Raw Water Shut Off Access Port -- At Last

[Allan12210]

After 35 years of stretching over the engine or having to unload the back berth (garage), I finally installed an access port to easily reach through and operate the raw water seacock. I had an extra Beckson port laying around and thought, "What can I do with this"? It took a couple of trips to the boat as the combination of my 4-3/8 inch hole saw plus my Dewalt drill motor was too long to fit in the opening. One week later it was off to Harbor Freight for a hole saw mandrel that would fit my 3/8 inch right angle drill (I only had a 1/2 in shank mandrel).

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Nice job. If everyone shut off thruhulls when away, there would be no boats sinking at the dock or broken seacocks

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Very nice.

I've installed one as well and no matter where they're located, they always look like an original manufacturer's installation . Part of the boat design.

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

Nice job Allan. I am not tall enough to reach over the engine and therefore it has now been 21 years for me to go through the same gymnastic in the garage to shut-off or open the seacock everytime I leave the boat for longer than a couple of hours. You just gave me something to add on my project list for the Spring. Thanks for the brilliant idea !

 

[Capt Robbie]

Great idea ! Allen
Now I have to put that on my 101 things to do list

 

[sailme88]

Had the same problem on an O'28. My thru hull was accessed vis the cockpit lazarette. It was about 40" down. My fix: converted the vertical valve to a horizontal by removing the valve, adding a 90 degree elbow and reinstalling the valve. Then, piece of PVC pipe with a tee on one end and a slot cut out of the other. The slot fits over the valve and the tee provides the leverage to turn the valve 90degrees ...