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29-05-2017, 22:49
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#16
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Victoria B.C.
Boat: Wauquiez Centurion 32
Posts: 2,882
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Re: Opinions Wanted for Seacock Valve Repair
Quote:
Originally Posted by ValiantV
The Marelon through-hulls and sea cocks are alarmingly flexible ("springy" I think one poster said) so they are not confidence-inspiring, especially when trying to unscrew anything that is attached to them. They do promise to outlast pretty much anything else though, so happy to have them.
They should be a good fit once the bronze ones are extracted from their current positions.
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TruDesign from New Zealand makes, in my opinion, a much better through hull/valve system than Forespar's Marelon. They are available in all sizes and they do not have the problems with weak handles. Good pricing as well.
Distributed by Raritan in the US.
Raritan Tru-Design Complete Thru-Hull and Seacock Assembly
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29-05-2017, 23:00
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#17
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Registered User

Join Date: May 2011
Location: Miami Florida
Boat: Ellis Flybridge 28
Posts: 4,078
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Re: Opinions Wanted for Seacock Valve Repair
Quote:
Originally Posted by mitiempo
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I agree. TruDesign is significantly better than Marlon.
__________________
Retired from Hopkins-Carter Marine Supplies
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29-05-2017, 23:05
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#18
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Victoria B.C.
Boat: Wauquiez Centurion 32
Posts: 2,882
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Re: Opinions Wanted for Seacock Valve Repair
Quote:
Originally Posted by HopCar
I agree. TruDesign is significantly better than Marlon.
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Yes, playing with the valves I just purchased they are much more substantial than the Forespar valves - especially in the smaller sizes.
I am re-doing all my through hulls. 3/4", 1", 1 1/2", and a 2" for a gravity drain holding tank. I bought 9 sets in total.
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30-05-2017, 08:24
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#19
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Cape Haze,FL
Boat: Carver,Cobia,Nacra, Columbia
Posts: 816
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Re: Opinions Wanted for Seacock Valve Repair
George is right! Nothing but bronze, unless you park the boat on a trailer after every use. Haul her out, then take a torch to all the existing fittings and thru hulls, try heat first followed by a lot of breaker bar torque. If that doesnt work, use the cuttin torch. Make sure you have lots of wet towels around while using a torch in the bilge. Remove all the old crap, re-bed with high quality caulk.
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30-05-2017, 09:12
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#20
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Winnsboro, Texas
Boat: Catalina 30 MKII
Posts: 264
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Re: Opinions Wanted for Seacock Valve Repair
Quote:
Originally Posted by mitiempo
TruDesign from New Zealand makes, in my opinion, a much better through hull/valve system than Forespar's Marelon. They are available in all sizes and they do not have the problems with weak handles. Good pricing as well.
Distributed by Raritan in the US.
Raritan Tru-Design Complete Thru-Hull and Seacock Assembly
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I don't find d the handles to be "weak", rather the thru-hulls themselves to be flexible where bronze or stainless - or even old plastic ones are quite rigid.
The handles would be the least of my worries since a broken handle would merely be an inconvenience, where a broken thru-hull would be at least an emergency.
Then again, the newer reinforced plastic materials are supposed to be quite strong, so I don't expect to see problems. That, and the deterioration that metal sea cocks and thru-hull experience is one less thing to worry about.
Anyway, these fittings will be monitored regularly, and any that even look like they may cause problems will be replaced when the boat gets hauled for bottom jobs.
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30-05-2017, 19:28
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#21
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Victoria B.C.
Boat: Wauquiez Centurion 32
Posts: 2,882
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Re: Opinions Wanted for Seacock Valve Repair
Quote:
Originally Posted by ValiantV
I don't find d the handles to be "weak", rather the thru-hulls themselves to be flexible where bronze or stainless - or even old plastic ones are quite rigid.
The handles would be the least of my worries since a broken handle would merely be an inconvenience, where a broken thru-hull would be at least an emergency.
Then again, the newer reinforced plastic materials are supposed to be quite strong, so I don't expect to see problems. That, and the deterioration that metal sea cocks and thru-hull experience is one less thing to worry about.
Anyway, these fittings will be monitored regularly, and any that even look like they may cause problems will be replaced when the boat gets hauled for bottom jobs.
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The handles are weak and the smaller through hulls from Forespar have a history of broken handles. The larger ones are better.
I sell the Forespar product but am not a fan. Especially after seeing the TruDesign product.
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30-05-2017, 19:36
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#22
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Registered User

Join Date: May 2011
Location: Miami Florida
Boat: Ellis Flybridge 28
Posts: 4,078
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Re: Opinions Wanted for Seacock Valve Repair
Quote:
Originally Posted by mitiempo
The handles are weak and the smaller through hulls from Forespar have a history of broken handles. The larger ones are better.
I sell the Forespar product but am not a fan. Especially after seeing the TruDesign product.
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As a recently retired marine hardware shop keeper, I have to agree with you. I've seen a few broken Forespar handles and a broken stem as well.
__________________
Retired from Hopkins-Carter Marine Supplies
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30-05-2017, 20:43
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#23
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Victoria B.C.
Boat: Wauquiez Centurion 32
Posts: 2,882
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Re: Opinions Wanted for Seacock Valve Repair
Interesting thread on Sailboat Owners here: https://forums.sailboatowners.com/in...enough.136999/ showing strength of seacocks, both Marelon and bronze.
by Mainesail
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31-05-2017, 09:33
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#24
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Skagit City, WA
Posts: 25,765
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Re: Opinions Wanted for Seacock Valve Repair
Yep, had Marelon handles on my Cat break off. They are tiny at the point where they break. It's tough material in the thru hull and body itself, but the handle and stem are useless. Replacing the broken ones I discovered how tough Marelon material is! I had to take the thru hull out with a hacksaw blade one piece at a time. But "one weak link in a chain...."
__________________
"I spent most of my money on Booze, Broads and Boats. The rest I wasted" - Elmore Leonard
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