Head intake seacock

[Windtherapy]

How many of you close your head intake sea cock when not using the head? I know some people do but holy cow, mine is under my port settee and that has the slide out as well so what a pain to close and open ALL the time. I'm replacing along with my other two thru-hulls but just curious what others do.

 

[Kh3412]

I'm probably the odd one. I close all my seacocks when I leave the boat. Hang the keys on the valve so I remember to open the engine seacock. Have a gallon of water to flush if out sailing and I don't want to crawl to open head seacock. But like I said I'm probably the odd man out.

 

[Pat]

How many of you close your head intake sea cock when not using the head? I know some people do but holy cow, mine is under my port settee and that has the slide out as well so what a pain to close and open ALL the time. I'm replacing along with my other two thru-hulls but just curious what others do.

I typically open when getting to the boat and close when leaving to go home.
I leave it open all the time while at the boat or sailing, etc....
Patrick

 

[Pat]

I open when getting to the boat and close at the end of the weekend or whenever I go home. I do not close it to go sailing typically.
Pat

 

[Apex]

kh, most everyone in our marina uses a bottle of water or water and tank treatment mix to flush with. We sail in Lake Michigan, and when out far, will sometimes open that valve to flush the tank rim with.

I will close all other seacocks in addition when leaving the boat, and unplug shore power. a PO put a nice brass extension rod on the valve handle: It reaches the top of the lazarette, so no bending over to open or close, a really nice setup.

 

[Windtherapy]

I should have been more clear. I did mean closing them when sailing or just using your boat at the slip. I would never leave them open when not there but hear other people never trust them and open them only when using the head and then close them again. I'm putting in all new thru-hulls with bases so I should be good. I have a slip on lake Huron at the mouth of the Ausable River which I plan on fishing a lot and just using my boat as a place to live and sleep at the slip. Looks like I will leave them open and close when gone for the week.
It's just odd that 80% of all boat sinking happens at the slip. I find that rather odd. Maybe it's just poor upkeep that causes this.

 

[Davidasailor26]

I should have been more clear. I did mean closing them when sailing or just using your boat at the slip. I would never leave them open when not there but hear other people never trust them and open them only when using the head and then close them again. I'm putting in all new thru-hulls with bases so I should be good. I have a slip on lake Huron at the mouth of the Ausable River which I plan on fishing a lot and just using my boat as a place to live and sleep at the slip. Looks like I will leave them open and close when gone for the week. It's just odd that 80% of all boat sinking happens at the slip. I find that rather odd. Maybe it's just poor upkeep that causes this.

There was a pretty extensive discussion about this in June on the Ask All Sailors forum. Search the archives and I'm sure you'll find more opinions on it than you can imagine. They even did a weekly poll about it - there was only 1% difference between people closing the seacocks and not. The poll question was specific to when leaving the boat, but plenty of the discussion related to your question.

One point to clarify though - the seacock is above the through hull, so it doesn't really protect you from a failure at that point. It is intended to protect you from failure of hoses and fittings inboard of the seacock. As for 80% of sinkings being at the dock - I'd consider that low given that probably 90% of all boats' time in the water is at the slip.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

It's just odd that 80% of all boat sinking happens at the slip. I find that rather odd. Maybe it's just poor upkeep that causes this.

You're missing half that sentence... 80% of all boat sinking happens at the slip when no one is aboard.

Head seacocks left open are a leading cause of boats that have no vented loop in the head intake to protect against leaving the toilet in the wet mode or wet/dry valve failure sinking in their slips....water outside the boat overflows the bowl and keeps on seeking its own level inside the boat till it succeeds.

Failed hose connections are another major reason why boats sink in their slips...old hoses that have become so dry and brittle that they crack open, failed hose clamps (which is why all below waterline connections should be double clamped.

Dock water hoses left connected with the water on the dock left accounts for an increasing number of unattended sinkings. Boats sink in their slips because no one is aboard to notice that their feet are wet when they go below and do something about it while there's still time.

And btw, contrary to most people's belief, most boat fires are not caused by fuel--gasoline, propane, alcohol stoves--but by faulty electrical connections...worn frayed wiring, and bad decisions due to ignorance.

 

[Windtherapy]

Peggy I just finished reading your book. Great book! I bought an O'Day 26 in May and have been spending every free second replacing everything and will launch next spring. I pulled out the entire sanitation system and bought a new Jabsco Twist Lock, all new thru-hulls and bases and all new Trident hoses (the black ones which I believe are their best). I will for sure double clamp all hose connections and of course use stainless steel clamps and make sure I have a siphon break on the hose. I will be replacing the vent line as well. I will be turning off all thru hulls when I am away and probably even will while sailing.

I also tore out all the electric and I am replacing all of that as well as all lights to LED. I am installing 2 Seadog 6 gang fuse panels due to installing a bilge pump, cockpit LED lights and a companionway night light at the head which my wife requested. I was ready to just use some wire that I had rolls and rolls of but then read about the marine wire and ordered 100 feet of each 12/2 and 14/2 with heat shrink connectors. The wire I got was the type in the white casing (not separate wires but both wires in the casing--sort of like home romex wire). I was thinking the white casing would help to deter chafing.

My question is this...I am trying to think of a good way to create a raceway or to secure the wires that I am running to the bow for the nav lights, the masthead light run and the night light run. They will all be running through the storage areas under the settees. Any ideas or maybe with having the wire in the white casing I shouldn't worry about it that much.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

A race is prob'ly a good idea the wiring will run through lockers you'll be using for storage, and therefore disturbing what's in 'em. Cheap hose or PVC pipe make good conduit. Unless we're talking about a LOT of wires, 1" is prob'ly big enough. Color code BOTH ends of each wire/pair so you can tell from either end of the pipe which wire is your anchor light instead of having to run it down.

However, I'll qualify the above by saying that anything more than changing light bulbs is above my electrical skills pay grade. I left anything on my own boats related to fuel or electric to mechanics or electricians.

 

[Windtherapy]

Agreed Peggy. I am just going to use clear vinyl hose as a raceway and all my wiring is wrapped in sheathing like the photo which should give it a tad more chaffing protection.