Do you fiddle with your ......umm..

[Four Suns]

My bigger sea cocks have these plugs but the smaller ones don't (if I recall correctly). I always wondered if I should unscrew the plugs and put a grease fitting in, grease them, then put the plugs back in. I've never had an issue with it getting stuck so I never bothered with it... just wondering what other people did.

As Frank said, I use mine every few weeks (more so on vacation).

 

[Four Suns]

Does anyone know if you can get replacement rubber covers for these things (mine is yellow and has directions on how to turn it off and on). One of the rubber covers has fallen off mine and I would like to slide a new one on as it hurts my hand trying to operate it without the rubber cover. I'll take some pictures today and post them if you don't know what I am talking about.

Thanks.

 

[Asureyez]

On a serious Note ... You Knead to know your Seacock better

Answer to the OP Question: I do not leave my seacocks closed. For several reason. One, they are nearly impossible to work without getting on your belly and slithering under the Generator or House Batteries. On the 460 these couldn't be in a worse spot for service and emergency. Second, I want to avoid marine growth on the sea water side of a closed ball valve with would occur if left closed for a period longer than a few days.

Now for the seacock lovers out there.

Seascocks come in two varieties. Delrin plastic, and yes they are availible in very large sizes as well as small, and marine bronze. Delrin valves are made differently that bronze and since SR doesn't do much with them I won't waste time discussing them.

Sea Ray uses mostly marine Bronze seacocks and through hull fittings under the Appollo Brand name from Conbraco.

The internal ballcock is made of bronze plated with chrome and are set in teflon plastic seats and seals. These are full flow valves in that the bore in the ball is the same bore as the thru hull and valve body. Hence there is little place for marine growth to take hold on a fully opened ball.

"Exercising" the valve serves to keep the ball free of debris and confirms to the owner that the valve is capable of being closed in an emergency. If the valve will not close completely, the handle can be tapped with a mallet (not beaten) down to a full close. Once closed the valve should be exerciseed 4-6 times from full open to full close. This process should be perfomed monthly to keep the ball clean and easy to close.

If the valve is left for long periods in the closed position, the ball can collect marine growth which can prevent the valve from opening without substaintial effort ... or even requiring haul out for disassembly.

Gary, those square headed "Plugs" protruding from the valve body, about 2/3 way down the cylinder are freeze drains. When my brothers here in northern climes winterize their boats at haul out, these plugs should be backed out and the thru hull ballcocks drained to avoid freeze damage.

These holes are not intended for Zerk grease fittings and the Conbraco valves are teflon seated and require no grease, in fact grease may harm the valve. If one wants to adjust the stiffness of the throw, the handles can be removed and the hex nut under it backed out 1/8 - 1/4 turn to take some pressure off the side shaft seals. Note this can cause the valve to leak so back off very slowly to get some pressure relief, but don't let it be so loose that the shaft leaks. The big 2" valves used for Main engines will never be easy to close or open.

 

[osd9]

Does anyone know if you can get replacement rubber covers for these things (mine is yellow and has directions on how to turn it off and on). One of the rubber covers has fallen off mine and I would like to slide a new one on as it hurts my hand trying to operate it without the rubber cover. I'll take some pictures today and post them if you don't know what I am talking about.

Thanks.

You should always practice safe "sea cock" excersie by having a rubber on your handle.....there....somebody had to say it... :grin:

 

[ImpulseIII]

Fasten your seat belts ....here we go!!!!! :grin:

 

[chazaroo]

I noticed recently that the overboard discharge seacock was very hard to move. I'm wondering if something like WD-40 would help?

Chazaroo

 

[ImpulseIII]

Overboard discharge for what?

 

[Presentation]

Overboard discharge for what?

I assume for the waste hulding tank.

 

[Four Suns]

Thanks. Gotta like a guy who knows his sea cocks.

I stand corrected on "mine are always open". My sewage discharge sea cock is closed unless I am off shore fishing. I have found that when I get boarded, the authorities/CG look for 4 things then leave... 1) Documentation 2) PFD's 3) Fire extinguishers and 4) is the discharge pump disengaged and is that sea cock closed/tie wrapped.

I think they also check to see if I am on my 10th cocktail like all big boaters are...

 

[ImpulseIII]

If it is and he is an inland boater, it should never be used. I cannot get to my overboard discharge sea cock without going through contortions that would put a circus performer to shame. It's also secured so it cannot be opened without deliberate effort as per USCG regs.

Not sure if WD40 would have an adverse effect on any plastic or Teflon parts of the sea cock.

 

[osd9]

.... I have found that when I get boarded, the authorities/CG look for 4 things then leave.........I think they also check to see if I am on my 10th cocktail like all big boaters are...

Hey Gary, I'm curious. When the CG comes by to board....do you help them tie up and take a line.... :grin:

 

[Asureyez]

Gary

Thanks for caring big guy! :smt101

 

[Dave S]

Why am I just now learning about sea cocks, ball cocks, rubber things, greasing, and exercising my sea cock? Maybe I should call Sea Ray and find out why these things were never explained to me. :smt043

 

[chazaroo]

Overboard discharge for what?

It's for the waste holding tank. We've never used it but apparently it's legal once you're several miles out in the Atlantic. During a recent safety inspection the CG auxiliary guy and I got to talking about the seacock freezing up from lack of use. That's when I started wondering if WD-40 was an option.

Chazaroo

 

[H2ONUT]

This law just passed here in CT. You can no longer discharge your "treated" waste into ANY CT waterways, including Long Island Sound.

 

[Four Suns]

3 miles off shore is not state property so CT can't do anything to you. It is legal to dump waste 3+ miles offshore as that is controlled by the feds... and they dump far worse things than sewage off their navy boats out there.

 

[Presentation]

This law just passed here in CT. You can no longer discharge your "treated" waste into ANY CT waterways, including Long Island Sound.

What about gray water like from the sink?

 

[Asureyez]

Stuck Ballcock

Hey Chaz .... take a short length of 2x4 with you into the bilge and lever the handle up and just keep opening and closing it until it throws a full 90 degrees. Once its working where you can close it and open it with one hand .... wire tie it back and then don't wait to call you seacock after these stressful dates.

 

[chazaroo]

Re: Stuck Ballcock

Hey Chaz .... take a short length of 2x4 with you into the bilge and lever the handle up and just keep opening and closing it until it throws a full 90 degrees. Once its working where you can close it and open it with one hand .... wire tie it back and then don't wait to call you seacock after these stressful dates.

And exactly what do I tell my wife when she wants to know what I'm doing down in the bilge with a 2X4? :smt043 :smt043 :smt043

Chazaroo

 

[Asureyez]

Ahhhh

Tell her you are working on your ballcocks and stick to the story!