bumblefish
Active member
Mine are all off when not on board except the cockpit drains. I only open the sinks and heads when they are needed.
Turning off sea cocks
- Thread starter doris
- Start date
Pasarell
Well-known member
Mine are all as Bumblefish
Gordonmc
Active member
Heads, in and out, plus engine seacocks are closed every time I leave the boat... ever since a friend's boat sank at her pontoon when a bolt on top of the strainer box failed.
I don't have cockpit drains, let alone sea cocks for them, but surely closing them would mean the cockpit filling with rain water, no?
I don't have cockpit drains, let alone sea cocks for them, but surely closing them would mean the cockpit filling with rain water, no?
tome
New member
All off below the waterline except cockpit drains when not on board. Sink outlet and auto bilge pump both off when sailing to prevent backing up when heeled
Gas gets leak tested when we turn it on and we tend to leave it on until we leave the boat
Gas gets leak tested when we turn it on and we tend to leave it on until we leave the boat
raquet
New member
My rule is quite simple - if I can reach it I turn it off. Because my boat has been re-engined I can't reach either the engine or galley seacocks (OK, because of the new engine, my planet sized waistline and my knackered back). I always wash-up in a bucket so the galley seacock stays closed. The engine seacock stays open until the end of the season when I either risk hospitalisation by shutting it myself or I get a slimmer, younger person to do it for me. In general I would prefer to close all seacocks when not using whatever they feed – with the possible exception of the engine seacocks so that the motor can be started quickly without scrabbling about in the bilge. I would close the engine seacocks when moored – if I could.
Piddy
Active member
Judging by the different answers we all have different ways of dealing with this.
When we kept the boat in a marina, I only turned off the engine seacock and the gas when leaving the boat. Now I'm on a swinging mooring, I turn everything off below or near the waterline. If I had to explain the logic in that I guess it was partly due to lack of maintenance prior to us getting the boat as I have now replaced or serviced all of the seacocks and they work. And of course turning them on and off regularly keeps them free.
Cockpit drains are quite high on a CC Moody and the exhaust doesn't have a seacock that I've found yet!
Cheers
When we kept the boat in a marina, I only turned off the engine seacock and the gas when leaving the boat. Now I'm on a swinging mooring, I turn everything off below or near the waterline. If I had to explain the logic in that I guess it was partly due to lack of maintenance prior to us getting the boat as I have now replaced or serviced all of the seacocks and they work. And of course turning them on and off regularly keeps them free.
Cockpit drains are quite high on a CC Moody and the exhaust doesn't have a seacock that I've found yet!
Cheers
beancounter
New member
We're with the majority.
Engine seacock, diesel & gas off at night.
Everything off when we leave the boat.
Engine seacock, diesel & gas off at night.
Everything off when we leave the boat.
Aja
Well-known member
[ QUOTE ]
I didn't realize boats even had cockpit drain sea cocks. I don't think mine (Sigma 362) does. Don't they slow down cockpit draining unaccpetably?
Must go and look...
[/ QUOTE ]
Sure you'll find them somewhere. Marine projects - if not brilliant - were consistent!
We close all seacocks and switch off gas when leaving boat for more than 1 day and that includes the cockpit drains. It would take weeks of (even our) rain to fill up the drains.
I didn't realize boats even had cockpit drain sea cocks. I don't think mine (Sigma 362) does. Don't they slow down cockpit draining unaccpetably?
Must go and look...
[/ QUOTE ]
Sure you'll find them somewhere. Marine projects - if not brilliant - were consistent!
We close all seacocks and switch off gas when leaving boat for more than 1 day and that includes the cockpit drains. It would take weeks of (even our) rain to fill up the drains.
RichardTaylor
Member
Blimey I must be paranoid /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Engine cock opened before starting the engine, closed again when tied up (not at anchor)
Loo and Sink cocks opened and closed for each use.
Cockpit drains through the stern so not applicable.
Gas - religiously on and off at the bottle and under the cooker for each use /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Engine cock opened before starting the engine, closed again when tied up (not at anchor)
Loo and Sink cocks opened and closed for each use.
