Seacocks: When do you have them closed?

[myocean]

Many sailors always close as may seacocks as possible at any time when sailing.
What is the common practice of long term cruisers?
What do you do about inlets and outlets of your toilets, inlet for the watermaker, inlet for seawater in pantry, ...

[Sandero]

I only close when leaving the boat... The problem would be from a hose failure or claiming failure. If you plumbing is sound there is no reason to be closing them constantly. It is a good idea that they not be jammed however so periodic use and inspection is important.

[Ram]

Originally Posted by defjef

I only close when leaving the boat... The problem would be from a hose failure or claiming failure. If you plumbing is sound there is no reason to be closing them constantly. It is a good idea that they not be jammed however so periodic use and inspection is important.

I second this!

[CSY Man]

Pretty much sums it up.

I close every sea cock except cockpit drains when the boat is in storage.
(Not being used for several weeks/months)

[sailorboy1]

I only close mine if a storm is expected (not that this should really matter).

I figure that for valves/hoses/ clamps that have been regularly checked that the odds are very low of a leak "just happening".

The closest my boat has come to sinking due to a thur valve line is the thur hull fitting itself completely corroding away to the point that it was being held in by caulking (it still wasn't leaking, yet). So I guess if you close them regularly you would notice the fitting loose in this case (didn't on the 1 I had the issue with as that one was opened/closed weekly and I still didn't find the problem till haul out).

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by defjef

I only close when leaving the boat... The problem would be from a hose failure or claiming failure. If you plumbing is sound there is no reason to be closing them constantly. It is a good idea that they not be jammed however so periodic use and inspection is important.

Well, there is a reason to close them - dynamic loads while underway, plus the risk of syphoning while heeled.

Nevertheless, I do as DefJeff and close them only when I leave the boat. I think the syphoning problem is less acute on modern boats.

[rtbates]

seeing as how the seacock/hoses/clamps are constantly keeping a hole in the hull from sinking the boat, I keep all seacocks, excluding the cockpit drains, closed when not being actively used. I sleep better at night.

[bobconnie]

I close all sea cocks that are not in use ! I have a weekly sea cock check I do to check the sea cocks, and note this in my maintaince log. This way if I find a problem I can fix it or keep the sea cock closed till I can ! Its an old way of doing things, but Ive never had a problem with any of my sea cocks yet !!