Why do you think …..,

[Wandering Star]

The previous owner of my boat plugged and fibreglassed over both of the Blake’s seacocks leaving the seacocks in place? He made a good professional job of it - the hull is smooth and there was no clue and rather stupidly I hadn’t realised until I set out to dismantle the seized seacocks from inside the boat.

I started on the larger one, managed to get the cone retainer plate off but cone wouldn’t budge so thought I’d try the drift and heavy hammer method from the outside and that’s when I realised there wasn’t actually a hole where one should be. Further investigation showed same for the seawater inlet smaller seacock.

Have finally got the large cone out with a lot of swearing and liberal soaking with Plus Gas and the help of a heavy wrench, the seacock seems in perfectly good condition so tomorrow I’m going to drill out the heavy plug of fibreglass or whatever was used and hopefully, after normal maintenance it’ll work fine. Then it’s rinse and repeat on the smaller jobby.

But WHY would the seacocks have been blocked off in the first place - can’t ask the previous owner as he’s RIP.

 

[Boater Sam]

He didn't want to use the sea toilet. So what did he use? Its a strange thing to do if the excellent Blakes is still there, presumably on a tank?

 

[Fantasie 19]

He didn't want to use the sea toilet. So what did he use? Its a strange thing to do if the excellent Blakes is still there, presumably on a tank?

Bucket.. much easier and simpler...

 

[[70521]]

Two less holes in the hull.

 

[WoodyP]

Bucket.. much easier and simpler...

How do you stay on a bucket when the ships pitching and rolling?

 

[Wandering Star]

How do you stay on a bucket when the ships pitching and rolling?

Or theres a couple of crew eating their breakfasts.

 

[lustyd]

How do you stay on a bucket when the ships pitching and rolling?

Or..:how does the bucket stay on you

 

[vyv_cox]

Bucket.. much easier and simpler...

Sorry, this is one of the daftest statements made on the forum. How can a bucket be easier than a fitted toilet? We are forced to use a bucket in the yard for night-time wees and even that is a pain to dispose of. Using it is not too bad for me but an uncomfortable operation for a lady. Using it for bowel movements, at sea, is anything but easier or simpler, never mind the inevitable odours that everyone has to share. And then we throw it overboard? Ha ha!

 

[The Q]

You don't say what type of boat....
If it's a motor boat previously kept on the Norfolk broads, then sea toilets are banned for boats permanently moored there. It may be the same on other waterways..
Sailing boats are slightly different, but modern boats are also banned from having sea toilets.

My motorboat sank in a boat yard, whoever removed the sea toilet, just stuck a cork in the valve hole, shut the valve , and built a holding tank over it . Then the outside was given a thick coat of anti fouling..
Many coats of antifoul later the valve failed.
Luckily being the broads, only in 3 ft of water..

 

[Wandering Star]

Sadler 29. No, I think the boats done few miles in it’s time and the owner was probably of the view (as others have suggested) that the less holes in the bottom, the better. Irony of course being the Sadler 29 is supposedly unsinkable so at worst the skipper would only get his socks wet if the seacocks disintegrated and is it actually possible for Blake’s seacocks (bronze) to disintegrate mid ocean?

 

[Stemar]

Why? Two less holes in the boat. Seems a bit daft to me, but whatever.
How? Portapotty. No need for heroics with a bucket.

 

[Fantasie 19]

How do you stay on a bucket when the ships pitching and rolling?

Put the bucket on gimbals..

...and yes I was being slightly jocular.. but clearly that didn't come across..

 

[Wandering Star]

As an aside, I’ve just discovered the Raymarine speed/log transducer through hull has also been fibreglassed over - all the fibreglassing has been done leaving a professionally smooth finish but with the through hulls left in place.

 

[Mark-1]

I can’t ask the previous owner as he’s RIP.

So it worked for him and you're left with the problem. His solution is vindicated.

 

[NormanS]

Sorry, this is one of the daftest statements made on the forum. How can a bucket be easier than a fitted toilet? We are forced to use a bucket in the yard for night-time wees and even that is a pain to dispose of. Using it is not too bad for me but an uncomfortable operation for a lady. Using it for bowel movements, at sea, is anything but easier or simpler, never mind the inevitable odours that everyone has to share. And then we throw it overboard? Ha ha!

When we started wintering ashore in a boat yard, one of the first things I did was to make a "commode". It's simply a plywood top for the bucket, with a Jabsco toilet seat and top cover attached to it. My wife reckons that it was one of her strangest birthday presents.

 

[vyv_cox]

We have a special bucket with a toilet seat and lid, probably bought at a camping shop. This is a recent purchase: for years we have made do with an ordinary bucket.