Should I be worried about this valve leak?

[phorvati]

It's my engine intake, and it's not leaking in the shutoff position.
I don't want to have to haul out, but I also don't want to sink on my way home. I'm in Beaufort NC now, but I got about 500NM to go home to RI. Planing that early april.
Thanks

[Cheechako]

Is the handle just off or is it broken? You can turn it to open and close?
Likely fine if that's the case.
Is that tapered plug seacock or a ball valve seacock?

[DefinitelyMe]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Is the handle just off or is it broken? You can turn it to open and close?
Likely fine if that's the case.
Is that tapered plug seacock or a ball valve seacock?

It looks like one of the ball valve types to me. Groco/Perko etc.

I think it'll be fine. Just a gasket that's failing. It won't fail catastrophically and sink your boat if that's what you're worried about.

When you replace it, on the next one remove that 1/4" plug and replace it with a grease nipple. That'll help the next time around.

[phorvati]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Is the handle just off or is it broken? You can turn it to open and close?
Likely fine if that's the case.
Is that tapered plug seacock or a ball valve seacock?

Handle is fine. I think it's tapered. But it doesn't look like Spartan. Who else makes tapered cone seacocks?
I typically leave the boat unattended in the water during off season(winter), so I'm wondering do I need to haul out to take care of this before next winter?

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by phorvati

Handle is fine. I think it's tapered. But it doesn't look like Spartan. Who else makes tapered cone seacocks?
I typically leave the boat unattended in the water during off season(winter), so I'm wondering do I need to haul out to take care of this before next winter?

That’s not a tapered plug seacock, it’s a ball valve.

Likely Perko from the look

[phorvati]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

That’s not a tapered plug seacock, it’s a ball valve.

Likely Perko from the look

Attachment 234499

Yes, I see. Thanks. Thats great to know. Does that matter in terms of leak?

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by phorvati

Yes, I see. Thanks. Thats great to know. Does that matter in terms of leak?

If there’s no adjusting but for the valve stem packing you can try to pump grease into the drain plugs. This may stop the leak. If not, the leak may stop on its own after being undisturbed for a time. From the photo this looks like an annoyance leak rather than a catastrophe leak.

[Redline452]

I've had a ball-valve/seacock where the inner part screwed on to the bolted flange and at the same time tightened down on the ball itself. Had to loosen it because it was too tight and difficult to turn (actually snapped off the marelon handle - twice). Perhaps yours is a bit loose?

[Chris Cringle]

You bet your boat.

[joelhemington]

Originally Posted by phorvati

It's my engine intake, and it's not leaking in the shutoff position.
I don't want to have to haul out, but I also don't want to sink on my way home. I'm in Beaufort NC now, but I got about 500NM to go home to RI. Planing that early april.
ThanksAttachment 234452Attachment 234453

I don't think I'd ever play games with a faulty seacock. You could probably get it to Rhode Island with the Gulf Stream in your favor and not need the motor much but it seems like you could do anything in Beaufort that you could do in Rhode Island. Is there some reason you need it to be there? Early April is about fifty days away with plenty of time to haul out and take care of other issues.

[phorvati]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

If there’s no adjusting but for the valve stem packing you can try to pump grease into the drain plugs. This may stop the leak. If not, the leak may stop on its own after being undisturbed for a time. From the photo this looks like an annoyance leak rather than a catastrophe leak.

It is an annoyance leak as it goes away over time. Its just that over the last three off-seasons I watched it get slightly worst every year. I found just the body for that seacock for 180$. I think its perko. This includes the nipples, and the handle. Those nipples are 1/8" NPT thread. I think just putting the grease fitting to grease it, would be helpful. But bronze nipple will go back in after that.

What about adding a rubber or paper gasket between the handle and the body where the drops appear?

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by phorvati

It is an annoyance leak as it goes away over time. Its just that over the last three off-seasons I watched it get slightly worst every year. I found just the body for that seacock for 180$. I think its perko. This includes the nipples, and the handle. Those nipples are 1/8" NPT thread. I think just putting the grease fitting to grease it, would be helpful. But bronze nipple will go back in after that.

What about adding a rubber or paper gasket between the handle and the body where the drops appear?

Putting a gasket in there could work short term, but it’s not a fix for the stem packing. Top that with the pressure required to seal a gasket there Preventing you from turning the handle and I’d be inclined to put up with the slow drip until the next haul

[phorvati]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

Putting a gasket in there could work short term, but it’s not a fix for the stem packing. Top that with the pressure required to seal a gasket there Preventing you from turning the handle and I’d be inclined to put up with the slow drip until the next haul

Yes I understand that part now. Thanks. Hauling out this boat is a major undertaking. Step 1 is add grease fitting to see if that improves situation. If not,
The other thought is to replace stem packing while in water.
I have a body of perko valve comming in. It's basically everything accept the through hole straight thread piece. I will find out if there is a way to replace that on the piece that is comming in. If so I might just replace stem and maybe the handle.

[DefinitelyMe]

Originally Posted by phorvati

Yes I understand that part now. Thanks. Hauling out this boat is a major undertaking. Step 1 is add grease fitting to see if that improves situation. If not,
The other thought is to replace stem packing while in water.
I have a body of perko valve comming in. It's basically everything accept the through hole straight thread piece. I will find out if there is a way to replace that on the piece that is comming in. If so I might just replace stem and maybe the handle.

From the photo I can't tell if the adapter flange is bolted (or screwed) down to the backing plate or hull. If it is then you can plug the through-hull from the outside and replace the ball valve easily without hauling. If it isn't I wouldn't try it as there is a real risk that when you try to un-screw the ball valve from the flange it will break the seal and spin the whole through-hull, resulting in a more serious leak. Honestly, if my through hull was doing what yours is I'd just make a mental note to check it fairly regularly, change it at the next haulout and otherwise ignore it.

[DefinitelyMe]

Edit to my last post: never mind. On closer inspection it looks like you have a two-piece setup (through hull and flanged ball-valve seacock) rather than the three-piece setup (through hull - flanged adapter - ball valve). If so, and you do indeed have the former, you definitely shouldn't try to replace it in the water as there is too great a risk of spinning the through-hull.