Cockpit drains through the stern so not applicable.
Gas - religiously on and off at the bottle and under the cooker for each use /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
stevebrassett
Well-known member
Toilet and sink - off every time I leave the boat. Don't have an inboard engine, and the cockpit drains don't have seacocks. I am not even sure if they are below the waterline, though.
nicho
Well-known member
Just one thing to remember, if you leave seacocks open when away from the boat and a pipe fails causing your boat to sink, it's the first thing an insurance company will check for. Likely they will refuse to pay out!!
Danny Jo
Active member
[ QUOTE ]
How many peeps here always turn their sea cocks off when they leave their boats. And is it all cocks or just the engine one.
[/ QUOTE ] I turn them all off just before locking the hatch - can't see the logic of just turning off the engine one - my boat would sink much faster if the heads outlet failed. The ignition key is removed from the panel at the time the engine seacock is turned off.
The gas gets turned off in the gas locker whenever the cooker is not being used. The main battery switch is turned off at the end of a cruise.
That's the theory anyhow. It doesn't half cause me anxiety as I'm on my way back to the slip in the dinghy on a favourable tide and ask myself if I remembered everything.
How many peeps here always turn their sea cocks off when they leave their boats. And is it all cocks or just the engine one.
[/ QUOTE ] I turn them all off just before locking the hatch - can't see the logic of just turning off the engine one - my boat would sink much faster if the heads outlet failed. The ignition key is removed from the panel at the time the engine seacock is turned off.
The gas gets turned off in the gas locker whenever the cooker is not being used. The main battery switch is turned off at the end of a cruise.
That's the theory anyhow. It doesn't half cause me anxiety as I'm on my way back to the slip in the dinghy on a favourable tide and ask myself if I remembered everything.
ShipsWoofy
New member
Always, every sea cock when leaving the boat. Bog and sea tap off when sailing or going to bed. Engines mostly off unless at anchor and may need to move quickly.
I do not have a problem remembering, I never understand why many people seem to struggle, don't they check the engines visually before starting?
Maybe as I have been playing boats since a kid, and most engines before I got into yachting involved going into the engine box / room to start, never been on a trawler that had a key start in the wheel house, even had to climb into the engine room to stop them.
Do those who struggle, drive off up the road with the back wheels locked because they have not let the handbrake off? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
I do not have a problem remembering, I never understand why many people seem to struggle, don't they check the engines visually before starting?
Maybe as I have been playing boats since a kid, and most engines before I got into yachting involved going into the engine box / room to start, never been on a trawler that had a key start in the wheel house, even had to climb into the engine room to stop them.
Do those who struggle, drive off up the road with the back wheels locked because they have not let the handbrake off? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
rwoofer
Active member
Oh dear. I must be the odd one out. Never turned any seacocks off except toilets in heavy weather. All sink drainage is above the waterline, so don't touch them. Boat would be flooded if cockpits drains were closed, so don't touch them. Engine intake is probably laziness on my part and fear that I might run the engine forgetting to open them again.
In my defence I do periodically turn all seacocks to stop them seizing and I also periodically check bilges so would detect if there is a slow leak or seepage from a seacock.
I do wonder how likely it is that a static seacock in a static boat in the marina is going to suddenly catastrophically fail. In comparison, a boat underway or a seacock being used is much more likely to result in failure, which no-one can mitigate against. What am I missing?
In my defence I do periodically turn all seacocks to stop them seizing and I also periodically check bilges so would detect if there is a slow leak or seepage from a seacock.
I do wonder how likely it is that a static seacock in a static boat in the marina is going to suddenly catastrophically fail. In comparison, a boat underway or a seacock being used is much more likely to result in failure, which no-one can mitigate against. What am I missing?
ShipsWoofy
New member
[ QUOTE ]
I do wonder how likely it is that a static seacock in a static boat in the marina is going to suddenly catastrophically fail. In comparison, a boat underway or a seacock being used is much more likely to result in failure, which no-one can mitigate against. What am I missing?
[/ QUOTE ]
You are missing the fact that it is not the sea-cock that is the probable fail, but the hose and or hose joints. No closed cock is going to protect you from catastrophic failure of the tap, but it will from a split hose.
