LittleSister
Well-Known Member
A.S.A.P. also do bronze combined skin fitings/seacocks with plastic balls (Perko), and Marelon (GRP with plastic ball, I believe).
Which Seacock To Buy!
- Thread starter Zagato
- Start date
A.S.A.P. also do bronze combined skin fitings/seacocks with plastic balls (Perko), and Marelon (GRP with plastic ball, I believe).
Zagato
Well-Known Member
Thanks LittleSis have just googled them 
Boo2
Well-Known Member
Aiui, plastic balls are prone to stick unless operated every few months or so. That might be OK for most seacocks but the OP was looking for cockpit drain seacocks and they may not be closed from one year to the next...
Boo2
Poignard
Well-Known Member
" Which Seacock To Buy! "
My boat has Blakes seacocks. Admittedly not the cheapest but they have lasted 45 years so I reckon they must be value for money,
My boat has Blakes seacocks. Admittedly not the cheapest but they have lasted 45 years so I reckon they must be value for money,
Zagato
Well-Known Member
You have mentioned another query I had. I have read you are meant to shut off all sea cocks before you leave the boat BUT surely you should leave cockpit drain sea-cocks open otherwise whats the point in having them
prv
Well-Known Member
You have mentioned another query I had. I have read you are meant to shut off all sea cocks before you leave the boat BUT surely you should leave cockpit drain sea-cocks open otherwise whats the point in having them
Habits seem to vary. Personally I make sure my plumbing is up to scratch (replaced most of it in the old boat and will probably do the same in the new one) and then leave em all open. I do exercise them from time to time to prevent them sticking, which they otherwise would.
You're right that cockpit drains need to be left open.
Pete
Zagato
Well-Known Member
Pete, I think I have asked you this before but which cockpit drain sea-cocks did you go for in the end?
I presume the cockpit drain sea-cocks are below the water line, so leaving them open would be a worry
(are they?) but as you say they need to be left open otherwise the cockpit won't drain, mine have all been double SS clipped but still I would be worrying as I am a worry-er 
I presume the cockpit drain sea-cocks are below the water line, so leaving them open would be a worry
(are they?) but as you say they need to be left open otherwise the cockpit won't drain, mine have all been double SS clipped but still I would be worrying as I am a worry-er prv
Well-Known Member
Gert big DZR ball valves from ASAP. "In the end" implies it took me a while to decide - it didn't, the choice was obvious.
I presume the cockpit drain sea-cocks are below the water line, so leaving them open would be a worry
Yep, they're below the waterline. But so are all my other seacocks, and they're all open. The hoses are sound, they're all double-clipped, and the pressure in them is practically zero. There's no reason to think they're suddenly going to leak.
Pete
Zagato
Well-Known Member
Ta... I'll keep the others shut off though and maybe even the cockpit drain ones if I know I am visiting the boat regularly... I was always told to shut off the engine, heads and sink seacock in my old boat so am used to that routine...
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Seajet
...
Zagato,
if I was doing that - closing off seacocks while away, which I would do too ( apart from cockpit drains ) if my boat was unfortunate enough to have any - I'd follow aircraft practice and have something like the engine key attached to a red ribbon, reminding me to open the seacocks before starting !
In a perfect world, a pin and red ribbon on each seacock and a 'shadow board' on a bulkhead showing all pins and ribbons present, all seacocks open.
Saves expensive noises and keeps the engine etc handy if you need it !
if I was doing that - closing off seacocks while away, which I would do too ( apart from cockpit drains ) if my boat was unfortunate enough to have any
- I'd follow aircraft practice and have something like the engine key attached to a red ribbon, reminding me to open the seacocks before starting !In a perfect world, a pin and red ribbon on each seacock and a 'shadow board' on a bulkhead showing all pins and ribbons present, all seacocks open.
Saves expensive noises and keeps the engine etc handy if you need it !
PeterWright
Well-Known Member
Modern Production Boats
Sadly, the majority of modern production boats come fitted with brass seacocks below the waterline, which IMHO is bad practice and wholly unsafe. I would not therefore take the fact that you see something on modern production boats as evidence that it is a wise way to go.
Do your own research and reach your own conclusions. Thankfully, sailing is one of the last areas of life where we may be left responsible for the well being of ourselves and our crews, rather than depending on the big brother state to look after us.
Sadly, the majority of modern production boats come fitted with brass seacocks below the waterline, which IMHO is bad practice and wholly unsafe. I would not therefore take the fact that you see something on modern production boats as evidence that it is a wise way to go.
Do your own research and reach your own conclusions. Thankfully, sailing is one of the last areas of life where we may be left responsible for the well being of ourselves and our crews, rather than depending on the big brother state to look after us.