Seized seacocks

BAtoo said:
Not as safe as seized in the closed position and no problem at all - until something fails :D :D
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I'd rather have my engine cooling seacock seized in the open position.
I'd rather have my cockpit drain seacocks seized in the open position.

However, in answer to the original question it depends.
Some boats require the sea cocks to be closed whilst at sea. The boat is fine when on the level but with the boat healed over water may backflow up sinks, toilet bowls etc.
I'd certainly rather have my WC inlet seized in the open position other wise the heads would start to smell if I couldn't flush.
But as the previous respondent sais - no problem at all unless there is a problem.

The only caveat I would place is that seized sea cocks could be a reflection on how well the boat is maintained and in turn you may want to check other stuff.
 
Everything that you want to work will, but your boat staying afloat now depends on jubilee clips, plastic pipe and whatever the pipe is connected to.
 
Talulah said:
The only caveat I would place is that seized sea cocks could be a reflection on how well the boat is maintained and in turn you may want to check other stuff.
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As others have said, not an issue until you have a problem. I could not live with that, they are mean't to close and are a part of boat's safety kit. If it was me, I would get them sorted.
 
Thanks for the reply's. The rest of the survey was fine, just 3 seacocks in the heads were seized (through lack of use rather than maintenance issues), with one being an unsual style. The boat is out of the water at the moment and the sea trail is booked in for this weekend and the plan was to sign off after the delivery and make the 180 mile trip home staight away, when you start to add lift ins and outs and back ins again the costs really start mounting up.

Cheers

Stu
 
Costs mounting up !!!! wait until she sinks then watch the costs go intergalactic -especially if your insurers are aware that you knew about the failed seacock.
 
If you haven't paid over any money then I'd make freeing the seacocks part of the deal. This can easily lead to having to fit new skin-fittings. Once the boat is in the water then it's a bit late and another lift out will be required. If this isn't possible then inspect the condition of the hoses and clips and if you are willing to take a chance then have a set of wooden bungs on board (£10 from any chandler) and something to slice a burst hose right off (to get the bung in) if the worst should happen.

Good luck.
 
Actually I think that is the best advice of all.
Seacocks really shouldn't be seized, to me that indicates slapdash ownership, does your surveyor have a likewise gut feel or are you buying a project "eyes wide open"?
 
stownsend said:
Thanks for the reply's. The rest of the survey was fine, just 3 seacocks in the heads were seized (through lack of use rather than maintenance issues), with one being an unsual style. The boat is out of the water at the moment and the sea trail is booked in for this weekend and the plan was to sign off after the delivery and make the 180 mile trip home staight away, when you start to add lift ins and outs and back ins again the costs really start mounting up.

Cheers

Stu
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Lack of use is a maintenance issue!!!!! The necessary maintenance for all sea cocks is to operate them periodically so that you know they are free :D:D
 
I think there may be some knee jerk reactions in one or two responses as there are a couple of alternative possible explanations.

Some people leave their toilet seacocks open and if the boat is laid up ashore then they could easily be found seized. You need to take a view about the rest of the boat to see if the seized seacocks are indicative of lack of care.

Whether the boat is safe to sail 180 miles with seized seacocks is another matter. In the general scheme of things seacocks are not that expensive and if they are easy to get at why not change them? If they are going to be real sods to get at then a plentiful supply of softwood bungs should stop you sinking if one was to fail, but I would be looking at the hoses and clips pretty hard along with trying to free them off before the boat is launched.

When was the last time ANYONE had to use a seacocks in anger? I know I have done once or twice, but the leaks were usually small and annoying rather than catastrophic.
 
Again thanks for the replies, looking at it, I think I have several options:-

Option 1 - Postpone the sea trial pending all the seacocks replaced
Option 2 - Have all the seacocks replaced bar the unsual one (which I will do when we get back - cheaper on the lift ins/outs
Option 3 - Run with the trail, and sort out the seacocks when I get home.

I was going to run with having a set of wooden plugs, having read the article in PBO about them being tied to the seacock (as per the racing rules).

Cheers

Stu
 
john_morris_uk said:
I think there may be some knee jerk reactions in one or two responses as there are a couple of alternative possible explanations.
..........
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Agree, a bit of over reaction here. There are bigger things to concern a potential boat buyer, don't let the trivia cloud the bigger picture.
 
Don't think I would head off on a 180 nm trip in a new boat without having a couple of days sorting out the snags. We had bits to sort on ours and that was new.
 
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