Plug existing holes

[mtompson]

I'm removing a head but want to keep the holes for possible future use. The seacocks are very old and I wondered if anyone knows of a pluggable thru-hull?

Basically I want to remove the existing seacock and thru-hull, clean up a bit, then add a new thru-hull with a threaded cap of some kind.

I guess a bit like : https://www.bakesonline.com/detail.aspx?ID=1510

to me it seems like a lot less work than filling / glassing the holes ( but i could be wrong! )

anyway, thanks for any ideas.

[Terra Nova]

Better to glass them over and forget about them than install other metal fittings which could corrode/fail. But you can cap either the thru-hull or the sea cock.

[Scott Berg]

below the waterline fittings should really have a proper seacock. The thru hull fitting screws into the seacock; some people just use the thru hulls with a nut but I don't find that shortcut a good bargin. Either properly glass it over or install a new seacock and thru hull and then close and plug the seacock. And then you won't need to worry about it at night....
https://www.google.com/search?q=groc...m2p0_imWcIM%3A

[deblen]

Seacock & Thru-Hull Primer/Pre Information Photo Gallery by Compass Marine How To at pbase.com

[mtompson]

Thanks everyone, I think I will glass the holes, I'm probably being lazy, I wanted to check for a quick & easy!

[Tellie]

I tend to believe there is an over cautious view of un-used thru hulls. If there is a possible future use as mentioned I would just replace it with a good quality thru hull and valve.

[Lepke]

I have an old boat with a number of unused thru hulls. Besides capping them, I drove a wood plug in the hole and closed the cock. Many of my thru hulls are 1942 and sound. Yours are probably, too.

[mtompson]

thanks guys, nice to hear both sides. I'm not sure just yet about the quality of the existing seacocks ( in detail ), I need to get the pipes off and wire brush out etc and have a good look, as for adding new seacocks, I would want to add a backing plate anyway, and imagine all that would bring me close to filling the hole anyway, in terms of time / work. ( and the extra cost of a new seacock )

It may be a good few years before they would be used again ( if at all ).

thanks again...

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by Lepke

I have an old boat with a number of unused thru hulls. Besides capping them, I drove a wood plug in the hole and closed the cock. Many of my thru hulls are 1942 and sound. Yours are probably, too.

It's a Jeanneau, good chance ball valve and throughulls are brass. Never seen an OE seacock on a French boat.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by mtompson

Thanks everyone, I think I will glass the holes, I'm probably being lazy, I wanted to check for a quick & easy!

Glassing the holes is way more work than replacing the seacock or thru hull. You can't just plug the holes, you have to grind away a lot of fiberglass to make a proper repair.

[mtompson]

thanks rwidman, understood, as I said if I was going to replace the seacocks, I'd want to make up some backing plates, I reckon on that taking me almost as long as a good glassing over job, I think I've made up my mind, and as usual bouncing the problem about on this forum really helps.