37c Thru-hull Advice please

[kwaai]

I am planning to take s/v Kwaai out of the water and put her on the hard for a front to back rebuild in preparation for next years puddle jump. I would like to replace the thru-hull fittings, valves and all piping before I venture to the south pacific. S/V Kwaai is in Baja., Mexico while I am in South Carolina and with prices of parts in mexico a lot more expensive than the USA, I would like to buy here and take parts with me.
So my question is what is the best type of fitting to get?
And does anyone know the original sizes of the fittings, pipes and pipe lengths?

 

[Sailvayu]

Can't help you specifics on sizes ect but I would recommend using flanged bronze seacock rather than just a ball valve on a thru hull. Here is a link to a video series I did on replacing seacock on a lagoon, hopefully you can find some useful information in these. This is part one of the series. Good luck with the project. http://youtu.be/a9ZBrBWnNAs

 

[Jim Legere]

The original equipment thru-hulls on the H37C were Perko bronze fittings. These are some of the very best available, so unless there is some damage or deterioration visible, there is no need to change them (although you might want to remove, clean and re-bed them). The same cannot be said for the gate valves that were originally used by Hunter. As Sailvayu states, you should use good quality bronze seacocks with flanges. Two manufacturers that I am familiar with are Algonquin and Apollo. Note that true seacocks have straight pipe threads cut in them that fully bottom on a standard thru-hull NPS thread. Hardware store variety valves are typically brass, not bronze and have tapered pipe threads (NPT). These do not belong on your boat! There is an excellent article on thru-hulls and seacocks here.

 

[rblevens]

Nice article Jim!

 

[Ed Schenck]

The problem with our thru-hulls is that they are half-inch. You do want to replace the gate valves and the seacock is far and away the better option. But unless there have been recent developments no one makes a 1/2" seacock. Many of us have replaced the 1/2" thru-hulls with 3/4" and then installed a 3/4" seacock. There are just two, the engine cooling and the head flush. I still have the big galley sink gate valve and it looks new. But my boat has spent 32 of its 35 years in fresh water.

 

[kwaai]

The problem with our thru-hulls is that they are half-inch. You do want to replace the gate valves and the seacock is far and away the better option. But unless there have been recent developments no one makes a 1/2" seacock. Many of us have replaced the 1/2" thru-hulls with 3/4" and then installed a 3/4" seacock. There are just two, the engine cooling and the head flush. I still have the big galley sink gate valve and it looks new. But my boat has spent 32 of its 35 years in fresh water.

Thanks to all for the information, it has been a great help.