Sink Drain Gate Valve Problem

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

Steve Phillips

the gate valve on my '77 30' stripped in the closed position. What are my options on replacing/repairing before next haul out. I belive (not sure) the gate valve drains to a pipe that that threads to the gate valve and is molded into the hull. Help???
 
W

Wayne Estabrooks

Change valve on thru hull in water

I had a handle break on a Marelon thru hull once and it was in the closed position. I had a diver friend place a flat rubber stopper over the thru hull on the bottom of the boat while I changed the valve. The water pressure held it tight against the bottom of the boat. Have some wood taper plugs available in case of a catastrophe. I have never seen one glassed into the hull as you describe and I suspect you have a standard thru hull installation although I haven't seen everything yet. A 3/4 or 1 inch thru hull is typical for galley sink drain. Look in the marine supply catalogs or better look at the thru-hulls in the marine supply store. Replace the gate valve with a 1/4 turn bronze ball valve. Use some teflon tape wrapped in the direction of the threads to seal the threads. Make sure the replacement valve is good bronze marine quality and not a brass plumbing part. A gate valve is not the proper valve to use for this purpose. Don't skimp here as your boat could sink if you don't use the right parts. Get some professional help if you don't feel comfortable doing the work yourself. Caution; A bronze thru hull this old could be very brittle due to electrolysis and could break.
 
P

Peggie Hall/Head Mistress

Wayne's advice is right on...

I can't argue with or improve on a word of it.
 
P

Pat Taylor

Happened to me!

I have a 1975 Hunter 30, and last fall (98) about 2 weeks before the boat was pulled for the winter the sink gate valve failed in the closed position. Since the boat was going to be pulled very soon, I waited until it was out of the water. My plan was to unscrew the gate valve from the thru-hull fitting and screw on a new bronze ball valve. There was no way that I could get that valve off including the use of a torch. So I bit the bullet and had the yard put in new fittings (I have a motto, "If it has to do with an underwater hole in the boat let the yard do it.") I installed the new valve and the rest of the fittings. The old fitting was not glassed into the hull but I don't see any way that you can remove it while the boat is in the water. However if you can get a plug into the fitting and have better luck than I had getting the old valve off you might be able to do it. The 23 year old bronze thru-hull fitting was in very good shape and not brittle, I just couldn't get the valve off. Good Luck Pat Taylor Mystic 1975 Hunter 30
 
W

Wayne Estabrooks

Happy New Year Peggy

Peggy, Thanks for the compliments. Sometimes I forget what forum I am in when I go ahead and answer a question. I'm glad I had correct information. You have taught me well. I read all your stuff but lately have trouble finding the library in HOW where lots of your good information resides. Don't know if it is a HOW problem but suspect it is a Wayne problem. Happy New year all !
 
P

Peggie Hall/Head Mistress

Happy New Year Wayne!

The Head Mistress forum is an owner discussion group, just like all the others...only difference is, it has a "pro" monitoring it. So if you or anyone else can come up with the right answers before I can find time to read & reply, I'm delighted...saves me a lot of homework sometimes, 'cuz I don't claim to KNOW all the the answers, just most of 'em and where to find the ones I don't. All the permanently posted articles--not to be confused with old archived posts--are in the Reference Library in the Head Mistress forum. To find 'em just click on Head Mistress in the list of forums on the HOW home page. You should find the Reference library on the right hand side when you get there. Btw...give everyone in the Durham USPS my best wishes..the evening I spent with y'all is still one of my fondest seminar memories...I had a great time with ya'll!
 
L

Leon Sisson

Pipe Threaded Into Hull.

Steve may be correct about the gate valve being attached to a short pipe threaded into the hull. That's what I found on my Catalina 25 when I first got it. Gate valves don't belong on boats period. The pipe threaded into a tapped hole in the hull laminate is a disaster waiting to happen. When I removed mine for replacement with real seacocks, I was able to pull them out with my bare hands. Scary! I suggest a real bronze, stainless, and Teflon 1/4 turn seacock with a bolt flange and a bronze thru-hull with a wooden backing block shaped and glued to the inside of the hull. -- Leon Sisson
 
L

Leon Sisson

Pipe Threaded Into Hull.

Steve may be correct about the gate valve being attached to a short pipe threaded into the hull. That's what I found on my Catalina 25 when I first got it. Gate valves don't belong on boats period. The pipe threaded into a tapped hole in the hull laminate is a disaster waiting to happen. When I removed mine for replacement with real seacocks, I was able to pull them out with my bare hands. Scary! I suggest a real bronze, stainless, and Teflon 1/4 turn seacock with a bolt flange and a bronze thru-hull with a wooden backing block shaped and glued to the inside of the hull. -- Leon Sisson
 
Status
Not open for further replies.