Turning off sea cocks

[Guest]

Re: Turning off sea cocks ... terrible suspicion ...

I suspect that some replies ... just a few may not be quite "kosher" ..... I fear that odd replies may cater to the "Experts" on here ... to save getting "mauled" for not complying with so-called industry practices ...

But of course I could be wrong !!

 

[ShipsWoofy]

Re: Turning off sea cocks ... terrible suspicion ...

Why do you suspect this?

 

[Amari]

Yes, scary things seacocks. When i bought my 20year old Wauquiez Pretorien 35 three years ago I found that the port cockpit sc was totally inaccessible underneath the diesel tank.
Had to remove it and glass over the hole in the hull and join port drain to starboard via Y piece, thus halving drainage speed - not good. Both sc were badly rusted and pipes looking dicey.

 

[raquet]

Re: Turning off sea cocks ... terrible suspicion ...

[ QUOTE ]
I suspect that some replies ... just a few may not be quite "kosher" ..... I fear that odd replies may cater to the "Experts" on here ... to save getting "mauled" for not complying with so-called industry practices ...

But of course I could be wrong !!

[/ QUOTE ] "Why" "do" "you" "say" "this" "in" "quotes"

 

[Guest]

Re: Turning off sea cocks ... terrible suspicion ...

Why ??

Memory of chats with various in yards ... boats I have been on .. others chatting when wlaking along pontoons .... just a few chats over many years messing about in boats. Memory sort of kicks me and says .... doesn't seem to agree with posts on these threads.

Anyway - it was posted to kick a few out of bed and post .......... failed miserably.

 

[Guest]

Re: Turning off sea cocks ... terrible suspicion ...

cause I'm using those words loosely ... and taking the p**s ....

 

[gandy]

We're exactly the same. The toilet seacocks are right to hand, so it makes sense to open/close them as needed. Same with the sink.

Up to now I have closed the cooling cock when at anchor. I need to think about that. The engine cock is under a seat which means lifting a cushion to get at it, but it wouldn't really add much to the emergency engine-start time.

I did once forget to open the cooling water, but the engine note was so different that I stopped the engine after only a few seconds running. I always look over transom after its fired up in any case.

 

[tome]

[ QUOTE ]
The toilet seacocks are right to hand

[/ QUOTE ]

Wish ours were. They are buried within the port focsle bunk which is why we tend to leave them open when on board to save disturbing the occupants or gear. But agree much better to turn them off except when needed

We leave engine seacock on mostly, but not when leaving the boat. We have no engine key so usually turn off the engine battery for security

At anchor I want the engine ready so leave seacock open and battery on

 

[TheBoatman]

Re: Turning off sea cocks - Is this an accurate round up?

Just to round up what we've decided is the best thing for sea cocks.

1. All SC's must be closed at ALL times, unless in use.
2. Some SC's can be left open dependant on whether they're heads or sinks or cockpit drains.
3. All SC's should be left open at all times.
4. All SC's should be left open except when the boat is not being used.
5. Some SC's should be closed when the ignition is switched off.
6. Some SC's should be left open if you're laying to an anchor.
7. All SC's should be used on a regular basis to ensure their safe operation.
8. All SC's should not be used on a regular basis because constant use prematurely wears them out.

Well I'm glad the panel was able to sort out that minor question!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Peter.

 

[BrendanS]

Re: Turning off sea cocks - Is this an accurate round up?

7 is the important one.

 

[Sixpence]

Re: Turning off sea cocks - Is this an accurate round up?

On that one I agree , Miss Ellies were siezed up through lack of use so although the handle turned the ball valve didn't actually close off

 

[Bajansailor]

We always turn everything off when away from the boat.
If it is possible to do, it seems to me that it is a sensible thing to do.
I don't have to worry about the 1.5" diameter cockpit drains and seacocks - took them out, glassed up the holes in the hull, and ran the drains out the aft end of the cockpit, such that they now exit under the counter, above the waterline. Only disadvantage of doing this is water comes in when heeled, and it is possible to get wet feet....

I posted the note below on another thread last month re sea cocks, but I hope no one minds if I copy it here :
--------------------------
Here is a true story about failure of a skin fitting leading to a complete loss while on an Atlantic passage - and the vessel concerned was owned by Prof Arthur Beiser, who wrote the two volumes of 'The Proper Yacht'.
Have a look at http://www.bwsailing.com/01articles/issue/0802/special%20section.htm
and scroll down to 'A sinking out of nowhere'.
I have read elsewhere that they had approximately 34 different skin fittings below the waterline on Isle (a Nicholson 70), and they could not establish which one was leaking, resulting in the boat foundering.
Lots of other good stories at this link as well, especially the last one about Steve Callahan.

 

[Danny Jo]

[ QUOTE ]
Only disadvantage of doing this is water comes in when heeled, and it is possible to get wet feet....

[/ QUOTE ] I get wet feet going downwind with a decent following sea, but I don't regard that as all bad - it saves me washing out the cockpit.

 

[doris]

Gosh. Everyone sems to be v. diligent

I never realised how seamanlike the world is and I will have to change my ways.

I regularly waggle my sea cocks around to keep them functioning but some are always at the bottom of a cupboard and the thought of constantly getting access would be a tad constricting. Used to have a Whitbead 30 with flush fitting SC's by the head that one opened and shut as one used the throne but that was the only boat I have ever been on where to be so extreme was practicable. There were no cupboards or doors to worry about there. Desperate to use the head in a sea way, got to get to the SC.....ah whoops a problem maybe!

I wonder how many peeps keep checking the SCs without the constant vigilance over all the pipes and connections. Have to say I check these regularly like by gas connections. That is pressure checked by a corgi man regularly and a proper tap turned on and off every time the cooker is used.

Different strokes for different folks I suppose.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Re: Turning off sea cocks ... terrible suspicion ...

[ QUOTE ]
I suspect that some replies ... just a few may not be quite "kosher" ..... I fear that odd replies may cater to the "Experts" on here ... to save getting "mauled" for not complying with so-called industry practices ...

[/ QUOTE ]I agree with your sentiments. Anyway, what "industry standard" I am supposed to not only teach, but examine people's seamanship etc and I don't think there's any "standard" about closing seacocks. I might take a dim view of people who don't know where they are and who don't maintain them, but....

By the way, the example of the experienced yachtsman whose boat foundered due to a seacock failure was more about his lack of boat knowledge of his new boat, than about the seacock/hose failing. He couldn't find where the flood was coming from, and assumed it was a failed skin fitting. On top of that, his batteries were not secured, and so he lost his main bilge pumps.

I still think that there's a lot of paranoia about water ingress and underwater fittings having to be closed.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for support ...

I expected to be shouted down more actually - so it appears from that lack - that I may have hit truer than I expected !

Industry standards ... yes my choice of words to describe what IMHO is the view of the "experts" and in so promulgating via Forums become "assumed" Industry Standards.

It is a danger that a number of views expressed on the forums by respected and "experienced" can be taken as gospel by novices or those new to the subject ... it is also sad that often a view that is not in line with the expressed can often be shot down unfairly. I may be "crossing the line" on this - but it has been my view for some time now ..

My style of boating doesn't suit many ... and I appreciate that and allow for it ... but there are others here that appear not so democratic ... the Sea-Cocks issue is a good example ... condemn those who dare to differ !!

I'm surprised the thread hasn't degenerated into its usual levels of types of valves fitted etc. !! But we'll wait - you never know !!