Will this sink?
- Thread starter Viesail
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Yes and no.
This type of gate valve often has a BRASS shaft which dezincifies and the thread breaks you so you cannot shut it off.
This will only sink you if the pipe comes off the tail - which it might easily do with only one jubilee clip. Think also of the effects of freezing where the ice expands along the pipe (as well as across it). This can force the pipe off the fitting.
Freezing not too much a problem for you though?
This type of gate valve often has a BRASS shaft which dezincifies and the thread breaks you so you cannot shut it off.
This will only sink you if the pipe comes off the tail - which it might easily do with only one jubilee clip. Think also of the effects of freezing where the ice expands along the pipe (as well as across it). This can force the pipe off the fitting.
Freezing not too much a problem for you though?
I had the same valve in my H22 when I bought it. Its not a proper seacock, and thought that the PO had done another crappy maintenance job, as I couldn't believe that the OEM would have used a gate valve. Gate valves are basically a tube with a flat piece of metal in them attached to the handle. Turning the handle turns the flap inside opening it. The problem with gate valves, it they are notorious for failure. They are fine for the house/garden hose, but not sea water. They will break either open or closed, either way its bad. I replaced mine with a ball valve type seacock. Since the wood on mine had rotted out, I replaced the wood with a 4 inch sq, 1/2" thick pressure treated block. (not sure if pressure treated wood is the right wood to use, but its what I had) I also replaced the thru hull. I will get out to the boat and get a pic.
oh and to answer your question "will it sink?" Is it leaking now? It didn't look like it. Its in a place where its not going to get bumped or damaged, so I wouldn't worry too much about it, but i would replace it at the next haul out.
oh and to answer your question "will it sink?" Is it leaking now? It didn't look like it. Its in a place where its not going to get bumped or damaged, so I wouldn't worry too much about it, but i would replace it at the next haul out.
This is so nitpicky I'm hesitant to mention it but that valve (and what you describe) is a " Butterfly Valve". A gate valve uses a wedge or plate that pushes into the path of flow to block it, and is easily recognized by the semi-rectangular protrusion on the valve body that the 'gate' withdraws into.
All posters are correct that the only proper valve is a seacock, and both gate and butterfly valves are prone to the failures listed above, so this is a minor quibble about terminology, not any criticism of of the advice you've received.
So call me a troll LOL!
Marty
Well, now that I look at the pic again I can see that it MAY be a gate valve, but my issue with the description stands. I guess I am a troll?
Marty
Marty
Here's a good site on replacing your seacock valve.
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/replacing_thruhulls
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/replacing_thruhulls
The cost of a new ball valve is cheap insurance. If you cannot get the old valve off with out messing up the thru hull proper (iron pipe???? sheese) you would be money ahead to replace the whole thing with a proper thru hull. Be sure to check the iron pipe thru hull pipe for corrosion. If in doubt replace it. it is not that big a deal if the boat is out of the water. If it is in the water then it is kinda problematical. Replace what you can and schedule it for the next haul out.
What
What
As promised heres a pic of what i replaced mine with. To one of the previous posters, it is the seacock from the sink. I just went down to West Marine and picked up a new ball valve seacock and thru hull fitting.
For some reason the pic is rotated upside down.
For some reason the pic is rotated upside down.
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