Spinning Gate Valve in open position

[conks01]

Hi

Typically the only remaining original seacock that I didn't get round to swapping over has now started to spin freely. It's a wheel type gate valve and was working fine until a crew member heavy handedly over tightened.

It serves the galley sink and is in open position.

I was wondering if it is safe for the time being? I normally shut off all seacocks when leaving the boat.

The valve has a 1" waste pipe from the sink which is vertical, approx 600mm in length.

I can't get back out for a week or so now and will need to dry out.

Many thanks.

 

[plumbob]

No reason to suspect it will suddenly start dripping. I had 2 at 1 1/2 inch that fed the engines, neither worked and were fine. All will be well.

 

[Daydream believer]

So long as the hose connection is good, with no splits in the hose etc. & the material that the gate valve is made from ( probably brass) is sound there is no issue. I leave mine open all year, just operating regularly to prevent seizure.
If you are really unsure go over the side & ram a tapered wooden plug up from the outside.
You do carry emergency plugs , don't you??

 

[Stemar]

When in a safe place to do it, give it a welt with a mallet. If it snaps off, you know what to do, if it survives, it will be fine until you're ready to sort it out.

On my old boat, the sink drain was well above the waterline, so I left it strictly alone even though it was seized. If we heeled enough for water to come in through it, that little bit of water would have been the least of my worries.

 

[conks01]

OK and thanks all for the reassurance!

 

[Norman_E]

I agree with Daydream Believer. Get a wooden plug in from outside. Gate valves have no place on yachts and are very prone to the screw thread in the gate stripping. Get it replaced as soon as possible. If you do get a wood plug in place in the through hull, and it is sound, you can actually unscrew the gate valve and replace it with a proper ball valve with the boat still in the water. To test if the bung is giving a good enough seal just undo the waste at the sink and bend the hose down to drain it into a container, then see if it refills or not.

 

[wingcommander]

I agree with Daydream Believer. Get a wooden plug in from outside. Gate valves have no place on yachts and are very prone to the screw thread in the gate stripping. Get it replaced as soon as possible. If you do get a wood plug in place in the through hull, and it is sound, you can actually unscrew the gate valve and replace it with a proper ball valve with the boat still in the water. To test if the bung is giving a good enough seal just undo the waste at the sink and bend the hose down to drain it into a container, then see if it refills or not.

That's providing the through hull remains in place..other wise your in an even worse predicament..

 

[savageseadog]

Gate valves in any situation should not be left with the hand wheel bottomed or topped out. When closing turn clockwise till it stops then turn anti-clockwise for half a turn. Do the same in reverse to open.