Steve,

There's nothing wrong with an alcohol stove. It certainly
is much safer than heavier-than-air, explosive propane.

There's nothing wrong with gate valves either provided
they are not the cheap Chinese variety.

S.Simon - currently using a 13-year-old gate valve at
the galley sink drain. It ain't broke so why
replace it. Have replaced the other gate
valves with ball valves over the years when
they broke.

Also using a Homestrand pressure alcohol
stove that I"m very happy with.

http://www.homestead.com/captneal/index.html


"Steve Daniels" wrote in message ...
It has a alcohol stove that I'd like to swap out for propane, but I
notice that a lot of people are using alcohol stoves with little to no
difficulty. This boat has gate valves at the thru hulls, and I'd like
to swap those out for quarter twist ball valves, but I'm not going to
do a special haul out just for that.

If I can get her surveyed for a couple of hundred bucks, I think I'll
have that done, if for no other reason than to have a list of things
to work on later. It's being sold by a brokerage, and it looks like
they only list reasonably good quality boats.

On Thu, 16 Oct 2003 13:11:18 -0400, "Simple Simon"
wrote:

Steve,

There's nothing wrong with an alcohol stove. It certainly
is much safer than heavier-than-air, explosive propane.

It's all about how you use your tools. She's got a Universal Atomic 4
for power, so blowing out the bilges is going to be a more or less
frequent occurrence. I could just as easily run the blower for five
minutes before lighting the stove. That, and topside ventilated
storage of the cylinder with a shutoff valve that is only opened when
the gas is in use, I think you'd be ok. I'd also like to check into a
propane cabin heater (unless there are CO issues, one of the things
I'd have to check out. I'd assume not, or there would be warnings all
over the cooktops and ovens) and barbecue.

There's nothing wrong with gate valves either provided
they are not the cheap Chinese variety.

They've been in service for thirty one years now, so they are probably
ok. I don't think Ericson has a reputation for using cheap parts,
especially in a safety role such as this. But I'm attracted to the
Shut It NOW! features of a ball valve, plus there is a visual cue as
to whether it's shut or not. Makes that final look around before
leaving it tied up at the slip a little easier.

But like I said, I'm not going to install them until I have her hauled
for something else.

I'd go along with holding off till convenient to replace the gate valves
if they are still fine, but at the earliest convenience, replace them.
Gates have a tendency to leak due to a number of reasons, and older ones
can have the gate fall off the stem due to wear.



It has a alcohol stove that I'd like to swap out for propane, but I
notice that a lot of people are using alcohol stoves with little to no
difficulty. This boat has gate valves at the thru hulls, and I'd like
to swap those out for quarter twist ball valves, but I'm not going to
do a special haul out just for that.

If I can get her surveyed for a couple of hundred bucks, I think I'll
have that done, if for no other reason than to have a list of things
to work on later. It's being sold by a brokerage, and it looks like
they only list reasonably good quality boats.

"otnmbrd" wrote in message ink.net...
I'd go along with holding off till convenient to replace the gate valves
if they are still fine, but at the earliest convenience, replace them.
Gates have a tendency to leak due to a number of reasons, and older ones
can have the gate fall off the stem due to wear.


True but they fail safe. When the stem breaks as is often the case the
gate falls and closes the valve. This is the ideal situation for a thru-hull
valve to fail safe. A ball valve will never fail safe.

S.Simon

Not always a good thing, if it happens to be your cooling water for your
engine, or in the case of a fuel line, and it's not necessarily an easy fix.

otn

Simple Simon wrote:
"otnmbrd" wrote in message ink.net...

I'd go along with holding off till convenient to replace the gate valves
if they are still fine, but at the earliest convenience, replace them.
Gates have a tendency to leak due to a number of reasons, and older ones
can have the gate fall off the stem due to wear.



True but they fail safe. When the stem breaks as is often the case the
gate falls and closes the valve. This is the ideal situation for a thru-hull
valve to fail safe. A ball valve will never fail safe.

S.Simon

Try to remember this is a SAILBOAT newsgroup.

I have no thru-hulls for engine cooling water in my
hull. My major concern is to allow water OUT
when it's convenient and NOT to let water in
when it's not.

S.Simon

"otnmbrd" wrote in message nk.net...
Not always a good thing, if it happens to be your cooling water for your
engine, or in the case of a fuel line, and it's not necessarily an easy fix.

otn

Simple Simon wrote:
"otnmbrd" wrote in message ink.net...

I'd go along with holding off till convenient to replace the gate valves
if they are still fine, but at the earliest convenience, replace them.
Gates have a tendency to leak due to a number of reasons, and older ones
can have the gate fall off the stem due to wear.



True but they fail safe. When the stem breaks as is often the case the
gate falls and closes the valve. This is the ideal situation for a thru-hull
valve to fail safe. A ball valve will never fail safe.

S.Simon

"Simple Simon" wrote in message

| I have no thru-hulls for engine cooling water in my
| hull. My major concern is to allow water OUT
| when it's convenient and NOT to let water in
| when it's not.

putt... putt... putt
putt... putt... putt

putt... putt... putt

putt... putt... putt

putt... putt... putt

putt... putt... putt

cough... sputter

Sounds like an outboard....

CM

Or a homosexual bronchitic with flatulence.

Cheers MC

Capt. Mooron wrote:

"Simple Simon" wrote in message

| I have no thru-hulls for engine cooling water in my
| hull. My major concern is to allow water OUT
| when it's convenient and NOT to let water in
| when it's not.

putt... putt... putt
putt... putt... putt

putt... putt... putt

putt... putt... putt

putt... putt... putt

putt... putt... putt

cough... sputter

Sounds like an outboard....

CM

You show a typical lack of common sense. Simply because YOU don't,
doesn't mean EVERYONE doesn't, in this NG.

otn

Simple Simon wrote:

Try to remember this is a SAILBOAT newsgroup.

I have no thru-hulls for engine cooling water in my
hull. My major concern is to allow water OUT
when it's convenient and NOT to let water in
when it's not.

S.Simon

"otnmbrd" wrote in message nk.net...

Not always a good thing, if it happens to be your cooling water for your
engine, or in the case of a fuel line, and it's not necessarily an easy fix.

otn

Simple Simon wrote:

"otnmbrd" wrote in message ink.net...


I'd go along with holding off till convenient to replace the gate valves
if they are still fine, but at the earliest convenience, replace them.
Gates have a tendency to leak due to a number of reasons, and older ones
can have the gate fall off the stem due to wear.



True but they fail safe. When the stem breaks as is often the case the
gate falls and closes the valve. This is the ideal situation for a thru-hull
valve to fail safe. A ball valve will never fail safe.

S.Simon