Through Hull Fittings

[Ian McD]

I have an eleven year old Taiwan made yacht of good quality. Several of my through hull cocks are seized or at least i am not game to really force the issue while in the water. All the ones that i could move are really stiff. They all appear to be in good condition externally. I would suggest they are bronze but not sure. Any suggestions?

[Jon Neely]

I just replaced all of my thruhulls and seacocks with groco bronze. Buy directly from groco and get a much better deal than buying via outlet. 11 years for non-rebuildable seacocks is plenty of life served. I've heard that ball valve seacocks should be replaced, or at least removed and cleaned every 6-8 years. Won't cost too terribly much, our bill for 3 flanged 3/4, 3 ball valves, 1 1 1/2" flanged all with mating thruhulls and a installation cone tool was about $400 shipped. Not too bad I thought.

[delmarrey]

Most of the Graco and some other well known brand seacocks are rebuildable for 1/4 of the new price. New seats, seals and a plastic ball for Graco.

[barnakiel]

I would try to identify the fittings. If they are OK externally and the boat is old, they may be bronze. If so, they will be well worth keeping / rebuilding.

Maybe if you post pictures others will be able to tell you what the fittings are?

b.

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Maybe if you post pictures others will be able to tell you what the fittings are?

b.

It should say on the handle.

[Cheechako]

are they tapered bronze or valves? Taiwan tapered are great and easily freed and fixed...

[matauwhi]

G'day, mates. To add to Cheechako comments above, if they are tapered and have a backing nut, ease off a bit on the nut, give a tap or two on the handle to try to move. I have a small piece of pipe that I put over the handle to get a little more leverage. At the next haul-out I would recommend completely removing the tapered plug, clean it up and coat with a product made by Akszo Nobel's International, called Res-Q-Steele. Keeps them from seizing and also give a nice watertight fit when you tighten them up. All the best. Cheers.

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by matauwhi

G'day, mates. To add to Cheechako comments above, if they are tapered and have a backing nut, ease off a bit on the nut, give a tap or two on the handle to try to move. I have a small piece of pipe that I put over the handle to get a little more leverage. At the next haul-out I would recommend completely removing the tapered plug, clean it up and coat with a product made by Akszo Nobel's International, called Res-Q-Steele. Keeps them from seizing and also give a nice watertight fit when you tighten them up. All the best. Cheers.

Ditto! If so you can go to Maine Sail's web for some good info. >>> Servicing Tapered Cone Seacocks Photo Gallery by Compass Marine at pbase.com

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by delmarrey

It should say on the handle.

Depends on the make. Cobranco does not. Vetus neither. I think Groco and Lavac do, but they are obvious anyway.

b.

[Marksman]

Sea cocks need to be cycled periodically. When I bought my boat, it had remained unused for 6 years and the holding tank overboard discharge sea cock was so stiff it took both hands and some real grunt to move it. Now after 5 years of cycling the valve every visit, it moves relatively easily with one hand. A little lube in the form of cooking oil helps as well. My .02.

[Ian McD]

Thanks for all that. I,ll have a better look at them and see what they are. It won't be for a month or so but I will report back. It never occurred to e that they could be a tapered plug type. I think I would have noticed but perhaps a senior moment.