Sea Cock Won't Open or Close

[RabidRabbit]

Jedg- I can't say I miss the snow, Plowing was fun, but I never did any winter sport stuff. This is year 3 of heading outta the lake before the locks close, and hope to continue until I can take years off to venture further.

[Watercolor]

My wife and I spent 6 years cruising full time. It's great fun. it's really about the people you meet.

Kept our boat in the Charlotte Sailing Center for years.

Fair winds

[sww914]

Before you go too far why don't you call a couple of boatyards and see how much it will cost to get hauled and hang in the slings for a couple of hours?

[Capt Phil]

+1, sww914... Phil

[mcarling]

Originally Posted by endoftheroad

I'm sorry to ask but I don't know the physics of the water pressure under 22,000lbs.

Water pressure is a simple linear function of depth below the waterline. Go twice as deep and the pressure doubles.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Tonyjay, and tregrrr.

[endoftheroad]

Okay.....I did it thanks to ya'all.
I took the advice for plugging the thru hull sea side. There wasn't much water to stress over when I took hose off seacock. I still have to jump in the water to wood plug.

And the fruits of my labor immediate, notice the picture of my Groco strainer. Also, the previous owner used a 5/8" brass fitting on the exit side of the strainer that disolved in my hands as the 5/8" hose fell to bottom of hull. What a disaster it all could have been. Very happy I did it.
Thanks again.

[Watercolor]

Congratulations!!!

From what you've said I'd do a complete evaluation of all the through-hulls, including the knot meter and depth sounder.

The prior owner never had a problem with the seacock/strainer. Thankfully you've eliminated the problem he never had.

Fair winds

[HopCar]

Next time you haul, why don't you replace the bad seacock with a Groco Flanged Adapter? You can use that nice Groco Ball Valve you bought with it.
Here is a link to my website that shows them.
Groco Flanged Adapter IBVF

[endoftheroad]

Originally Posted by HopCar

Next time you haul, why don't you replace the bad seacock with a Groco Flanged Adapter? You can use that nice Groco Ball Valve you bought with it.
Here is a link to my website that shows them.
Groco Flanged Adapter IBVF

Thanks...
I read someones blog about the ease of spinning on and off Groco valves replacing more frequently using this method.

Does Groco have an estimated lifespan to these chrome plated solid brass ball valves? The prices are good enough that it could be economical for replacement every 2 years.

[HopCar]

I think you'll get many years of service from that valve. The brass doesn't come in contact with salt water. The brass is protected by the chrome. The chrome rides on PTFE seals so it won't wear much.
Note that you should exercise ball valves and ball valve seacocks at least a couple of times a year. They can get hard to move. The square hole in the valve handle is to allow you to use a 3/8" breaker bar or ratchet to get extra leverage if the valve sticks.

[Sailorman375]

Being that I sell valves for offshore oil and gas and specifically for sea water service, DO NOT use a plated brass ball. PERIOD. Get a bronze ball valve with a bronze ball at a minimum. Better yet get a plug type seacock. Sparton or Blakes.

[ranchhand]

I´ve carried a piece of emergency gear for years that thankfully has yet to be used. Autobody or glass repair shops have huge rubber suction cups with handles that could be used to quickly plug collision holes or broken valves. Means a quick swim but could save your boat.

[Paperbird]

Another piece of damage control gear to consider - a toilet bowl wax ring (I know - sounds weird). But just unwrap it and jam the whole ring onto a broken off seacock or similar fitting or small hole. The wax will plug the leak long enough for a longer term repair.

[EzzyD]

Another damage control gear that you can play with: A nerf ball, football, basketball, etc.

They are easily cut, and can be squeezed into a hole, and they expand to fill all spaces, forming a quick damage control item that in (my opinion) is better then a wooden plug.

(I hope no one reading this shall ever have to make use of this.. but...)