Seacocks - Perko, Groco, Forespar, Apollo

[Cheechako]

Marelons are tough as nails but freeze up easily, then you break the handle trying to move them. Tapered bronze are great, heavy and expensive. I kinda like the bronze ball valve type.... Groco? Sure is nothing wrong with the good old tapered though.

[SkiprJohn]

How about Jabsco, Del? Are they US made?
regards,
John

[bcalfee]

Hi, I am working on my Hallberg Rassy at Shelburne Shipyard and need some new Seacocks. You can reach me at 802-734-0964 today, Thursday and Friday

[David M]

I'm hauled out of the water right now. The guy who pulled all the stainless steel thruhull valves (I have thirteen valves threaded on to an aluminum hull) said he does not recommend Marelon at all. I asked him because I was considering replacing some stainless with Marelon instead of buying another expensive stainless steel valve. He has worked on thousands of boats for many years. He said he cant tell me how many times boats have had to be hauled out because a Marelon valve was so tight that the owner or whoever, busted the valve handle off trying to close or open the valve.

He convinced me right then and there not to use Marelon. If I ever start taking on water I want to know with certainty the same thing is not going to happen to me.

[pluccio]

Hello John,
I am looking for two 1-1/2 Spartan seacocks (model S701) plus flush thru hulls (model T730). Please let me know if you have them and if your offer is still valid.

Thanks
Paolo

[SkiprJohn]

I got mine from Oceansandmts who has a post on this thread. Send him a PM. He may have some more.
regards,
JohnL

[Cheechako]

The Spartans are great, as are the older tapered ones. Personally I would go with ball valve type if bronze. I would never put Marelons on after having them on my cat. If you miss a chance to lube them you WILL break the handle off. If you have them it is recommended you work them open and shut every few weeks. Who wants to crawl around and do that? Just go to the marine store and try to turn a new one!

[Cheechako]

sorry, didnt realize this was the old thread. Repeated myself....

[Rhosyn Mor]

So, the main probs with Marelon seacocks is that you need to open/shut them on a regular basis. Should you not be checking the seacocks pretty much weekly anyway?
so whats the big deal?

[Cheechako]

IF yours are easy to access and you remember along with all the other boat maintenance then I guess it's OK. I just dont like things that break from poor design. Maybe the "work them frequently" instructions wont even keep the problem from happening! Not sure if that's a factory excuse or real. I do know that some of them cant even be turned readily in the store.... especially the larger ones. Their material is tough, but not their handle. Think of it this way, if you needed to unlock a nut that was held fast, would a plastic wrench work? or would the jaws just spread open? That is part of the problem with their handles. An aluminum boat has special problems in selecting seacocks. FOr that I might consider a marelon with the handle removed and a bronze ball valve on top of the Marelon. Ball valves are cheap. Kinda funky though....