the difficulties identifying whether parts are bronze, DZR or brass and the high cost of fitting bronze replacements why are the glass reinforced nylon seacocks not more popular ? They are cheaper, dont suffer electrolosys, dont suffer dezincification, lighter weight and arguaby more pleasing to the eye.

This is the route that we went down. Only have two, toilet inlet and outlet, but wasn't happy that I didn't know what materials they were made from, as they had been fitted by previous owner. Anyway we chose Tru Design http://www.trudesignplastics.com/ as sold through Lee Sanitation in the UK. They are a bit bulkier than metal ones, but lightweight and strong. You can get electric versions for remote operation, and ones that can be linked to a display to show their open/closed status.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

You can get electric versions for remote operation

Could you give a link to this please? I had a look on their website but could only see an electric diverter valve, not an electric ball valve. If an affordable electric plastic ball valve existed I'd be very interested.

 

[vas]

Could you give a link to this please? I had a look on their website but could only see an electric diverter valve, not an electric ball valve. If an affordable electric plastic ball valve existed I'd be very interested.

+1,

I installed trudesign skin fittings all around and discussing with the dealer he only mentioned the sensor fitted ones and the minimal display showing their state.

cheers

V.

 

[winsbury]

It was the trudesign ones I was considering too - the video certainly seems to make them look thoroughly tested. I hadnt considered size though; our boat is rather cramped so will have to do some measurements.

I havent seen any electrically operated ones though there is an indicator panel for a couple of hundred squibs which would be overkill on our boat but could imagine might be handy on a larger vessel where there may be seacocks in guest cabins for example.

Has anyone actually used the trudesign ones and can report on them ?

 

[CLB]

Could you give a link to this please? I had a look on their website but could only see an electric diverter valve, not an electric ball valve. If an affordable electric plastic ball valve existed I'd be very interested.

+1,

I installed trudesign skin fittings all around and discussing with the dealer he only mentioned the sensor fitted ones and the minimal display showing their state.

cheers

V.

I havent seen any electrically operated ones though there is an indicator panel for a couple of hundred squibs which would be overkill on our boat but could imagine might be handy on a larger vessel where there may be seacocks in guest cabins for example.

Has anyone actually used the trudesign ones and can report on them ?

Sorry, my bad.
I thought they had electrically operated ball valves but I seem to be getting mixed up with their diverter valves.

Winsbury, I have fitted two Tru Design valves. Been on the boat about two years now. Still look and feel like the day they were fitted.

 

[winsbury]

Just been looking at the Forespar Marlon seacock design as they are similar to but smaller than the Tru Design ones but it struck me that both these designs have a lower tollerance to damage to the external flange of the thru-hull portion than a Blakes seacock for example which has the additional bolts that would help hold the seackcock in place even if the flange were damaged. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bBi3VVigXA neatly shows the various potential failure modes of these seacocks and to my eyes the tiny flange on the thru-hull suddenly looks like a really weak point.

It seems unlikely that the flange would get damaged in normal use but if it were significantly over-tightened during fitting ( the instructions only advise tightening 'hand snug' , whatever that is but will vary person to person ) I can well imagine a hairline crack developing out of sight that could cause catastrophic failure at a later date.

Perhaps the extra £150 or so for bronze fittings is worth the extra just for peace of mind.

 

[matt_lake]

I was working for LeeSan when we met the guys from TruDesign at METS. Their products have a quality feel to them and they give each product a thoroughly hard time during development. There are some youtube clips of them freezing a valve in a bucket of water and then retrieving it with a hammer and blow torch. If I was looking to replace my skin fittings I would give them serious consideration.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

I was working for LeeSan when we met the guys from TruDesign at METS. Their products have a quality feel to them and they give each product a thoroughly hard time during development. There are some youtube clips of them freezing a valve in a bucket of water and then retrieving it with a hammer and blow torch. If I was looking to replace my skin fittings I would give them serious consideration.

I wrote to Trudesign a few days ago to ask about their plans for electric ball valves. This is their reply:

Yes we do have plans to build remote actuated ball valves. Unfortunately they will be approx another year away.