Last summer it was my practice not to close the seacock that supplies the freshwater cooling for yanmar YSE8, when the boat was not in use. I live away from the lake, sail on average once/month. My partner is at the lake nearly every weekend. Is it worthwhile to close the seacock during the week? It would definitely seem prudent. My reservation is how to ensure that all operators check to open the seacock before starting the engine. Just curious to know what other owners, especially part owners do.
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Reminder
Loop the Yanmar keychain on the thruhull when closed to remind you that it's closed. Precaution is that if the hose breaks your boat will sink. This is highly improbable given the nature of the hose and the fittings, but Murphy's Law derived from boats. I leave mine up all the time except in winter when starting a cold engine. This avoid flooding, then I quickly open when it catches.
Loop the Yanmar keychain on the thruhull when closed to remind you that it's closed. Precaution is that if the hose breaks your boat will sink. This is highly improbable given the nature of the hose and the fittings, but Murphy's Law derived from boats. I leave mine up all the time except in winter when starting a cold engine. This avoid flooding, then I quickly open when it catches.
Agree
Keep the seacock CLOSED and hang the engine key next to the valve. I hang mine on the lever. Why invite a problem, plus if it does happen and the seacock (or any seacock) is open, your insurance company will give you grief and reduce the payable amount.
Keep the seacock CLOSED and hang the engine key next to the valve. I hang mine on the lever. Why invite a problem, plus if it does happen and the seacock (or any seacock) is open, your insurance company will give you grief and reduce the payable amount.
Close the seacock
I discipline myself to look over the stern to be sure there is water coming out of the water exit area. It is just part of the warm up process. I did miss opening seacock once and steam came out so I knew quickly there was a problem. Do you shut off your fuel supply.. I do so I know there are three closures.. Fuel, water and battery so same with opening.
I discipline myself to look over the stern to be sure there is water coming out of the water exit area. It is just part of the warm up process. I did miss opening seacock once and steam came out so I knew quickly there was a problem. Do you shut off your fuel supply.. I do so I know there are three closures.. Fuel, water and battery so same with opening.
I close all seacocks
when I leave the boat. Including the drains. And I do put the engine key next to the valve, so I cannot forget to open it before starting the engine. In my many years of sailing I have heard many stories, but most important, I have had 2 dock neighbors whose boat have sunk because a hose broke. Actually in both cases it was the SS collar that let go, allowing water to come in. Fuel valve is only closed when I am going to be away for a lenght of time.
when I leave the boat. Including the drains. And I do put the engine key next to the valve, so I cannot forget to open it before starting the engine. In my many years of sailing I have heard many stories, but most important, I have had 2 dock neighbors whose boat have sunk because a hose broke. Actually in both cases it was the SS collar that let go, allowing water to come in. Fuel valve is only closed when I am going to be away for a lenght of time.
Learn from me - close that cock!
I used to leave the seacock to the raw water inlet open, since I thought it could not too harm. I was wrong! When the seal for the raw water impeller started to leak a bit (and I did not know it) water cold seep, drop by drop, some of which entered the engine! I think that it sort of happened over a 1- 2 month period when I had not used the boat. When checking the engine oil level I could not believe that the oil level had gone up! Then it dawned on me! I managed NOT to wreck the engine by putting on a new impeller and doing 4 oild change, one after another. The most difficult thing was getting out the old oil since it had become thick and sludgy (first oil change) The drain would not work, or the usual sucking out through the dipstick hole. Instead, I took off the oil filter and cranked the engine, using the oil pump to pump the old oil out into a gallon jug on its side with with a panel cut out of the side. NOW I keep an eye on everything, and always turn off the seacock, hiding the engine key to remind me to turn on the seacock. I was a fool, but I lucked out, at least for now - I only hope that it has not done serious harm to the engine, although is still sounds good and has plenty of power. Live and learn!! JW
I used to leave the seacock to the raw water inlet open, since I thought it could not too harm. I was wrong! When the seal for the raw water impeller started to leak a bit (and I did not know it) water cold seep, drop by drop, some of which entered the engine! I think that it sort of happened over a 1- 2 month period when I had not used the boat. When checking the engine oil level I could not believe that the oil level had gone up! Then it dawned on me! I managed NOT to wreck the engine by putting on a new impeller and doing 4 oild change, one after another. The most difficult thing was getting out the old oil since it had become thick and sludgy (first oil change) The drain would not work, or the usual sucking out through the dipstick hole. Instead, I took off the oil filter and cranked the engine, using the oil pump to pump the old oil out into a gallon jug on its side with with a panel cut out of the side. NOW I keep an eye on everything, and always turn off the seacock, hiding the engine key to remind me to turn on the seacock. I was a fool, but I lucked out, at least for now - I only hope that it has not done serious harm to the engine, although is still sounds good and has plenty of power. Live and learn!! JW
Card
I made up a laminated card that says "Open raw water seacock before starting engine" in large letters. Placed on top of Nav desk inside of which are engine keys. Similar laminated card pasted above battery switch.
