Replace or No? Thru Hull, Ball Valve

[ericgfx01]

Just picked up a new to me 1979 Catalina. Looking at the sink/icebox discharge and just want to confirm what I am looking at here.

Looks to me like a thru hull mushroom thru a plywood backing plate, to a corroded ball valve. Or is that a seacock? Not the dreaded bronze nipple with glued on gate valve but sailing in the SF bay means rough weather sailing. Should this be on my to replace over the winter list or am I looking at something more critical? Thanks. Yes total newb. Is that plastic tee totally inadequate? Also need another hose clamp on the sink discharge. What else am I looking at? Thanks.

Sorry I tried searching, found a lot of good articles ie:
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/replacing_thruhulls

However I just want to make sure I am making the correct assessment.
Also what designates seacock vs ball valve? Gate valve is that thing that looks like a garden hose spicket correct?

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

You can find the distinction between ball valve and seacock lots of places on the Internet but it's commonly a distinction with little difference when they are mated.

The picture shows some really corroded hose clamps and an even worse corroded valve. I wouldn't wait to replace. The plastic 'T' is the product of some negligent plumbing job if this can get any worse.

 

[njlarry]

I would replace at once. That plastic tee could crack with little force, the valve looks like it is past its service life, the wood looks like it may be soft. How patent could the bedding compund be?
A proper seacock or ball valve on a well bedded adapter plate as shown in Maine Sails how to is easy enough and will last many years.
Good luck.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Hope the OP read the comments and decides not to wait. Too many people ask for opinions here but don't seem to acknowledge those who take the time to comment. Makes you wonder 'why bother?'

 

[ericgfx01]

I would replace at once. That plastic tee could crack with little force, the valve looks like it is past its service life, the wood looks like it may be soft. How patent could the bedding compund be?
A proper seacock or ball valve on a well bedded adapter plate as shown in Maine Sails how to is easy enough and will last many years.
Good luck.

Wow thanks for the super quick responses! Definitely putting this on the to do list before taking out for a day of sailing. @NJLarry - Hey I looked for the Maine Sails article and found a number of sites, but none that felt quite right:

http://www.mainesail.com/ - More of a travel site, makes me miss New England...

http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/rebedding_hardware - Bedding with Butyl. I remember helping out a mate of mine rebed his winches using the stuff. I thought it wouldn't make a water tight seal at the time, but now it makes sense to me. Great article, I'll be doing this for my stanchions and chain plates. Also a great article on sealing the deck, by "potting" the holes.http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/sealing_the_deck&page=1

http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/replacing_thruhulls Searching the same site I found this article which I assume is the one you are talking about. Kitty Hair? Alrighty then. He does countersink everything to avoid stress cracks. And likes Sikaflex 291 for this. Adding that to cart now. Okat any of you mates in the SF Bay Area with a step wrench... Anyone?

I like the idea of Marelon for it's inertness. However I also like the separated "Flange Adapter" and "Seacock ball valve" incase the valve fails. I also like the BB-1 premade backing plates. I feel like I'll take one of everything in the Groco Catalog.

Please weigh in, I've extremely limited experience, and greatly value all thoughts, opinions, and help wrenching on boats.

 

[Maine Sail]

Looks like you found my site.. www.marinehowto.com will also get you there.

Wow that seacock has it all..

• Clear unreinfoced PVC hose

• Rusting hose clamps

• Single hose clamp

• PVC tee with bronze nipples

• Mismatched threads

• Non marine ball valve

• Dezincification

• wet backing plate

• Unnecessary added height to help with leverage in breaking it off..

Yep time to replace it I'm sorry to say...

 

[njlarry]

Instead of polyester kitty hair, which is fine, I find west epoxy thickened with 206 easier and useful for other projects. You can buy fg backing plates or make your own from G10 or marine or okemo plywood. G10 will last longer but how many years did that plywood you have now last? I have used both. Checkout the you tube videos by capt wayne canning?
You don't need a special wrench! Any flat file, pliers,wrench handle that fits snug will work. The groco web site also has instuctions.

 

[ericgfx01]

@MaineSail
Yep its a live one. Incidentally how you can tell its mismatched threads? Seriously is that something you can tell or just guessing?
And not at all seriously, I think you missed the Perforated Hose Clamps, so I may not be able to award you full credit on that.

I like the approach of using studs into a backer plate vs penetrating the hull, but also think the person who commented on your site had a good thought about keeping them as bolts to prevent twist. No Through Bolts Alternative I assume you do not like removing that much of the backing plate material to seat the head, but is there another reason?

In other news, the sales guy at the local chandlery felt the flange and backing plate would be overkill. Kind of odd that he'd suggest selling me less hardware... and this in a reputable boat shop in the SF Bay.



Also on a side note MS, I may not be the first to say this, that is a pretty handy website. I'm a graphic artist by trade, and if you'd like, I'd love to make that into a digital pdf or ebook, so that if people want that content, but they're in some remote port or any marina I've ever been to (aka lousy wifi internet), they can have your photos and info on tap. That way you can say, hey donate a fiver (or what have ya) and you can download the ebook to your kindle or ipad. Just a thought. Be more than willing to do so since you've been so helpful.

Also you ever think about selling a premade kit of backing plate, flange, thru-hull pre-drilled and assembled? For those of us without a drill press on our boats.

-Eric

 

[njlarry]

Groco now makes baking plates.
Look at the thru hull videos on YouTube to see how and why you don't have to use a drill press.
Ps stay with bronze, marelon has a reputation for broken handles as a search here would show.