I get mixed answers regarding the "correct" way to leave my boat. I curently close everything when I leave my boat (I live in Arizona and commute to my boat)for a couple weeks. Others tell me its not nessesary. Others say just to close the "incoming" valves, not the "out going" valves. I'm interested what everyone else thinks? I did have a rare incident last time out, a small fish had swam into the raw water intake and got stuck between the thru-hull and the raw water strainer. It took some time to figure that out!
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Close 'em All
I know that some commercial passenger ferries do; it may have something to do with their hull insurance coverage. I can't understand what the intake and output difference could be. Having said that, I suspect maybe five percent of pleasure craft actually do close through hulls. Rick D.
I know that some commercial passenger ferries do; it may have something to do with their hull insurance coverage. I can't understand what the intake and output difference could be. Having said that, I suspect maybe five percent of pleasure craft actually do close through hulls. Rick D.
If you don't close any others...
Close your head intake and discharge seacocks. Any thru-hull to dump a tank should ALWAYS remain closed except when actually dumping the tank. Head seacocks left open have sunk more boats in their slips than any other cause...although dock water connections on unattended boats is catching up fast.
Close your head intake and discharge seacocks. Any thru-hull to dump a tank should ALWAYS remain closed except when actually dumping the tank. Head seacocks left open have sunk more boats in their slips than any other cause...although dock water connections on unattended boats is catching up fast.
Not even a question!
ALWAYS close all of your thru hulls when you leave the boat! but Bob, I do not do this my self. It really is a good habit to get into. If any one of your hoses break, come undone or fail in any way you boat will sink at a rate that may be disproportionate to the ability of your bilge pump to evacuate the water. Once the batteries and charger go under the time is very limited. My engine repair guy suggested that we hang the ignition key on the engine intake thru hull. That way you alway open it to start the engine and close it when you return the key. We do keep the head thru hulls closed when we are not aboard, but not the galley sink or the engine intake. My suggestion is to always do all of them (period).
ALWAYS close all of your thru hulls when you leave the boat! but Bob, I do not do this my self. It really is a good habit to get into. If any one of your hoses break, come undone or fail in any way you boat will sink at a rate that may be disproportionate to the ability of your bilge pump to evacuate the water. Once the batteries and charger go under the time is very limited. My engine repair guy suggested that we hang the ignition key on the engine intake thru hull. That way you alway open it to start the engine and close it when you return the key. We do keep the head thru hulls closed when we are not aboard, but not the galley sink or the engine intake. My suggestion is to always do all of them (period).
Boat US says.......
the number 1 reason for dockside sinkings is owners that left a through-hull open when the boat was unattended. We always close all of ours.
the number 1 reason for dockside sinkings is owners that left a through-hull open when the boat was unattended. We always close all of ours.
Engine intake is number one to close
In my book, due to the stress of high temp, I absolutely always close the engine intake when leaving, and leave the key near the valve. I also think that the head could be a source of leak, so turn it off as well, and also A/c line. I leave the sinks open.
In my book, due to the stress of high temp, I absolutely always close the engine intake when leaving, and leave the key near the valve. I also think that the head could be a source of leak, so turn it off as well, and also A/c line. I leave the sinks open.
The correct thing is
to close all thru hull when not in use (on board). As far as closing only the incoming as opposed to the outgoing the water does not care if it incoming or outgoing IT IS GOING IN! As some of the others have stated it is a good habit(even if most don't) close all thru hulls and disconnect fresh water (city) if equipped.It may be tiresome be it is a lot easier then getting you boat up form the bottom !
to close all thru hull when not in use (on board). As far as closing only the incoming as opposed to the outgoing the water does not care if it incoming or outgoing IT IS GOING IN! As some of the others have stated it is a good habit(even if most don't) close all thru hulls and disconnect fresh water (city) if equipped.It may be tiresome be it is a lot easier then getting you boat up form the bottom !
Close everything, every time
Each and every thru-hull is a hole in your boat. All it takes is a clamp or hose failure to sink your toy. Even the sink drains can sink yo if the clamp failure is at the thru-hull when the thru-hull is under water. I ALWAYS close every seacock when I leave the boat for the week. I don't close them when going ashore to return later that day. If your practice is to close every one, then there is no doubt what the status is when you are 150 miles away at home. Sleep good!
Each and every thru-hull is a hole in your boat. All it takes is a clamp or hose failure to sink your toy. Even the sink drains can sink yo if the clamp failure is at the thru-hull when the thru-hull is under water. I ALWAYS close every seacock when I leave the boat for the week. I don't close them when going ashore to return later that day. If your practice is to close every one, then there is no doubt what the status is when you are 150 miles away at home. Sleep good!
An Added Advantage...
...of closing your thru hulls is that you keep them moving and in working condition. Seacocks tend to seize up from lack of use. When that happens, you can't close em when you really need to!
...of closing your thru hulls is that you keep them moving and in working condition. Seacocks tend to seize up from lack of use. When that happens, you can't close em when you really need to!
Don't forget the Macerator
Bob, Close 'em all. And as Peggy said don't forget the through hull to the macerator. It's in the lazerette on the Port side of your boat. Not only the hose but the seal on the hose side of the Jabsco can fail. It'll only be a slow leak but if for some reason your bilge pump fails.... you get the picture.
Bob, Close 'em all. And as Peggy said don't forget the through hull to the macerator. It's in the lazerette on the Port side of your boat. Not only the hose but the seal on the hose side of the Jabsco can fail. It'll only be a slow leak but if for some reason your bilge pump fails.... you get the picture.
