Chromed bronze vs Stainless steel balls

[Marksman]

Going to purchase a new sea cock, anyone have information on the benifits of chrome bronze or stainless balls? I know that both have given good service for some time, and I have many with stainless allready. But the Groco stainless ball models are more money by a fair margin, and while I'm not afraid of that, I don't want to spend more simply based on superstition. Thoughts?

[David M]

Either are fine. Bronze or silicon bronze is more common and works well with fiberglass. I use stainless because it is less reactive with an aluminum hull.

Plastic I do not like because of the increased frequency of them seizing up or the handles breaking off, both of which I have experienced.

What is your hull material?

[Marksman]

Fiberglass, and I agree about the plastic stuff, similar experience.

[model 10]

I think he was talking about his balls, so to speak. Chromed bronze ball in a bronze seat or stainless ball in a teflon seat. If both had teflon seats I would go with the cheaper of the 2.

[Marksman]

I was discussing the balls, just curious if there was any real experience with degradation of either material over time. Very little information out there other than a couple of opinions that didn't sound like they were based on any kind of data or facts. I guess that's a good sign for both types.

Thanks guys

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Marksman

I was discussing the balls, just curious if there was any real experience with degradation of either material over time. Very little information out there other than a couple of opinions that didn't sound like they were based on any kind of data or facts. I guess that's a good sign for both types.

Thanks guys

I'm at 10 years with a Groco with chromed bronze. The ball looks like new.

[bill cartwright]

I just replaced all the thruhull valves to Bronze Groco with SS ball. If you search around on Ebay, you can find them cheap. well 40 to 70 bucks according to size, 3 quarters inch or inch one half. mucho cheaper and new. just a thought

[Wotname]

Presumably the chrome is harder but for service life I reckon it would depend on the quality of the chrome plating. I suspect quality plating would be superior to SS but vice versa with low quality plating. I don't know how you can assess the quality without trying it.

Anyone know where chrome lies in the periodic table?

FWIW, I have had low end chrome spanners (wrenches for USA folk) rust quickly while top end ones never rusted.

[David M]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Anyone know where chrome lies in the periodic table?

Yes, number 24!
http://www.ptable.com/

Did you mean the reactivity scale?
Reactivity series - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Wotname]

Yes, thanks DM, that is what I meant ; posting at airport after a long day of travelling and still half a continent away from home. So far one heli transfer (almost 2 hours), one FW transfer (1.5 hours) and another 5 hour flight and lots of waiting - thats all thread drift of course.

[Marksman]

Well I guess it would be a coin toss on the balls, but I do prefer the bronze handle of the BV-750, guess I'll spend the extra and get that model, will check ebay as well. Thank you gentlemen for your input.