Tell me about seacocks!
 

Hi, I've been fiddling around with one of my seacocks. I've never fiddled
with them before. It's the one that the sink drains through. Anyhow it's
old and could use replacing, but I can't really afford that. So I went to
replace the plastic tube that the sink drains down through into the seacock
through the hull because it was old and nasty, and when I took the tube off
the seacock water stared gushing up through it. I put the tube back on and
the water filled the tube about 4-5 inches and then it stopped. So it seems
that 4-5 inches of water is nessary to keep the through-hull from letting
water in. Is this normal? Because if so it means that the little metal
bands holding the drain tubes on to the seacocks are the only thing
preventing the boat from sinking, and that seems a little scary.

Thoughts?

You have a galley sink drain that drains below the water line through a
seacock directly into the lake or ocean?

Unlikely.

hoary, what is unlikely about that? most boats are like that.

On Mon, 20 Dec 2004 00:30:28 GMT, "Falky foo"
wrote:

Hi, I've been fiddling around with one of my seacocks. I've never fiddled
with them before. It's the one that the sink drains through. Anyhow it's
old and could use replacing, but I can't really afford that. So I went to
replace the plastic tube that the sink drains down through into the seacock
through the hull because it was old and nasty, and when I took the tube off
the seacock water stared gushing up through it. I put the tube back on and
the water filled the tube about 4-5 inches and then it stopped. So it seems
that 4-5 inches of water is nessary to keep the through-hull from letting
water in. Is this normal? Because if so it means that the little metal
bands holding the drain tubes on to the seacocks are the only thing
preventing the boat from sinking, and that seems a little scary.

Thoughts?

Hmmmm.....

I'm having some trouble understanding what happened here. There isn't
a flapper, ball or mechanical valve that would prevent water from
entering the hull if the drain tube becomes disconnected?

Seems a little odd.

Would I be concerned? Yes. Check to see that the thru-hull doesn't
have a manual shut-off. If it dosen't, haul it and have one
installed.

Later,

Tom

Means your seacock is 4-5 inches below the waterline and yup, those little
metal bands are all that keeps you from sinking depending of course on how
good your bilge pump and batteries are.
Gordon
"Falky foo" wrote in message
.. .
Hi, I've been fiddling around with one of my seacocks. I've never fiddled
with them before. It's the one that the sink drains through. Anyhow it's
old and could use replacing, but I can't really afford that. So I went to
replace the plastic tube that the sink drains down through into the
seacock
through the hull because it was old and nasty, and when I took the tube
off
the seacock water stared gushing up through it. I put the tube back on
and
the water filled the tube about 4-5 inches and then it stopped. So it
seems
that 4-5 inches of water is nessary to keep the through-hull from letting
water in. Is this normal? Because if so it means that the little metal
bands holding the drain tubes on to the seacocks are the only thing
preventing the boat from sinking, and that seems a little scary.

Thoughts?

You betchum, Red Ryder......

Red Ryder is in jail, his trial for murder underway.

It means the seacock is either 4-5" under water or the pressure equalized in
the hose. The seacock should have been closed before pulling the hose.
That is their function in life. Change it if it is plastic and can not
move. If bronze, fix and clean.

"Falky foo" wrote in message
.. .
Hi, I've been fiddling around with one of my seacocks. I've never fiddled
with them before. It's the one that the sink drains through. Anyhow it's
old and could use replacing, but I can't really afford that. So I went to
replace the plastic tube that the sink drains down through into the
seacock
through the hull because it was old and nasty, and when I took the tube
off
the seacock water stared gushing up through it. I put the tube back on
and
the water filled the tube about 4-5 inches and then it stopped. So it
seems
that 4-5 inches of water is nessary to keep the through-hull from letting
water in. Is this normal? Because if so it means that the little metal
bands holding the drain tubes on to the seacocks are the only thing
preventing the boat from sinking, and that seems a little scary.

Thoughts?

On Mon, 20 Dec 2004 00:30:28 GMT, "Falky foo"
wrote:
So it seems
that 4-5 inches of water is nessary to keep the through-hull from letting
water in. Is this normal? Because if so it means that the little metal
bands holding the drain tubes on to the seacocks are the only thing
preventing the boat from sinking, and that seems a little scary.

================================

As others have pointed out, it means that your seacock is 4 or 5
inches under water (not unusual, especially on sail boats). In
addition to the metal bands that keep the hose from slipping off, you
should also have two stainless steel hose clamps. That is what REALLY
keeps the hose from slipping off. All underwater hoses should be
double clamped.

Next time, close the seacock before removing the hose. It's a good
opportunity to find out if everything is lubricated and working
properly.

Ok thanks guys for the replies. I always thought thru-hulls prevented ANY
water from coming up through them. But all my below water line drain hoses
have at least a few inches of water in them.



"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 20 Dec 2004 00:30:28 GMT, "Falky foo"
wrote:
So it seems
that 4-5 inches of water is nessary to keep the through-hull from letting
water in. Is this normal? Because if so it means that the little metal
bands holding the drain tubes on to the seacocks are the only thing
preventing the boat from sinking, and that seems a little scary.

================================

As others have pointed out, it means that your seacock is 4 or 5
inches under water (not unusual, especially on sail boats). In
addition to the metal bands that keep the hose from slipping off, you
should also have two stainless steel hose clamps. That is what REALLY
keeps the hose from slipping off. All underwater hoses should be
double clamped.

Next time, close the seacock before removing the hose. It's a good
opportunity to find out if everything is lubricated and working
properly.

Ok thanks guys for the replies. I always thought thru-hulls prevented ANY
water from coming up through them.

They will, if you close the seacocks.
Unfotunately, that prevents draining the galley sink, etc, at the same time.

Falky foo wrote:
Hi, I've been fiddling around with one of my seacocks. I've never fiddled
with them before. It's the one that the sink drains through. Anyhow it's
old and could use replacing, but I can't really afford that. So I went to
replace the plastic tube that the sink drains down through into the seacock
through the hull because it was old and nasty, and when I took the tube off
the seacock water stared gushing up through it. I put the tube back on and
the water filled the tube about 4-5 inches and then it stopped. So it seems
that 4-5 inches of water is nessary to keep the through-hull from letting
water in. Is this normal? Because if so it means that the little metal
bands holding the drain tubes on to the seacocks are the only thing
preventing the boat from sinking, and that seems a little scary.

Thoughts?




Terminology problem?? A "seacock" is a thru hull tap, gate valve, ball
valve, etc so when you leave the boat you turn all the seacocks off,
just in case one of the hoses, clamps you are already worried about fails.

When on board you can leave them open because hopefully you'll be aware
if there's a failure & then turn the offending seacock off.

The way you're talking you make if sound like all you have is a "skin
fitting" which is a thru hull fitting which allows the hose to be
clamped on, but has no tap or other means of closure.

Save the boat is in commercial survey where extra "rules" apply to the
type & material of seacocks, for a private pleasure vessel the new
plastic ball valves are very good, don't rot corrode etc.

K