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Old 22-05-2014, 19:03   #16
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Re: Seacocks: your Operating Procedure

Every time I leave the boat for more than the time it takes me to go to the local hardware store which is my "best" "marine" store.
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Old 22-05-2014, 19:15   #17
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Re: Seacocks: your Operating Procedure

34 Valves? how could you possibly use that many???
I've been on several hundred feet of ship with fewer than that!

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Old 22-05-2014, 19:52   #18
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Re: Seacocks: your Operating Procedure

Since changing out my marine head for a composter, I only have 3 valves that need closing. The two sinks I close whenever I'll be gone overnight. The engine intake I open before starting up and close when I'm done running it.
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Old 22-05-2014, 20:01   #19
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Re: seacocks: your operating procedure

HopCar - ABYC requires new installation and refit (well, if you are a ABYC yard) to use wire reinforced hose below WL. I'm not a fan, either.
To me, closing the unnecessary ones when leaving the boat gives them the exercise I do not get.
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Old 22-05-2014, 20:03   #20
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Re: Seacocks: your Operating Procedure

Excluding cockpit drains/bilge pumps/engine exhaust...which are all above the water line...I have one sea cock...for engine raw water cooling. When the engine is not running it is shut. I exercise the AWL seacocks frequently.
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Old 22-05-2014, 20:10   #21
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Re: Seacocks: your Operating Procedure

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...I have one sea cock...for engine raw water cooling. When the engine is not running it is shut. .....
There's a huge advantage to your simplicity! I "exercise" and clean my Kingston valve, but it hasn't been left shut for many years!
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Old 22-05-2014, 20:45   #22
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Re: Seacocks: your Operating Procedure

Current Boat has one seacock only. Stays closed except when engine is running.

Next boat (there will not be a next boat) will have zero hull penetrations: transom hung rudder, transom sonar transducer, outboard motor, composting head, pumped sink sumps, air cooled fridge. No more monotonous inspections, and procedures. No more worrying about boat sinking.

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Old 22-05-2014, 21:28   #23
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Re: seacocks: your operating procedure

[QUOTE=dpddj;1547700]HopCar - ABYC requires new installation and refit (well, if you are a ABYC yard) to use wire reinforced hose below WL. I'm not a fan, either."

I didn't know that. If I bought a new boat with wire hose (hard wall) below the waterline, I'd keep a close eye on it and when it failed, I'd replace it with soft wall hose.

Sometimes you have to use hard wall hose to avoid kinks, but it never lasts as long as soft wall hose.

Do they still approve the use of a ball valve screwed onto a thru-hull fitting instead of a flanged seacock?
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Old 22-05-2014, 22:17   #24
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Re: Seacocks: your Operating Procedure

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... No more worrying about boat sinking.
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Old 23-05-2014, 03:25   #25
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Thumbs up Re: seacocks: your operating procedure

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I shouldn't admit this because I'll catch a lot of crap for it but I never close my seacocks. I do exercise them several times a year.

I've never had an unpressurized hose fail and I doubt one ever will.

I keep a good eye on the condition of my hoses and I use good quality hose.

I avoid using hose with wire in it. The wire will rust and damage the hose.

I use high quality type 316 stainless hose clamps and keep an eye on them as well.

If I was worried about it and they were hard to get to, I'd probably install remotely activated seacocks.
Having good auto bilge pumps and siphon breaks seems more important than shutting seacocks on perfectly good hoses. Might close some in a rough seaway where hoses could get wobbled about.
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Old 23-05-2014, 04:06   #26
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Re: Seacocks: your Operating Procedure

Here is how I maintain my seacocks for proper operation.

My hoses and clamps are inspected frequently and replaced when appropriate.

My seacocks remain open, except for the macerator discharge that remains shut w/ the handle removed.
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Old 23-05-2014, 05:47   #27
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Re: Seacocks: your Operating Procedure

Closing seacocks when not actively in use is risk management. I too have faith in my hoses but cannot justify failure to secure my vessel. To each his own but I have been known to get out of bed and go to the dock in the middle of the night to close a forgotten valve.
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Old 23-05-2014, 05:52   #28
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Re: Seacocks: your Operating Procedure

a. Hopcar's experience is not universal. Perhaps he chosen very poor wire hose, misapplied it, or misinstalled it, but I have had very different experience, both in boats and long industrial practice.
b. Wire hose can fail prematurely if misused, but the failures tend to be leaks rather than catastrophic failures. I've seen many of both. I suspect this is in the ABYC's reasoning. Thermoplastic hose can more easily rupture completely.
c. Unless the bilge pump is sized for salvage work and connected to dependable and sizeable shore power, it will make no difference if a large hose fails.
d. If this advice includes using vinyl sanitation hose, you've got to be joking. There are much better products.

I typically close the through hulls if I will be gone several days. Closing them periodically also kills marine organisms by depriving them of oxygen. However, the builder was smart and placed all of the valves in a bulkheaded compartment. I had a transducer fail (worn o-ring) and total flooding volume was limitied to about 15 gallons. Seems like a good idea. There are some other vents and drains, but they are all well above the waterline.
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Old 23-05-2014, 06:16   #29
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Re: Seacocks: your Operating Procedure

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Is this just another way to continue to "promote" Vallejo?
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Old 23-05-2014, 08:31   #30
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Seacocks: your Operating Procedure

I'm more worried about transducer and speedo paddle wheel with no sea cocks than I am about hoses with sea cocks. What do people do about the possibility of leaks or failure there, aside from tapered wooden plugs?
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