Bronze thruhulls. Are they worth it?

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

As asked via a PM:


Our below water thru-hulls are bronze, valves are bronze (old) brass (new).


There are NO, repeat NO bronze valves to be had in Canary Islands chandleries, nor have I seen any on the EU continent. I know they can be had in the UK, specialist stores in Germany and Netherlands, possibly denmark, Finland or Sweden.


In the Med and below, all you can buy is brass.


Next stop Budget Marine shop on Antigua where you can have Grocco's.


Our above water fittings are mostly brass now, except for the ones that came with the boat (and hence it was 1980 and Sweden, bronze).


Bronze is the thing, no saying, but what do you do when you are Med based?


BTW Nearly all underwater fittings on Bavas, Benes, Jeanneaus, Lagoons, etc. I have seen were brass, not bronze.


Cheers,
b.

I would order Groco from Defender.com. UPS brings it to you and probably for less than the savings from buying on-line from Defender

[Searles]

As stated most European production yachts sailing or power are now and have been for some years have bean fitted with de zincafied brass underwater ski Nfittings and valves to be changed at every five or so years it’s generally in the owners manual . Good g one bronze has bean known to last one thousand years plus in salt water,excellent bronze marine fittings are still available in the U.S ,suppliers often advertise on the forum .

[gamayun]

Originally Posted by Searles

As stated most European production yachts sailing or power are now and have been for some years have bean fitted with de zincafied brass underwater ski Nfittings and valves to be changed at every five or so years it’s generally in the owners manual . Good g one bronze has bean known to last one thousand years plus in salt water,excellent bronze marine fittings are still available in the U.S ,suppliers often advertise on the forum .

Really?!? I'm seriously shocked by this. Whoever follows the manual and replacement intervals? This has disaster spelled all over it.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by gamayun

Really?!? I'm seriously shocked by this. Whoever follows the manual and replacement intervals? This has disaster spelled all over it.

Yep.


Walk up to any recent Bavaria in a local boatyard and have a close look.


Very very common in many many EU brands.


However, not found in Oysters, Contests, Rivals, HRs, etc.


"...
The European Community’s Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) of 1988 introduced an ISO standard for through-hull fittings stating they should be corrosion-resistant for a service life of just five years. ..."


source: https://www.yachtingmonthly.com/arch...ck-checks-4692


I have seen brass fittings under waterline on: Lagoons, Bavarias, Jeanneaus, Beneteaus, Elans, Delphias, to name a few types. I would be very surprised if someone insisted these were all replaced by ignorant owners. I bet they were placed there by the manufacturers.



Cost. cost!


PS We sometimes discuss RCD here and then I tend to say it is a crap piece of paper I get nearly killed and threads get nearly closed. But I call a brass seacock a brass seacock.



b.

[barnakiel]

Imho EU RCD was written at EU Parliament as dictated by manufacturers of cheap EU boats. To sell more cheap boats and get better margins.



I believe this link is well worth following to get some whats and whys:


Poor quality seacocks and through-hulls on boats built to EU RCD standards?


Possibly not in line with CF rules as I am not clear if linking to an external forum is fine or not.


But it is relevant to our discussion here.



If this is indeed breaking any rule pls forward to admins for deletion of the link.



Regards,

barnakiel

[fish53]

I just refurbished my Spartan bronze seacocks that are forty years old and they're ready for another forty. Speaking for myself I wouldn't have anything else under a wood or fiberglass boat.

[Manateeman]

Captain Chotu. These posts just seem to develope a life of their own and drag on and on and on...could you please state :
1. What do you want to know. Please try to be as specific as possible.
2. Are you asking for a poll ? or a vote ? On thruhull or seacocks or both. Most reliable, easiest to install, best price, longest lasting . Which?
3. How can i advise you when, for the life of me, I can’t understand what question you are asking.
Your originally questioned the “worth” of bronze thruhull. Weorp in old English meaning value...and value is in the eye of the beholder. Subjective, personal.
Ive been asked if bronze stanchions are available to match the verdigris patina of chainplates. That’s a question I can answer.
I’m not sure if you have a question to which you do not already know the answer. Or have already formed an opinion on. Thus what are you asking...or more importantly why.
Are you just putting us on kemosabe ?
Mark a rather basic manatee

[barnakiel]

WORTH?


