Removing direct discharge thru-hull

[Dean Strong]

Peggy,I'm rerouting my MSD plumbing, and want to eliminate the head direct discharge sea-cock and thru hull. I can already empty the holding tank via a macerator and thru-hull that has been added. The direct discharge is never used--it's old, and starting to corrode too. If I eliminate the direct discharge sea-cock, I'll have room to add a larger tank because it just happens to be positioned against the holding tank wall.I saw the earlier discussion this month, but it doesn't solve my problem of the sea-cock being in the way of a larger tank.Can I remove the sea cock, and cap the the thru-hull in some way, and if so, how high will this protrude above the inside of the hull?Thanks,Dean Strong"Synchrony"1990 Hunter 30

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

If you're sure you want to take it out...

your best option, based on what you've said about how much room the seacock takes up, is to remove it completely and glass it over. Capping a thru-hull below the waterline is not a good idea IMO...the only safe way to cap off a hole in the bottom of a boat is a standpipe that rises well above the waterline. And I'm not sure that's a good idea either...'cuz it's hard enough to keep an eye on the condition of the bedding etc on all the thru-hulls you are using...one that's out of sight, out of mind would be just asking for trouble.

 

[David Hirtle]

removing direct discharge thru hull

Good Morning, I must agree with the Head Mistress, You would be better served to simply replace the thru hull valve instead of removing it. While we would all like to believe that repairs are a permenent fix to the problem at hand, the fact of the matter is that often they are not! It's better to live with the devil you know than the one you don't.