Or equipment failure, such a syphoning bog or engine.
I do wonder how likely it is that a static seacock in a static boat in the marina is going to suddenly catastrophically fail. In comparison, a boat underway or a seacock being used is much more likely to result in failure, which no-one can mitigate against. What am I missing?
[/ QUOTE ]
You are missing the fact that it is not the sea-cock that is the probable fail, but the hose and or hose joints. No closed cock is going to protect you from catastrophic failure of the tap, but it will from a split hose.
Or equipment failure, such a syphoning bog or engine.
Hoolie
Well-known member
[ QUOTE ]
Never turned any seacocks off except toilets in heavy weather
[/ QUOTE ]
At least there's two of us. I hadn't regarded it as a major risk hitherto but the posts here seem to suggest otherwise ... ... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Never turned any seacocks off except toilets in heavy weather
[/ QUOTE ]
At least there's two of us. I hadn't regarded it as a major risk hitherto but the posts here seem to suggest otherwise ... ... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
G
Guest
Guest
Oh Dear !!
Only SC that I turn of are the cockpit drains and sink overboard when I am ON the boat and moving. Cockpit drains back up when boat moves ... and if I heel to stbd when sailing - sink fills up.
SC that I turn of when leaving boat - bog inlet ... that's it.
Rest I leave open - bog out, engine, cockpit, sink which doubles as auto bilge pump out as well ...
Maybe one day I shall mend my ways ... but I'm so bad at it - it is common that I let go .. start moving and then realise that I haven't closed cockpit drains and my feet are wet !!
Only SC that I turn of are the cockpit drains and sink overboard when I am ON the boat and moving. Cockpit drains back up when boat moves ... and if I heel to stbd when sailing - sink fills up.
SC that I turn of when leaving boat - bog inlet ... that's it.
Rest I leave open - bog out, engine, cockpit, sink which doubles as auto bilge pump out as well ...
Maybe one day I shall mend my ways ... but I'm so bad at it - it is common that I let go .. start moving and then realise that I haven't closed cockpit drains and my feet are wet !!
Rooster
Member
Turn them all off when leaving the boat, and overnight.
R
R
john_morris_uk
Well-known member
[ QUOTE ]
Just returned from a 10 day cruise ~ got on board turned on all sea cocks and gas cocks ~ shut them when we left the boat back on its mooring 10 days later.
What's the problem?
Does shutting the engine sea cock but leaving the heads & sinks open guarantee safety?
The boat is fitted with a gas alarm - why turn the gas off?
If the boat is being used I can see no reason why service cocks should be closed, after all how many of us shut off gas and water every time we stop using them for a couple of hours at home?
IMHO it's a matter of faith - do you trust 1 jubilee clip and a piece of plastic pipe!!! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Peter.
[/ QUOTE ]I agree - what's the problem. The more I hear about other people's habits at sea over sea-cocks, gas and cleaning their log impellors, the more paranoid I think other people are. Our sea-cocks are serviced regularly and available to be turned off whenever they need to be turned off. Otherwise they stay on 99% of the time. I do have large antisyphon loops on the heads though!
Just returned from a 10 day cruise ~ got on board turned on all sea cocks and gas cocks ~ shut them when we left the boat back on its mooring 10 days later.
What's the problem?
Does shutting the engine sea cock but leaving the heads & sinks open guarantee safety?
The boat is fitted with a gas alarm - why turn the gas off?
If the boat is being used I can see no reason why service cocks should be closed, after all how many of us shut off gas and water every time we stop using them for a couple of hours at home?
IMHO it's a matter of faith - do you trust 1 jubilee clip and a piece of plastic pipe!!! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Peter.
[/ QUOTE ]I agree - what's the problem. The more I hear about other people's habits at sea over sea-cocks, gas and cleaning their log impellors, the more paranoid I think other people are. Our sea-cocks are serviced regularly and available to be turned off whenever they need to be turned off. Otherwise they stay on 99% of the time. I do have large antisyphon loops on the heads though!
