Seized taps on through hulls

[Easy]

Hi!
I am the new proud owner of a 1970 Grampian 26, however she needs a little plumbing attention.
There are two through hull taps, one larger than the other.
the smaller I am assuming is a feed for the head, the larger is probably for waste although there is a holding tank, and no lines going to either tap.
The taps are copper with round handles like on a garden tap.
Both are seized closed.
To use the head we just pour water in with a jug but I would much prefer pumping and I also dont trust the seized taps to always hold.
Would these taps be threaded into the throughhull mountings and could I just replace them with the right size of lever taps?
I don't want to use the waste line, but I want to make it water tight.
Also since the head is above the water line can I just run an intake hose without any special loop?
Thanks in advance for your advice!
Cheers, Easy

[delmarrey]

Here is a useful thread to start you out! http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...elp-21127.html

[delmarrey]

And some more; http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ull-49211.html
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ths-49566.html
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ngs-49649.html

[capngeo]

Address it at your next haul out, in the mean time have some wood salvage plugs handy

[S/V Alchemy]

This is an old story on the Great Lakes. If you are currently hauled, replace all gate valves. A seized gate valve might as well be a length of pipe, except that they can weep along their stems easier, in my experience, than ball valves.

You need, ideally, bronze seacocks everywhere. With the Canadian buck in ascendence, I would pop for them as they are usually pricey items.

[hellosailor]

"The taps are copper with round handles like on a garden tap."
Those are gate valves, and typically they work by raising or lowering a flat zinc "gate" up and down internally to control the water flow. They're not a whole lot cheaper than ball valves, which are more reliable. And gate valves are pretty much guaranteed to either fail or jam, leving you unable to shut the water flow.
As Alchemy says proper bronze seacocks are perhaps best, but they're expensive. Marelon (genuine Marelon, not just "plastic") seacocks arguably will be just as good and less expensive. Bronze (not brass fro the hardware store!) ball cocks would also do.
You should be able to unscrew the gate valve from the thru-hull itself. Shoot in some PBlaster (it breaks corrosion, it is not the same as WD40 lube) and then use a big wrench, if you are out of the water. If the thru-hull itself isn't secure...replace that too. You'll find plenty of instructions about how to do it properly on the web, and from the manufacturers. Do it properly, don't try to take shortcuts, and you'll never have to do it again. Or worry about it leaking.