I made up a laminated card that says "Open raw water seacock before starting engine" in large letters. Placed on top of Nav desk inside of which are engine keys. Similar laminated card pasted above battery switch.
Raw water seacock
While I was in FL and boat in CA, a friend kept an eye on it and occasionally exercised the engine. He called me one day and said he was unable to start the engine, and I said I would be there in a week or so. It turned out to be 10 weeks, but I didn't worry. Turns out he had cranked the engine over continuously and repeatedly with the seacock open, running the RW pump, but not the engine, which filled up the muffler and exhaust and flooded the engine, which had less than 300 hours on it. Now I do not open that valve until the engine is running.
While I was in FL and boat in CA, a friend kept an eye on it and occasionally exercised the engine. He called me one day and said he was unable to start the engine, and I said I would be there in a week or so. It turned out to be 10 weeks, but I didn't worry. Turns out he had cranked the engine over continuously and repeatedly with the seacock open, running the RW pump, but not the engine, which filled up the muffler and exhaust and flooded the engine, which had less than 300 hours on it. Now I do not open that valve until the engine is running.
So, close those seacocks
seems to be the universally accepted correct answer. Here's my problem with that: Most of the raw water seacocks on my boat (1986 Cal 28-2) are behind/under a screwed on panel. Not all of them are behind/under the same one. Getting to them is a hassle. However, I have no problem dealing with the hassle. The problem is, it doesn't seem to take very many times before the screws strip. Most of them are just sheet metal screws into fiberglass. What can be done to improve this situation? Through most of the season we use the boat 2 - 4 times a week. Should the seacocks be closed even when you know you're going to be opening them again in a few hours?? Never mind, that was a rhetorical question. I really know the answer to that one. The one about longer life fastenings is a real question though. How do you deal with that issue?? -Smitty
seems to be the universally accepted correct answer. Here's my problem with that: Most of the raw water seacocks on my boat (1986 Cal 28-2) are behind/under a screwed on panel. Not all of them are behind/under the same one. Getting to them is a hassle. However, I have no problem dealing with the hassle. The problem is, it doesn't seem to take very many times before the screws strip. Most of them are just sheet metal screws into fiberglass. What can be done to improve this situation? Through most of the season we use the boat 2 - 4 times a week. Should the seacocks be closed even when you know you're going to be opening them again in a few hours?? Never mind, that was a rhetorical question. I really know the answer to that one. The one about longer life fastenings is a real question though. How do you deal with that issue?? -Smitty
Add an access port
I have a similar problem and posed it in my boats section of this site. A very good solution came back. Put in an access door to the valve area. I am now planning to install a 4" port through the fiberglass seating support on my boat to gain access to a hard to reach valve.
I have a similar problem and posed it in my boats section of this site. A very good solution came back. Put in an access door to the valve area. I am now planning to install a 4" port through the fiberglass seating support on my boat to gain access to a hard to reach valve.
Always close mine when leaving the boat
However I do not use the raw water intake for the head so I don't worry about what position the valve is in.. To flush the toilet I use the fresh water shower to rinse the bowl. So I only have three seacocks to close when leaving the boat..works for me and has helped greatly with head odor. I do open and close it several times a season.
However I do not use the raw water intake for the head so I don't worry about what position the valve is in.. To flush the toilet I use the fresh water shower to rinse the bowl. So I only have three seacocks to close when leaving the boat..works for me and has helped greatly with head odor. I do open and close it several times a season.
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