On the Bottom
You will always close every thru hull on your boat when leaving it after you see a friends boat sitting on the bottom at a mooring when the drain hose on the sink split and the boat filled with water. Pretty scary when you get a call from the Yacht Club to get down there very quick and when you take the launch out to your boat, all you see is the mast sticking up out of the water. Even worse when it is salt water. Happened to a friend of mine 18 years agon and have closed all thru hulls since that time.
You will always close every thru hull on your boat when leaving it after you see a friends boat sitting on the bottom at a mooring when the drain hose on the sink split and the boat filled with water. Pretty scary when you get a call from the Yacht Club to get down there very quick and when you take the launch out to your boat, all you see is the mast sticking up out of the water. Even worse when it is salt water. Happened to a friend of mine 18 years agon and have closed all thru hulls since that time.
Thru Hulls open or closed what are the facts
I am all for closing the thru hulls everytime, but (like the other people who have confessed that they don't do it) I don't either, because it takes a lot of time and is a pain in the neck. What are the facts? When boat US says that it is the most common cause of sinking, is that boats that have been left uncared for. I feel it is unlikely for my thru hulls to spontaneously fail seeing how I inspect and maintenence them annually and check them every 4 months. With kids, a dog, a job, and everything else to worry about, I accept this risk and leave mine open, but we do sail at least once a month, and have liveaboards next door (that might see my boat sinking). If you really don't want your boat to sink, don't put it in the water. If someone could show me the data on the boats that sink (due to failed thru hull fittings) and show me they were maintained and checked annually and repaired/replaced as needed, I may reconsider. But for now, I accept the risk of leaving them open and renew my insurance policy every year.
I am all for closing the thru hulls everytime, but (like the other people who have confessed that they don't do it) I don't either, because it takes a lot of time and is a pain in the neck. What are the facts? When boat US says that it is the most common cause of sinking, is that boats that have been left uncared for. I feel it is unlikely for my thru hulls to spontaneously fail seeing how I inspect and maintenence them annually and check them every 4 months. With kids, a dog, a job, and everything else to worry about, I accept this risk and leave mine open, but we do sail at least once a month, and have liveaboards next door (that might see my boat sinking). If you really don't want your boat to sink, don't put it in the water. If someone could show me the data on the boats that sink (due to failed thru hull fittings) and show me they were maintained and checked annually and repaired/replaced as needed, I may reconsider. But for now, I accept the risk of leaving them open and renew my insurance policy every year.
Your insurance policy may not pay off if
damage or loss was due to negligence. And leaving seacocks open when you leave the boat can be called negligent. It's not only neglected boats that are at risk...open seacocks can sink a brand new boat. A thru-hull is a hole in the bottom of the boat. A seacock keeps that hole closed except when a hole in the boat is needed. When it's open, water will rise in the hose to the boat's waterline. Anything that hose is connected to that's at or below the waterline--for instance, the toilet--is a means of escape for that water--and water never misses an opportunity to seek its own level, whether outside or inside the boat. When it finds a way to seek its own level inside the boat, the more water there is in the boat, the heavier it gets and the higher the waterline gets until the waterline is above the boat. When you're aboard, you tend to notice that your feet are getting wet or the bilge pumps are running more than they should ...but if you're not there to notice, and the water is coming in faster than the bilge pumps can send it out, your boat sinks. The open seacocks that sink boats most often are the head intake, discharge, and any tank overboard discharge. If your bowl is below the waterline, and you rely on the dry/flush valve in the toilet to keep water outside the boat from overflowing the toilet to seek its own level INside the boat, you're playing Russian Roulette with your boat. Dry/Flush valves fail...and people don't always remember to leave 'em in the dry/position. A macerator inline between a tank and a thru-hull will NOT prevent water from rising into any tank that's below the waterline. Even when the head or tank isn't below the waterline, unless there are vented loops in every connection to a below-waterline thru-hull, a siphon can form. Them's the facts...but it's your boat to put at risk or not.
damage or loss was due to negligence. And leaving seacocks open when you leave the boat can be called negligent. It's not only neglected boats that are at risk...open seacocks can sink a brand new boat. A thru-hull is a hole in the bottom of the boat. A seacock keeps that hole closed except when a hole in the boat is needed. When it's open, water will rise in the hose to the boat's waterline. Anything that hose is connected to that's at or below the waterline--for instance, the toilet--is a means of escape for that water--and water never misses an opportunity to seek its own level, whether outside or inside the boat. When it finds a way to seek its own level inside the boat, the more water there is in the boat, the heavier it gets and the higher the waterline gets until the waterline is above the boat. When you're aboard, you tend to notice that your feet are getting wet or the bilge pumps are running more than they should ...but if you're not there to notice, and the water is coming in faster than the bilge pumps can send it out, your boat sinks. The open seacocks that sink boats most often are the head intake, discharge, and any tank overboard discharge. If your bowl is below the waterline, and you rely on the dry/flush valve in the toilet to keep water outside the boat from overflowing the toilet to seek its own level INside the boat, you're playing Russian Roulette with your boat. Dry/Flush valves fail...and people don't always remember to leave 'em in the dry/position. A macerator inline between a tank and a thru-hull will NOT prevent water from rising into any tank that's below the waterline. Even when the head or tank isn't below the waterline, unless there are vented loops in every connection to a below-waterline thru-hull, a siphon can form. Them's the facts...but it's your boat to put at risk or not.
Thanks Peggie
Peggie, you make a hard sell. Are you being endorsed by any insurance agency? (just kidding) Thanks for the facts, I will start trying harder to get the Sea Cocks closed. Thanks!
Peggie, you make a hard sell. Are you being endorsed by any insurance agency? (just kidding) Thanks for the facts, I will start trying harder to get the Sea Cocks closed. Thanks!
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