Well, if during my racing years I were given a brass medal rather than a bronze one, I would be pissed!


Does it not apply to thru hulls as well?


barnakiel

[DeValency]

Not sure what you mean by ‘plastic’. If it is a composite such as TruDesign
and Marleon, I wouldn’t hesitate. I have actually replaced all my (11! ) thruhulls and seacocks with TruDesign a year ago and very happy with the overall usability.

Originally Posted by Chotu

I recently inherited some bronze “above the waterline “ thruhulls.

I have plastic ones installed now.

Is there any reason I should be using bronze?

They are far more expensive, but weigh like 5 lbs each. The plastic ones weigh a matter of ounces and have been doing fine for 5 years.

Can’t help but to think the bronze ones are indestructible though.

Which would you use on a boat where every pound counts?

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

. . . There are NO, repeat NO bronze valves to be had in Canary Islands chandleries, nor have I seen any on the EU continent. I know they can be had in the UK, specialist stores in Germany and Netherlands, possibly denmark, Finland or Sweden.. .

You can buy bronze valves and fittings from SVB in Germany:


https://www.svb24.com/


Or from ASAP Supplies in the UK.

[Training Wheels]

My whole boat is plastic, so I figure plastic thru hulls will do just fine.

[Toccata]

I have used Marelon for years. No problems so far.
We are not in the "bronze age" anymore, IMHO.

[blubaju]

for the bronce fetishists, there is something like galvanic corrosion, aluminum (saildrive) and copper love each other so much that they need zinc. I installed Trudesign & composite propellers years ago.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

You can buy bronze valves and fittings from SVB in Germany:


https://www.svb24.com/


Or from ASAP Supplies in the UK.

Thank you for the clues.



Well. In theory yes. But these (from SVB) arrived in unmarked package to my friend's boat. One big box, fittings wrapped in plastic.



Lucky the one who can tell bronze by the look.


When I ordered DZR from Italy for my project boat, these arrived in clearly labelled boxes EACH with markings down to a batch number, weight (sic!!!). Nice.


I would expect at least similar standard of information from Germans BUT frankly today Germany disappoints.


I investigated at ASAP earlier last year, but at that moment they did not have all I wanted at once, and the mailing order fee was (ehm) no comment. I know they are not EU anymore but I did not know the La Manche was so wide last year ... ;-)


Antigua is downwind from here, and their shop service was immaculate (Budget Marine). So I may get mine there - if this stupid Covid thing ever lets us go.


Thank you for the info !!! Very appreciated!



Regards,

barnakiel

[DeValency]

If you’re heading downwind and really want bronze (as commented earlier I moved to the composite era last year), you can also try Island Water World in Sint Maarten or St Lucia - I always had a great experience with them, although basically whenever possible, ordered from the US and shipped to the marina.

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Thank you for the clues.



Well. In theory yes. But these (from SVB) arrived in unmarked package to my friend's boat. One big box, fittings wrapped in plastic.



Lucky the one who can tell bronze by the look.


When I ordered DZR from Italy for my project boat, these arrived in clearly labelled boxes EACH with markings down to a batch number, weight (sic!!!). Nice.


I would expect at least similar standard of information from Germans BUT frankly today Germany disappoints.


I investigated at ASAP earlier last year, but at that moment they did not have all I wanted at once, and the mailing order fee was (ehm) no comment. I know they are not EU anymore but I did not know the La Manche was so wide last year ... ;-)


Antigua is downwind from here, and their shop service was immaculate (Budget Marine). So I may get mine there - if this stupid Covid thing ever lets us go.


Thank you for the info !!! Very appreciated!



Regards,

barnakiel