Speedseal's Naval Brass?

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Oct 20, 2005
31
Lancer 36 Mission Bay-San Diego
Is anyone familiar with Speedseal? http://www.speedseal.com/speedseal.html They make it out of "Naval Brass" When I asked about using brass instead of bronze, they replied that Naval Brass has been used for years and not to worry. Yet I have read many comments to not use brass. Can someone enlighten me? TIA Forrest
 
Oct 20, 2005
31
Lancer 36 Mission Bay-San Diego
Is anyone familiar with Speedseal? http://www.speedseal.com/speedseal.html They make it out of "Naval Brass" When I asked about using brass instead of bronze, they replied that Naval Brass has been used for years and not to worry. Yet I have read many comments to not use brass. Can someone enlighten me? TIA Forrest
 

Mike B

.
Apr 15, 2007
1,013
Beneteau 43 Baltimore, MD
Put one on my last boat

Put one on my last boat but haven't bothered to do so on this one. Note that that was at least 7 years ago and they may have made some changes to their design. No problems with corrosion of metal. I seem to remember it being brass. They have a very small diameter "O" ring seal. Order some spares as I believe the plate only comes with one. I chose not to install one on my current boat for a couple of reasons. The location of the impeller is such that no matter how easy it is to get the face plate off I'll still struggle to work on it in anything but still waters. A believe a better solution is to change the impeller on a regular basis. That way I know the risk of failure is low and I won't have to worry about doing a quick impeller change in the middle of a channel with all kinds of boat traffic around me.
 

Mike B

.
Apr 15, 2007
1,013
Beneteau 43 Baltimore, MD
Put one on my last boat

Put one on my last boat but haven't bothered to do so on this one. Note that that was at least 7 years ago and they may have made some changes to their design. No problems with corrosion of metal. I seem to remember it being brass. They have a very small diameter "O" ring seal. Order some spares as I believe the plate only comes with one. I chose not to install one on my current boat for a couple of reasons. The location of the impeller is such that no matter how easy it is to get the face plate off I'll still struggle to work on it in anything but still waters. A believe a better solution is to change the impeller on a regular basis. That way I know the risk of failure is low and I won't have to worry about doing a quick impeller change in the middle of a channel with all kinds of boat traffic around me.
 

Rick D

.
Jun 14, 2008
7,204
Hunter Legend 40.5 Shoreline Marina Long Beach CA
Naval Brass Is Marine Rated

Not to worry. I put one on my boat. Lots of seacocks are Naval Brass. Some hardware describes as 'bronze' is naval brass. "alpha-beta brass containing tin; resistant to sea water; Admiralty Metal is a trademark Synonyms: Admiralty brass, Admiralty Metal, Tobin bronze" RD
 

Rick D

.
Jun 14, 2008
7,204
Hunter Legend 40.5 Shoreline Marina Long Beach CA
Naval Brass Is Marine Rated

Not to worry. I put one on my boat. Lots of seacocks are Naval Brass. Some hardware describes as 'bronze' is naval brass. "alpha-beta brass containing tin; resistant to sea water; Admiralty Metal is a trademark Synonyms: Admiralty brass, Admiralty Metal, Tobin bronze" RD
 
Oct 20, 2005
31
Lancer 36 Mission Bay-San Diego
Speedseal

Thanks Mike & Rick, I will go ahead with the addition of the Speedseal. I change out the impeller once a year, but have to use the "Braille method" from the front of the Yanmar and maybe with the mod I won't abuse my vocabulary as much.
 
Oct 20, 2005
31
Lancer 36 Mission Bay-San Diego
Speedseal

Thanks Mike & Rick, I will go ahead with the addition of the Speedseal. I change out the impeller once a year, but have to use the "Braille method" from the front of the Yanmar and maybe with the mod I won't abuse my vocabulary as much.
 
Dec 2, 2003
4,245
- - Seabeck WA
One thing:

If your Yanmar is the same design as my 3GM30F, a Speed Seal is of questionable value. Once the cover is off, it's still difficult to grip and remove the impeller. Then you have to re-install the new one. Without being able to see what you're doing won't work. Do this: Remove the pump. Yep, turn off the water, unbolt the mount and remove the hose clamps. You'll have the pump in your hands. Then you'll see how tricky the new impeller installation is. It takes longer than pump removal, even with the pump in your galley sink. One thing!!! And it's a biggy. Before removing the pump, PUT A MARK ON IT so you know which way to re-install it. It'll bolt-up back wards. It's very hard to tell and will not work. It's directional. How do I know? ;) Well, after replacing the impeller in the boatyard (Peakes, Trinidad), we launched. I started the engine. No water came out of the exhaust. It was easy to tell because the yard used a diver in the water as part of the travel lift crew. I shut down, unbolted, un-clamped and flipped the pump. 60 seconds. Off I went. Whew!
 
Dec 2, 2003
4,245
- - Seabeck WA
One thing:

If your Yanmar is the same design as my 3GM30F, a Speed Seal is of questionable value. Once the cover is off, it's still difficult to grip and remove the impeller. Then you have to re-install the new one. Without being able to see what you're doing won't work. Do this: Remove the pump. Yep, turn off the water, unbolt the mount and remove the hose clamps. You'll have the pump in your hands. Then you'll see how tricky the new impeller installation is. It takes longer than pump removal, even with the pump in your galley sink. One thing!!! And it's a biggy. Before removing the pump, PUT A MARK ON IT so you know which way to re-install it. It'll bolt-up back wards. It's very hard to tell and will not work. It's directional. How do I know? ;) Well, after replacing the impeller in the boatyard (Peakes, Trinidad), we launched. I started the engine. No water came out of the exhaust. It was easy to tell because the yard used a diver in the water as part of the travel lift crew. I shut down, unbolted, un-clamped and flipped the pump. 60 seconds. Off I went. Whew!
 

Rick D

.
Jun 14, 2008
7,204
Hunter Legend 40.5 Shoreline Marina Long Beach CA
Impeller Removal

Fred brings up a(nother) good point. The biggest hassle with impellers is getting the old one out. In my case, altho the pump is not real handy, the removal and replacement of the pump face is relatively easy even w/o the Speedseal compared to getting the ^$@&* impeller out. I like to keep the old one as a spare so I try not to rip it up. There is just no way to get a screwdriver or two down there to lever it out , so it's the old needle-nose pliers. I have never seen a puller that looked like it would work; most seem designed for much larger powerboat impellers. The Speedseal comes with a plastic removal lever that seems to be better than a screwdriver, and won't damage the housing, but it's still no picnic. So, who has found the magic touch? Rick D.
 

Rick D

.
Jun 14, 2008
7,204
Hunter Legend 40.5 Shoreline Marina Long Beach CA
Impeller Removal

Fred brings up a(nother) good point. The biggest hassle with impellers is getting the old one out. In my case, altho the pump is not real handy, the removal and replacement of the pump face is relatively easy even w/o the Speedseal compared to getting the ^$@&* impeller out. I like to keep the old one as a spare so I try not to rip it up. There is just no way to get a screwdriver or two down there to lever it out , so it's the old needle-nose pliers. I have never seen a puller that looked like it would work; most seem designed for much larger powerboat impellers. The Speedseal comes with a plastic removal lever that seems to be better than a screwdriver, and won't damage the housing, but it's still no picnic. So, who has found the magic touch? Rick D.
 
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