This months daft question.....

[Malabarista]

Well two questions really. Where the exhaust exits the boat at the transom there is an (epoxied over) skin fitting leading to a 90 bend and then a large 3” ball valve ( inop) with a hose tail. At the other end is a gooseneck and a waterlock. Is it worth the effort/time/expense to remove and replace this valve when it appears that the water ingress to the engine is pretty much solved by the Vetus kit?
Similarly the drain from the cockit well goes straight through another similar but smaller ball valve which upon removal proved to be welded open ( quite professionally). There is no form of anti siphon device at all. Do i need to replace this one? Given that one end is above the waterline.
Thanks in advance
Dave

 

[lpdsn]

If it is in good condition then IMHO not worth the time and expense of removing the exhaust ball valve. Daft idea for the PO to fit it but now it is there why mess with it. If it is in poor condition get rid of it.

The cockpit drain one is much more of an issue. I'd really have a word with your surveyor over that one (I'm assuming it's a recently purchased boat). Drain might be above the static waterline, but is it above the waterline when you're at sea.

 

[Leighb]

Re the cockpit drain, it may be above the static waterline when unladen, but what about party time with lots of people on board, it can be embarrassing if your guests get their feet wet.

 

[Malabarista]

Thanks guys i guess I’ll put a loop in it then ? The exhaust valve i will have off and sitting in a bucket of brick acid in about 10 minutes ( oh boy have i just put a curse on THAT job ?)

 

[prv]

Thanks guys i guess I’ll put a loop in it then

If the top of the loop is below the sole level then it won't achieve anything, and if it's above then it will stop the cockpit from draining. Loops are for pumped outlets where the inboard end is below the waterline.

Unless your boat is quite small (cockpit sole close to the waterline, trim level likely to be changed substantially by a few people in the cockpit) then back-flooding up the drains should not be a concern. I wouldn't do anything unless experience showed there to be a genuine problem. However, if the drain outlet is below the waterline then you should really have working seacocks in case of damage to the hose or to enable you to change it. Again I would not rush if the boat's in the water, but next time it's out you should replace the valves.

The exhaust valve is a precaution for extreme conditions which most would consider overkill for a coastal cruising boat. No need to remove it as long as the body's sound and not likely to leak or come apart, also no great need to get it working again if you don't want to, most boats don't have one.

Pete

 

[Malabarista]

Thanks Pete it not like I don’t have other stuff to do ?

 

[Topcat47]

It is common to cross-connect cockpit drains: stb drain to port sea cock etc. The only time I ever use the cockpit drain stopcocks is to make sure they aren’t seized. Otherwise the cockpit would fill with rainwater. The stopcocks are useful if you have to replace the hoses afloat for any reason.

 

[Neeves]

It not a daft question or 2. If you don't know - ask!

They seem quite reasonable to me and its embarrassing (concerning) you think 'we' might find them daft.

Jonathan