Seacocks, who closes them ?

[Raider Ronnie]

After reading another tread on this board I got to thinking when I 1st got my BHM I always closed all seacocks when I left the boat.
It gave me peace of mind knowing they were closed if I was not going to be back to the boat for a few days and not depending on a hose & clamps from failing.
It also assured me I kept the valves from getting stuck open from never moving from open to close.
So what do most do, close them or leave them open ?
I've got to admit I haven't closed any of them this year. Got 5 total.
Just something to think about.....

 

[FVSD]

I close mine every time so I can sleep. That type of thing can happen to the most experience and diligent captain anytime anywhere.

 

[traditions]

I always close mine.Its not real easy to get to them,but better than some I have seen,and I can check things over,like the inside box.Its also good to know they work.After 10 years ,one is getting worn out and needs replacing.

 

[F/V First Team]

I'd recommend Groco's SBV series on new installs and replacements

The plug can be removed to access any fluid that is inside the hull in an emergency, plus it makes it easy peasy to winterize

 

[CaptDave]

Travis,

One thing I always remembered is when your father built the Supplement, 36' smoking hot babe, it had a pacer hydraulic pump. It was installed with a three way valve with the first position was the washdown pump drawing from below the hiull through the seacock and I believe it was an 1 1/2". The second position was so it could empty the huge fish hold for the two giants on ice. The third position was a hose that went into the bilge for an emergency pump. Too bad it was not used one winter day.

I loved this set up and will be honest, do not close like I use to and when back in CG had to do ot every single time you came back to the boathouse on the 44" Motor Life Boat and the 41' Utility Boat. It is a good habit to get into as long as you store the key on the seacock or put a sign hanging over key hole or starter saying "Open Seacock or Else"

Dave

 

[cb34]

Closed

Always closed all before leaving the boat

 

[Raider Ronnie]

Dave,
I remember Donnie telling me one time with the Supplement at Bob's dock the hose from the raw water intake slid off (clamps loosened up ? ) luckily someone was there and noticed it. I got to imagine that big Cat had a 2" intake or bigger.
That story got me in the habit of closing all the time and hanging key on the seacock so I wouldn't start the engine without opening it.
Got to admit, i've gotten lazy and taken for granted nothing has happened so far........

Travis,

One thing I always remembered is when your father built the Supplement, 36' smoking hot babe, it had a pacer hydraulic pump. It was installed with a three way valve with the first position was the washdown pump drawing from below the hiull through the seacock and I believe it was an 1 1/2". The second position was so it could empty the huge fish hold for the two giants on ice. The third position was a hose that went into the bilge for an emergency pump. Too bad it was not used one winter day.

I loved this set up and will be honest, do not close like I use to and when back in CG had to do ot every single time you came back to the boathouse on the 44" Motor Life Boat and the 41' Utility Boat. It is a good habit to get into as long as you store the key on the seacock or put a sign hanging over key hole or starter saying "Open Seacock or Else"

Dave

 

[jerseysportfisher]

I'd recommend Groco's SBV series on new installs and replacements

The plug can be removed to access any fluid that is inside the hull in an emergency, plus it makes it easy peasy to winterize

Its nice, but cheaper to build a crash valve. Plus i like having strainer on it

 

[F/V First Team]

You put the strainer on it, that's what closed nipples are for

 

[Rearmount]

He said nipples. Oh sorry, wrong thread.

 

[BillD]

After reading another tread on this board I got to thinking when I 1st got my BHM I always closed all seacocks when I left the boat.
It gave me peace of mind knowing they were closed if I was not going to be back to the boat for a few days and not depending on a hose & clamps from failing.
It also assured me I kept the valves from getting stuck open from never moving from open to close.
So what do most do, close them or leave them open ?
I've got to admit I haven't closed any of them this year. Got 5 total.
Just something to think about.....

Call it pure laziness but for the past 20 boating seasons I've never closed any valves unless I'm working on machinery that requires it.

The 31 Blackfin requires "kinda crawling" in through the cockpit fish box compartments to open and close.
The 28 Bertram was simple enough but I never did.

I do open and close all valves winterizing and in spring when recommissioning.

I do check the hoses and double clamps regularly.

What "does" keep me awake @ times are the two Tides Marine dripless shaft seals. No way to "shut the two off" !!

No excuses really.

 

[F/V First Team]

I'm assuming you mean the 3/8" lines that feed water to the bearings. Just put in a ballvalve if you're really concerned. Might I suggest a stainless one.

 

[Lion's Paw]

That is something I used to do a lot when I was living a long ways off from the boat slip and it had to sit for many days between uses. For the past several years I almost never close the valves as it gets used almost every day during the season.

If your hoses and clamps are the least bit sketchy and you can't trust them sitting at the dock, why do you still have them at all? That said, if I am going to leave it sit for any time, then they still get closed.

 

[CaptDave]

Have you ever tried to replace these wire reinforced hoses, with clamps off they do not come off easy at all with the barbed fittings. Running and under pressure could be a total different story wehere it can blow off with bad clamps. It is one of those pieces of gear to check each spring and a a qucik check when cleaning strainers etc.

Dave

 

[F/V First Team]

Saw one while on a tug boat in Turku, Finland that was poised for release, I turned to tell the mate about it and off it came, water everywhere.

Quite hard to hold a 1 7/8" hose in place at full throttle while a runner scurries to the pilot house to shut things down.

 

[Alison Tuna]

I am 90 miles from my boat. I leave the intakes for motor and generator open but fire hose, wash down and live well always get closed....

Because we are an inspected vessel coast guard looks at all our valves.... Out of the boat..... Every year when we have our annual inspection

 

[jerseysportfisher]

You put the strainer on it, that's what closed nipples are for

whats this nipple you speak of ???? for example, my setup might be different the what your talking. I have southbays on the outside of the hull, no in hull strainer. Seacock to T with ball valve to 90', to downpipe to navy strainer in the hull

 

[jerseysportfisher]

Nipple and cock in the same thread, oh my

 

[tailhook]

every time i use the boat i climb down in the bildge and give a good look and check all things like seacocks, strainers,etc. not that i would like to admit it i noticed after two years there were no clamps on one seacock hose. i almost fainted when i think of were i have been and all the shark trips i went on. I am really thankful that the nipple was quite long and i damn near thru out my back putting the new hose on there two years ago. (blame it on phone calls or dinner is getting cold call) still makes me stupid!!

 

[MBILL]

I confess to leaving my seacocks open but I do check them regularly along with all systems on the boat.

I don't really like those side ports on the seacock in the previous photo. I have one on my old thru hull and it was always frozen through lack of use.
I set up my crash pump with fittings and a ball valve that I know will work if I need it.