free wheeling sea cock

D

Dave1act

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Jun 1, 2014
1
Hunter 28.5 Detroit
HI, I have a HUnter 1985 28.5' sail boat. The sea cock leading to the water intake to the engine heat exchanger rotates freely in the counter clockwise direction.

The boat is in the water and I think the valve is open but since it nevers stops rotating in the counterclockwise direction, I am not sure.

Any ideas on how to repair it?

Dave
 
centerline

centerline

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Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
from your description, i am assuming what you have is a gate valve rather than a ball valve.. but it should have a ball valve installed, then its a quarter turn and a positive closure.

with a gate valve you can have trouble like you are experiencing and you never know if its partially open or closed...

it sounds like the threads on the spool have eroded away and allowing the spool to continue to rotate, which means you cant tell if it is closed all the way or not... which alsomeans you cant tell if it is opening all the way... you dont want to starve your engine of cooling water

it needs to be replaced with the proper type of valve that is a bit more dependable.
 
Gatch30

Gatch30

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Mar 5, 2013
50
Hunter 45CC Lake Erie, Sandusky Bay
It does sound like a gate valve. I have seen many break at the stem that connects the handle to the gate. All you do is turn and the gate does not move. Problem is you don't know where the gate is and probably worse if something happens you can not close off the through hull. The replacement is a ball valve.
 
B

Benny17441

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May 24, 2004
7,164
CC 30 South Florida
It does sound like a gate valve but they are not usually used on the engines raw water intake. My guess would be it is a ball type valve that has sheared the shaft. The valve is probably stuck in the open position as there is no engine overheating reported. Anyway, it should be replaced at first opportunity.
 
R

raye

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Jun 18, 2013
18
beneteau 38 m dock
I had same problem only mine stripped at the handle and it was in closed position and I didn't know it, everything seemed ok till I got 1/2 mile from dock. I shut engine down and sailed most way back starting engine enough to dock. could have been a disaster, time to replace that valve.!
 
Jim L

Jim L

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Jun 13, 2012
49
Hunter 28.5 Kemah, Texas
Yes the 28.5 has std gates. Much nicer and a good comfort level having changed to ball.
 
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