SEACOCK SERVICE

[JERRY MITCHELL]

One of my thru hull seacocks will not fully open...there is a threaded plug on it that someone said i could put a grease fitting in and induce grease into the seacock...my question is will this really help? ALso on the seacock that lets water into my engine for cooling would this grease not harm the engines cooling ability? Is there a way to service these thru hull fittings without hauling the boat out?

 

[Bayard Gross]

Maybe some junk in there

It is possible some detritus is imbedded in the ball valve of your seacock jamming its action and preventing full opening.I would close the seacock, remove whatever tube connects to it (if ka ka , flush for a while before you do so), then take a look down inside with a flashlight to see if there is anything making a home there, and remove it with long tweezers. Then spray silicone spray like Super lube onto the closed ball valve. Then before you try moving the seacock valve, place the tube back on, screw down the strap, and see if you can fully open it.Alternatively, there may be detritus on the waterside, but you have to haul for that.I once had a wrist watch strap spring fall down my '82 C-22 cockpit drain where it found a cozy home right above the open ball valve of the drain seacock. Not a problem until after fall hauling and local boat yard detritus like dust, sand, dirt, and leaves backed up against the spring. The cockpit filled with several inches of fall rain.

 

[Russell Egge]

Super Lube Teflon Grease

Yes the same stuff used to lube the head once a year, per the Head Mistress instructions.We do it once a year on the hard. Use one of thoes cheap small brushes (the kind with the metal handle work great). Jam it over a long handled screwdriver nad load it up with Super Lube grease, close the thru hull and glop it on. Open / close the thru hull untill it works freely.Coming from inside the boat do the same thing only remove the hose first, don't forget to put the hose back on.RRegge

 

[Garry @ S/V TASHTEGO]

Sea Cocks

You didn't say whether or not the seacock wouldn't close or wouldn't open all the way. If it won't open then there is probably something in the internal workings that is jamming the valve. You will probably have to haul the boat and take the valve apart. If it won't close then there is something sticking into the ball either from above or below. There are two things you can try. 1. Pinch the hose off with vice grips or a clamp then remove the hose from the non-valve end and add on a piece of hose long enough to reach well above the waterline (preferably to deck level). You will want a hose coupler of some kind either purpose built or a piece of tight fitting pipe. Open the valve all the way, the water will only reach up the hose to the waterline. Put you garden hose into the top of the hose and turn it on full blast to try to wash the stuff out of the valve. Now try shutting the valve.If this doesn't work get out your mask and snorkel and try from under the boat with the valve open. Something with a hook on the end like a bent coat hanger may be able to catch the hang up and pull it out.When all else fails, haul the boat.