My Cat 30 has the original marilon (how do you spell that?) seacocks. I have been routinely closing them when I leave the boat for the week. I have heard that you should leave these plastic seacocks open. Any truth to that? I'd like to replace them, but the prospect of a haulout out our lake is about a year away.... TIA, Harry
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Close Them
I wouldn't leave any type of seacock open. It's too much of a safety risk. Plus, it seems that regular use would be the best way to prevent a frozen seacock. If one were to freeze, by closing them when not in use, if it were to freeze it would most likely do so in the closed position which would be inconvenient but not disasterous as could be the case if you left them open and then they froze.
I wouldn't leave any type of seacock open. It's too much of a safety risk. Plus, it seems that regular use would be the best way to prevent a frozen seacock. If one were to freeze, by closing them when not in use, if it were to freeze it would most likely do so in the closed position which would be inconvenient but not disasterous as could be the case if you left them open and then they froze.
Closed
I agree with Bob, close them when you leave the boat. It takes an extra minute at the end of the day but I sleep a lot better at night.
I agree with Bob, close them when you leave the boat. It takes an extra minute at the end of the day but I sleep a lot better at night.
ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS close them!
Remember, that's an awfully big hole in the bottom of your boat. Bob hit it right on the head that it would be a jillion times better to have the vavle stick in the closed position than open. Someone told me a story of their boat: The dad built this boat with his hands & loved it. He died and the family was trying to care for it but didn't really know how to do so properly. They never kept their thru-hulls closed and one day when they were leaving the boat, they heard a gushing sound. Rushed to the head and there was a four foot column of water shooting in. They managed to stop the flow but that scared them. Can you imagine heading down to the boat & finding it under water??? Keep 'em closed when not in use!
LaDonna
Remember, that's an awfully big hole in the bottom of your boat. Bob hit it right on the head that it would be a jillion times better to have the vavle stick in the closed position than open. Someone told me a story of their boat: The dad built this boat with his hands & loved it. He died and the family was trying to care for it but didn't really know how to do so properly. They never kept their thru-hulls closed and one day when they were leaving the boat, they heard a gushing sound. Rushed to the head and there was a four foot column of water shooting in. They managed to stop the flow but that scared them. Can you imagine heading down to the boat & finding it under water??? Keep 'em closed when not in use!
LaDonnaOh Rats! Close the seacock!
About 8 years ago we had a rat aboard our 25'. Don't think it can't happen to you. Our slip was about midway on a dock of 20 boats. Ours was the only boat visited. It came in through clam shell vent on the stern. The point: it ate holes in plastic water hoses including one from the head sink drain. The hole was less than an inch above the waterline. A little would come in if the boat rocked enough! Had it chewed an inch lower the boat would have sank. I always close all through hulls everyweek. The reasons the other gave are all good to.
About 8 years ago we had a rat aboard our 25'. Don't think it can't happen to you. Our slip was about midway on a dock of 20 boats. Ours was the only boat visited. It came in through clam shell vent on the stern. The point: it ate holes in plastic water hoses including one from the head sink drain. The hole was less than an inch above the waterline. A little would come in if the boat rocked enough! Had it chewed an inch lower the boat would have sank. I always close all through hulls everyweek. The reasons the other gave are all good to.
Keep 'em closed and lubed
As the other responses indicate, keep the valves closed when not aboard and/or not in active use. Lubricate them from time to time, especially for the winter. A bit of cooking oil will do fine. Just pour it down the drain, head or whatever and close the handle when oil is at and in the valve. The pink anti freeze acts as a lube as well.
As the other responses indicate, keep the valves closed when not aboard and/or not in active use. Lubricate them from time to time, especially for the winter. A bit of cooking oil will do fine. Just pour it down the drain, head or whatever and close the handle when oil is at and in the valve. The pink anti freeze acts as a lube as well.
#$@%& Plastic Sea Cocks
I have already replaced them once, and they are still sticky. If DOXOLOGY doesn't sink in the meantime, they will be replaced with bronze at haul-out time. Good Luck Harry. Good luck to Ginger too! John
I have already replaced them once, and they are still sticky. If DOXOLOGY doesn't sink in the meantime, they will be replaced with bronze at haul-out time. Good Luck Harry. Good luck to Ginger too! John
Cooking Oil? Really?
Hi Woody: I was with until you mentioned cooking oil as a lubricant. Seems too . .uh. . . organic or something. Does anyone have a different idea? By the way, what about the gate valves? Do they require lubrication? Thanks Melody
Hi Woody: I was with until you mentioned cooking oil as a lubricant. Seems too . .uh. . . organic or something. Does anyone have a different idea? By the way, what about the gate valves? Do they require lubrication? Thanks Melody
Disassemble & Lube
Flying Bear's Seacocks are disassembled, cleaned and lubed at each haul out. The seacocks are original equipment and are closed everytime we leave the boat. Treat 'em right and they will take good care of you and your boat. Rodney Kidd C-38 #297, Flying Bear
Flying Bear's Seacocks are disassembled, cleaned and lubed at each haul out. The seacocks are original equipment and are closed everytime we leave the boat. Treat 'em right and they will take good care of you and your boat. Rodney Kidd C-38 #297, Flying Bear
Self Bailing Cockpit
I have a self bailing cockpit on my little Catalina 22 and when I left my sea cocks closed, Surprize! 4 inches of rain water in the cockpit after one rainy night. I don't like leaving that sea cock open but I do.
I have a self bailing cockpit on my little Catalina 22 and when I left my sea cocks closed, Surprize! 4 inches of rain water in the cockpit after one rainy night. I don't like leaving that sea cock open but I do.
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