To remove or not to remove that is the question

[thomm225]

I have six thruhulls that are closed. One capped with a plastic plug.

2 at the waterline one which was for the sink.

3 below the waterline that are just closed with nothing attached. One was for the head and one for the engine an old diesel that was in the boat when I had it

The photo with the hose was for the head but I closed it off and removed the leaky hoses years ago that were stinking up the boat.

Not sure what the other seacock was for in photo as it was like that when I bought the boat in 2011.

They appear to be the old bronze maybe Wilcox Seacocks

The boat is a 1974 Bristol 27.

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by Lucy Lu

Question, can it be capped, should it be removed, can I safely leave it in situ. If I remove it, it will involve a complete repaint of the hull so if I can get away with not doing so, I would prefer it.

I'd say cap it and think about it for a year or so.

You might discover a useful purpose, which may or may not coincide with whatever the original use was.

-Chris

[Pete7]

If there is a hose tail in the seacock, cut short or replace with a piece of thread from a mushroom through hull cutting off the end and fit one of these on the end:

https://www.asap-supplies.com/search?query=cap

[Madehn]

put a bronze cap over it and call it good as long as it is still sturdy-- any chandlery should have one that fits. If you can't find one of those get an expandable rubber plug and put it in after the valve has been greased and closed- any home supply store will have those. putting the hose on it and securing end above water line would also work.I would not take it out until you are sure you dont need it a couple of years down the road. it might have been some sort of scupper/cockpit drain- my boat has one of these on each side that are right at the waterline and sound similar to your situation

[Don C L]

I join the "cap it" crowd; it is easy, secure and you may need it in the future. My only caveat is that to be sure there is NO WAY anything heavy could slide or fall against that thru-hull in the future, when you might forget it is there. I may have missed it, can you remove the valve? If so better to remove it and cap the thru-hull to leave a minimum intrusion. I capped two of mine and have no problems. I also filled the thru-hull with silicone to add a measure of security. If I ever use them in the future it is (fairly) easy to remove the silicone.

[Goodxcharly]

I would leave it if it is in good condition or replace with a new one if not. No sense turning a mole hill into a Mtountain.
You could possibly have a use for the thruhull at a later day.

[Cheechako]

I say you are fine leaving it in place if it doesn't look corroded. You can cap it if you want. Or .....while the boats on the hard replace it with a fresh mushroom fitting for peace of mind that is cut short, has a new nut, and capped .

[nofacey]

Plug the fitting and move on ……there will be plenty of more critical work.

[Bowdrie]

Originally Posted by nofacey

……there will be plenty of more critical work.

Yep, like varnish and beer.

[MJH]

Originally Posted by Lucy Lu

Buying my first boat and although I have some knowledge and experience of things aquatic, I have a question. The boat I have been looking at requires some work, all of which I believe is within my abilities to carry out. I have looked her over and over and over and there is nothing I see that I cannot put right myself. However, there is a through hull fitting which is obviously no longer used as it has nothing attached to it inside the hull. It is a fairly large diameter ball valve and I cannot see a useful purpose for it still being in situ. It is pretty much on or very near the waterline and has no protection other than it is closed. Question, can it be capped, should it be removed, can I safely leave it in situ. If I remove it, it will involve a complete repaint of the hull so if I can get away with not doing so, I would prefer it. Im new to this game so no arrogant replies please.

If the thru hull is in good condition, I would leave it. Cap it if it makes you sleep better.

[merrydolphin]

No idea why you would need to repaint the entire hull for one through hull repair. ? Anyway, as has been said, if it were a quality fixture, I would just cap it. I had a “spare” through hull fitting that went a couple of years capped until I found a use for it. Glad I kept it. You never know. You install a new piece of gear: water maker, Air conditioning, refrigeration?