Frozen Seacock

[KJB]

Hi. I am currently replacing my head with Nature's Head composting toilet. However, the seacock I need to close appears not to have been tinkered with for quite some time. I understand the need to open and close them monthly and grease them. I also readily admit I haven't done that (but am doing that now).

I have tried a heat gun and and all available leveraging tools (being careful not to exert too much pressure) all to no avail.

Does any one have any suggestions concerning:

1) how to open the seacock.
2) how to cap the seacock until haulout (I understand this would require a diver to plug the seacock form the outside).
3) any other suggestions.

I purchased this vessel a little over a year ago and really love her, but dislike all the smelly hoses and the temperamental head setup.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

[leftbrainstuff]

Looks very frozen. I dont see any evidence of heat being applied.

Heat alone is often not effective. You often need some lube. Apply it inside the valve from the hose side.

Looks like it might also have a bleed nipple in one of those picks. You might be able to work that out and apply some mouse milk or kroil oil.

Let one of those work its magic for a few days first.

I have fitted shutoff valves upstream on some of our sea cocks that dont get actioned often.

I can backfill them with polypropylene glycol (food grade) and fresh water to avoid having stagnant sea water sitting behind sea cocks.

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[Sailmonkey]

On the opposite side of the valve from the photos there should be a nut. Loosen the nut to the end of the threads, tap the nut towards the valve body with a hammer, turn the valve plug, re tighten the nut.

Once that's done, remove the hose and cap the valve.


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[KJB]

Hi Sailmonkey. On the other side there is indeed a nut. Very very difficult to get to but I'm going to try that.

Hi LeftBrain. If the above does not work, I really like your idea of an upstream valve. Question: by what process do you backfill? Thanks.

[HopCar]

Sailmonkey nailed it. That is a tapered plug seacock. Back the nut off a few threads, tap it until the tapered plug breaks loose. With the seacock in the open position, as t is now, you can install a zerk fitting in one of the drain holes on the side and pump grease in.

[wesgardner]

Oh yeah, and if the boat's in the water, that tapered plug can/will come all the way out so when you knock on it from the nut end, don't let it roll down into the bilge out of reach while you try to stem the flow of water coming out of both sides of the seacock. Don't ask me how I know :-)

[KJB]

Ok wesgardner actually that is what I'm trying to avoid since the boat is in the water. Turns out there is no room on the other side to knock it out so.im probably placing a valve upstream until haul out.

And I won't ask

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[tkeithlu]

Save this job for a haulout, and do it soon. That seacock is way too far gone for in the water refurbishing or even moving. Also, if I'm seeing what I think I'm seeing, is that a single hose clamp on the top of a bellows reduction in hose size to fit the seacock to the sewage hose? If so, ouch! Replace that with a bronze hose bib of the right size for the new hose, and double clamp anything that can flood the boat.

[KJB]

Thanks tkeithlu. I actually had a diver plug it for now. Will definitely save that for the haul out. For now I everything capped and am installing the composting head. I just have to make a little extra room for it that I did not anticipate. Thanks for the input

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[Simply Sailing]

Originally Posted by KJB

For now I everything capped and am installing the composting head. I just have to make a little extra room for it that I did not anticipate.

We found the same thing when we tried to install a Nature's Head. We had had an Air Head for many years but we installed it in another boat we had purchased and then sold so we decided to try a Nature's Head this time. We used the dimensions listed on the site, mocked up a model to be sure it would fit, and were SURE it would be fine, but when it arrived the Nature's Head just would not fit, no matter what we did. In case you can't make it work, just so you know, they will take it back no problem. As long as it hasn't been used. Good luck.