So glad this didn't happen mid channel...

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david42

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So glad this didn\'t happen mid channel...

So,

I went down to Take Five today to check her out ready for next weekend's planned trip to Honfleur. I noticed a bit of water in the bilge which was odd because she's normally a dry boat, apart from a trickle through the stern gland when the shaft's turning. I pumped her out and kept working on the odd jobs telling myself it was probably just some water running back down the bilge pump pipe and cursing the one way valve on the new strum box. I left the cabin sole up to keep an eye on it. As I was packing up to go I noticed that there was water in the bilge again. I was sorely tempted to leave it and was thinking, 'it's just the stern gland you can re-pack it in the winter' but then I decided to make sure. I lifted off the engine box and couldn't see any water around the stern gland but there was some at the base of the cooling water inlet seacock. When I touched the seacock it felt loose and then I thought, 'maybe I should have a bung handy just in case - it'd be stupid to sink on my berth'. That was when the seacock came away in my hand because the flange on the nylon skin fitting had sheared off completely. The only thing holding the seacock in place was the downward pressure from the hose.

I'm so glad I had the bung handy me and that this didn't happen halfway to France.

This all happpened at 6 today and Take Five is now thankfully out of the water and I'm replacing the skin fitting with a bronze one tomorrow.

The question is - do I replace all the skin fittings while I'm she's out the water? I have no idea of their history and the seacocks are a bizarre collection of plastic ones, gate valves and ball valves. Right now my confidence in her is a bit shaky!

I'm also wondering about the new crew member who I took out for a sail on Wednesday night and who broke a new winch handle and who also turned on the cooling inlet seacock. If anybody needs someone to find the weak points on their boat maybe he's your man - but do I want him to come to France?

David

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Re: So glad this didn\'t happen mid channel...

Yes - just make sure that you leave him there.

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Re: So glad this didn\'t happen mid channel...

Should you replace the other thru hulls and valves - an emphatic yes, and make sure you replace with broze + ball valves or blakes thingies. (I hate gate valves - you can never really tell if they are trully shut, or just something jammed in the bottom of the valve)

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Re: So glad this didn\'t happen mid channel...

Sounds as though you should definately replace all the underwater seacocks. Nylon thro' hulls are notorious for failing. Use Blake seacocks(expensive) or new bronze thro' hulls with ball valves and hose tails(cheaper). You could probably keep any nylon thro' hulls as long as they are well above the water line.
NEVER use gate valves!! Another alternative is to use MARELON valves, which are made of a reinforced nylon but are approved in the US.
PBO did a good article on seacocks about two months ago.

<hr width=100% size=1>dickh
I'd rather be sailing... :-) /forums/images/icons/smile.gif
 
Re: So glad this didn\'t happen mid channel...

yes replace - because you there is no price to great for peace of mind (and if there was a few skin fittings isn't going to get close!)

<hr width=100% size=1>madesco madidum ..../forums/images/icons/smile.gif
 
Ah but, the BACKING PAD....

...was it made of plywood?

If so getting that wet and it therefore swelling can accelerate the giving way of the flange of a nylon (should be banned for underwater use IMO) skin fitting once a minute crack starts - which of course you can't see.

When mine went, three boats ago, I was 1 mile south of Poole Bar buoy.Just like yours, the fitting felt loose then off it came.

The only safe materials for backing pads are delrin, paxolin or hard polyethelyne. None of these swell like natural materilas when they get wet.

Steve Cronin



<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion
 
Re: So glad this didn\'t happen mid channel...

Thanks for the advice guys, I was pretty sure that I needed to do it but I needed a nudge to encourage me to fork out the dosh! I've decided to replace all of the seacocks with ball valves and all of the skin fittings with bronze ones. They were on my list of things to do this coming winter anyway but I can't bear the thought of sailing along with images of that seacock coming off in my hand going through my mind.

I just hope I can get it done for the weekend so I can still take her to France, it'll be our first trip across the channel.

In answer to Steve's question there was no backing pad at all. Looking at the skin fitting it must have been cracked for a while because most of the broken edge was covered in dirt. There was only a small piece holding it together. No more nylon for me.

David

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Kollision Kit

in addition to the bungs, which always seem to assume that holes will be nice and circular, mite be an idea to have a Kollision Kit, which is available from Force4 online, essentially underwater 2-part gloop that repairs even quite big holes. You splurge it on a repair patch and slappit on.

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Re: gate valves

mmm know what you mean.. mine go thro 360°! .. As I am new to the boat thing I asked the yard she has lived in for most of her life to mark where on and off where!and yes I am replacing with bronze ball valves...

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Re: Kollision Kit

Not really because they are both indentical so its only as much use as half a 2-part repair kit, but twice over, innit?!

<hr width=100% size=1>It's frustrating when you know all the answers, but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.
 
Re: Kollision Kit

Would socks still work with holes in them?

All of mine seem to come out like that after a few years.

David

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Re: So glad this didn\'t happen mid channel...

ASAP supplies have got special offers on bronze seacocks this week almost half price.(guess who bought one last month) no affiliation just use them loads....??

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I wish I'd been born rich instead of good looking ?
 
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