I have an '85 25.5 with a 1GM diesel. I've been told by other owners with inboards, that if you don't close the seacock for the cooling inlet, the boat could sink. How can the water make it out of the engine? Isn't it a closed system?
- Status
How much do you trust a hose?
Your boat won't sink as long as the rubber hose that connects the inlet sea cock to the engine, and any intermediate filters, stays connected and sound. If the hose pops off or splits, bye-bye boat. I'd close the sea cock.
Your boat won't sink as long as the rubber hose that connects the inlet sea cock to the engine, and any intermediate filters, stays connected and sound. If the hose pops off or splits, bye-bye boat. I'd close the sea cock.
Better safe than sorry
ALL seacocks should be closed when leaving the boat. As someone else said, as long as the hose remains intact and connected to the through-hull, there will be no problem...but Murphy was an optimist. Hoses age and crack or chafe (so does wiring)...hose clamps corrode and fail...and--although you should--few boat boat owners ever bother to make regular cursory inspections of hose connections and wiring to check for signs of impending failures (some don't even know where half the equipment on their boats is located!). So you can either pray that nothing will fail...or you can get into the habit of closing seacocks when you leave the boat. At least you'll be among the few who know where they are.
ALL seacocks should be closed when leaving the boat. As someone else said, as long as the hose remains intact and connected to the through-hull, there will be no problem...but Murphy was an optimist. Hoses age and crack or chafe (so does wiring)...hose clamps corrode and fail...and--although you should--few boat boat owners ever bother to make regular cursory inspections of hose connections and wiring to check for signs of impending failures (some don't even know where half the equipment on their boats is located!). So you can either pray that nothing will fail...or you can get into the habit of closing seacocks when you leave the boat. At least you'll be among the few who know where they are.
Ever seen a gyser?
I got a lesson about how badly water wants in your boat when i was removing my knotmeter transducer. I dropped the plug just as I removed the transducer from the through hull. Water rushes in like Ol' Faithful. The same thing would happen if your water hose failed. Lets see, I would predict that your boat would sink in about 8 minutes.
I got a lesson about how badly water wants in your boat when i was removing my knotmeter transducer. I dropped the plug just as I removed the transducer from the through hull. Water rushes in like Ol' Faithful. The same thing would happen if your water hose failed. Lets see, I would predict that your boat would sink in about 8 minutes.
horror story
when I bought my last boat (h28.5) I was so anxious to launch her that I didn't inspect the hoses. About 5 minutes after splash the broker came by and said, "did you check the hoses?" we opened the engine compartment and water was gushing in through a cracked raw water intake hose. Imagine what our surprise would have been had we left and gone to lunch?
when I bought my last boat (h28.5) I was so anxious to launch her that I didn't inspect the hoses. About 5 minutes after splash the broker came by and said, "did you check the hoses?" we opened the engine compartment and water was gushing in through a cracked raw water intake hose. Imagine what our surprise would have been had we left and gone to lunch?
All seacocks should be kept closed EXCEPT ..
There is one exception to Peggie's dictum: scupper hoses should be left open. If you close those seacocks, rainwater will fill the cockpit, and if it gets high enough, enter the boat through the instrument panel, etc. Scupper hoses are a short unbroken span, heavy-duty, and double clamped, so they are a good deal safer than the engine cooling system. Fortunately, newer boats are designed without scupper hoses. RULE 1: All seacocks should be closed when not in use. (You think it is safe when you're on the boat? If you are sleeping, will you wake before the water reaches you? Alas, scuppers are always in use.) RULE 2: Whenever you put a boat in the water, have someone on board, to check every through-hull and the bilge for unexpected water flow. Do this before the travel-lift straps are removed!
There is one exception to Peggie's dictum: scupper hoses should be left open. If you close those seacocks, rainwater will fill the cockpit, and if it gets high enough, enter the boat through the instrument panel, etc. Scupper hoses are a short unbroken span, heavy-duty, and double clamped, so they are a good deal safer than the engine cooling system. Fortunately, newer boats are designed without scupper hoses. RULE 1: All seacocks should be closed when not in use. (You think it is safe when you're on the boat? If you are sleeping, will you wake before the water reaches you? Alas, scuppers are always in use.) RULE 2: Whenever you put a boat in the water, have someone on board, to check every through-hull and the bilge for unexpected water flow. Do this before the travel-lift straps are removed!
Seacocks on scuppers????
Scuppers are ABOVE waterline thru-hulls...installed to drain the cockpit...their presence defines "self bailing"....and above-waterline thru-hulls don't have seacocks!
)) You say "fortunately" new boats are built without scuppers? How does the cockpit drain when it rains? Where does the water go?
Scuppers are ABOVE waterline thru-hulls...installed to drain the cockpit...their presence defines "self bailing"....and above-waterline thru-hulls don't have seacocks!
)) You say "fortunately" new boats are built without scuppers? How does the cockpit drain when it rains? Where does the water go?Yep, seacocks on scupper hoses
(1) Many sailboats, especially more traditional designs, have scupper hoses that empty below the waterline. (2) Even if the scupper empties above the DWL, it still needs a seacock if it is below the normal heeled waterline on either tack. (Indeed, I believe the standard requires this up to n inches above the "dynamic" waterline.) (3) Most sailboats with walk-through transoms just let water drain out the rear. Good idea, if you ask me.
(1) Many sailboats, especially more traditional designs, have scupper hoses that empty below the waterline. (2) Even if the scupper empties above the DWL, it still needs a seacock if it is below the normal heeled waterline on either tack. (Indeed, I believe the standard requires this up to n inches above the "dynamic" waterline.) (3) Most sailboats with walk-through transoms just let water drain out the rear. Good idea, if you ask me.
Thanks for enhancing my education...
I've never seen a seacock on a scupper. I'm not convinced that walk-thru transoms are an adequate substitute, though. Unless the boat settles sternward--and many do not, any water in the cockpit isn't gonna run aft. Otoh, it's hard to clog a walk-through transom, so I guess it's a trade off.
I've never seen a seacock on a scupper. I'm not convinced that walk-thru transoms are an adequate substitute, though. Unless the boat settles sternward--and many do not, any water in the cockpit isn't gonna run aft. Otoh, it's hard to clog a walk-through transom, so I guess it's a trade off.
Seacocks on scruppers
Most of the C&C designs (to name one) have scruppers that exit below the waterline. The ones that I have seen have had gate valves (yuk!) rather than true seacocks on the thru hulls.
Most of the C&C designs (to name one) have scruppers that exit below the waterline. The ones that I have seen have had gate valves (yuk!) rather than true seacocks on the thru hulls.
Sometimes They Do Peggy!!
Peggy, the Hunter Center Cockpit boat all have thru-hulls on their scuppers. Since they are in the center of the boat, they drain directly below the cockpit and have very large thru-hulls and hoses to allow for water drain. For your information, most older Bristols had not only cockpit thru-hulls on the scuppers, but even a system for the deck scuppers to drain down through hoses below deck. Maybe to many thru-hulls to deal with, but never a dirty gray mark down the side of the hull.
Peggy, the Hunter Center Cockpit boat all have thru-hulls on their scuppers. Since they are in the center of the boat, they drain directly below the cockpit and have very large thru-hulls and hoses to allow for water drain. For your information, most older Bristols had not only cockpit thru-hulls on the scuppers, but even a system for the deck scuppers to drain down through hoses below deck. Maybe to many thru-hulls to deal with, but never a dirty gray mark down the side of the hull.
- Status