Servicing Seacocks

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M

MSter

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Apr 12, 2010
131
Sabre 38' MK II Oriental, NC
We have to service the seacocks on our new to us 38' Sabre, and plan to follow the advice and direction of Main Sail. The PO has neglected them for awhile and all are frozen in the open position.
Is it possible to do this while the boat is still in the water. For the life of me I can't imagine how, but wanted to ask to see if anyone has some imaginative or creative solution short of having a diver hold his hand over the through hull from the underside of the boat.
I'm reluctant to head far from our mooring without checking & servicing the engine cooling system and raw water pump. I can't see how it can be done without a haul out unless I can close the seacock.
Any ideas ?
MSter
 
Gary Kunkel

Gary Kunkel

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Jun 1, 2004
125
Catalina 30 MKII Channel Islands Harbor, CA
I haven't done it myself, but have a friend who had a diver place a "bathroom plunger" over the outside of each through-hull while servicing the seacocks. He also was prepared to do an emergency haul out if things turned out poorly. In his case, it all worked fine.
 
gpd955

gpd955

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Feb 22, 2006
1,164
Catalina 310 Cape May, NJ
Play it safe and haul it. It's not worth having something happening and needing to haul it in emergency mode. Having it out will allow you to take your time and fix things right without worry.
 
sailaway78

sailaway78

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May 11, 2005
3,431
Seidelman S37 Slidell, La.
Bathroom plunger

A bathroom plunger seems to work pretty good, but I would still consider it an emergency use item, and would not do this for anything else.
 
Bob J.

Bob J.

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Apr 14, 2009
775
Sabre 28 NH
The seacocks were frozen on my 28. Because my boat is on the hard being renovated, I sprayed PB Blaster into them hoping they'd free up. Finally I backed the lock nut off, loosened the valve body nut & tightened it to the lock nut at the end of the stem. After a couple of good smacks with a hammer, the assembly broke free. Just be sure that you're hitting the lock nut & not the bare end of the stem.

Some of the folks on the Yahoo Sabre List claimed to have done this while in the water but I'd wait until you haul for the winter.....

Bob
 
M

MSter

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Apr 12, 2010
131
Sabre 38' MK II Oriental, NC
Thanks for the suggestions. I know I have to haul at sometime soon. I will try PB blaster to see if the engine cooling line seacock will work free.It may allow me to service the water pump at least.
MSter
 
zeehag

zeehag

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Mar 26, 2009
3,198
1976 formosa 41 yankee clipper santa barbara. ca.(not there)
my ericson had thru hull change in water --was pricey but successful..plunger works well, and standby divers also......
 
lorrieanne

lorrieanne

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May 10, 2011
7
Catalina 30 Vancouver
just had two through hole valves and seacocks replaced (they were plastic!!!) in my catalina 30. It had to be hauled out; couldn't be done otherwise so we took advantage of the haul-out to get other work done. Play it safe ... I agree with the earlier advice to haul out for the work...
 
seadaddler

seadaddler

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Dec 19, 2006
5,832
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
WM

Go to west marine or try other marine store and get a red rubber thru hull plug used for plugging thru hulls in emergency and take off the water pump hose and stick this plug in it to stop water or dive under boat and stick it in thru hull just like a plug or you could use a old wood round chair leg but the new rubber type seal real good in a emergency also.
Nick
 
M

MSter

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Apr 12, 2010
131
Sabre 38' MK II Oriental, NC
Thanks Seadadler, I'd like to service the seacock on the engine cooling line so I can then check / replace the pump impeller. I don't think I can stuff that plug from the outside but it's worth checking.
Thanks
MSter
 
Mark Maulden

Mark Maulden

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Jan 25, 2011
2,439
S2 11.0A Anacortes, WA
I would haul it. My local yard will replace them in the sling and only charge a one way....Hey I have a brother in Marblehead...
 
Hermit Scott

Hermit Scott

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Sep 25, 2008
2,288
C30 Event Horizon Port Aransas
What type of seacocks do you have? Are they through hulls with ball valves screwed on them? OR do they have flanges built onto the bottom of the valve body?
If you have ever pulled one off the water coming in is not a heart attack amount. I bought pvc caps at lowes and installed those temporarily (like 2 months). Then when I had the money bought the ball valves, unscrewed the ballvalve, put a rubber stopper in the through hull. Applied pipe dope only to the male threads. Then screwed the new ball valve on. I think I then opened the ball valve and knocked the plugs out the bottom into the sea with a small dowel. IF you have old ball valves, do the Maine Sail method with fiberglass backing plates and flange adapters. I did that and that is one thing I have no worries about on my boat.
Also I am a pretty cavalier kind of dude, and I would not beat on a through hull/ seacock with a hammer unless I had the boat in the slings or was trying to break it off and sink it. You have no idea what kind of corrosion/electrolysis has occurred in that old seacock. It could have places thin enough to read the newspaper through and you wouldn't know it until it went flying across the teak and holly.
 
Hermit Scott

Hermit Scott

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Sep 25, 2008
2,288
C30 Event Horizon Port Aransas
If you need to service the impeller, take the hose off the water pump and stick a dowel in it while you change the impeller.
 
Don12364

Don12364

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Dec 2, 2003
1,637
Hunter 376 Warsash, England --
I tried but found that plugs from outside do not work.
Reason? There are lugs inside the fitting which are there for inserting a tool to prevent it turning whilst the through hull is put in.
These foul the plug and either prevent it going in or ensure it leaks badly anyway.

Hermit is right if you feel you can handle a 1" diameter fountain a foot high, albeit only briefly.
OK for one through hull but tedious (and damp) for them all.
Haul.
 
M

MSter

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Apr 12, 2010
131
Sabre 38' MK II Oriental, NC
Thanks everyone for the ideas. These seacocks are cast Bronze plug type that will need lapping and new grease/sealant per Main Sail's tutorial.
We're heading to the boat to-morrow for a few weeks, I'll follow up with any solutions after I look at these again.
MSter
 
Hermit Scott

Hermit Scott

.
Sep 25, 2008
2,288
C30 Event Horizon Port Aransas
MSter said:
Thanks everyone for the ideas. These seacocks are cast Bronze plug type that will need lapping and new grease/sealant per Main Sail's tutorial.
We're heading to the boat to-morrow for a few weeks, I'll follow up with any solutions after I look at these again.
MSter
Click to expand
Take some pics if you will.
 
zeehag

zeehag

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Mar 26, 2009
3,198
1976 formosa 41 yankee clipper santa barbara. ca.(not there)
PLUNGERS KEEP OUT WATER WHILE WORK IS IN PROGRESS.... goood luck
 
Morgan30

Morgan30

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Dec 17, 2008
35
Morgan 30 Classic Long Island
Hermit Scott said:
If you need to service the impeller, take the hose off the water pump and stick a dowel in it while you change the impeller.
Click to expand
^This

And, I would think the water pump is above the water line, which helps slow the flow. Or, if you have a piece of pipe that you can stick in the end of the hose with a cap on it.

Have all the parts and tools ready before you go for it.
 
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