Seacock Service

[Pete]

Yesterday was change the raw water impellers on the DD 453 in our 48 LRC. Starboard engine went fine. Port engine a different story. The bottom line is the pump is below the water line and turning the seacock off did not totally stop the flow of water. After trying to slightly open and reclose the seacock a second time the water flow only increased. So the impeller/cam replacement and reinstalling the pump back plate became a rag stuffing unplanned shower fire drill. In the end pumped all sea water out of bilge, rinsed with fresh water and all is sealed up again.

Now it is time to deal with the seacock. Thus my request for advice and info on these original Hatteras seacocks. Are they serviceable/rebuildable, can it be done in place, or is it new seacock time, assuming these are still available. I did not see any on Sam's part catalog. I am starting from zero on this project so any and all info and advice are most welcome.

Pete

 

[SEVEN]

I had mine serviced 3 years ago. I was on the hard at the time. They were frozen at the time of purchase and was one of the fix’s on the survey. Wasn’t an issue for the yard to take apart an grease all moving parts. I would not try this in the water personally. Good luck.

 

[cpp]

Hi Pete,

I personally would replace the seacocks. Imagine if you had an emergency and had to close the seacock, and would experienced the problem out at sea. I am always taken back to hear that this item is never checked on a regular basis. It is a pain in the butt to replace, but if they are that old, I would replace them.

Chris Puryear
'78 37C

 

[Briankinley2004]

If you have room and can assure adequate flow through the old one you can add a second one on top of it as a temporary measure

 

[Pascal]

Sea cocks can usually be rebuilt but if they are original to a 20/30 + year old boats, you re probably better off replacing them. They re not specific to hatteras any quality marine sea cock will be fine

I m replacing all of the sea cocks on my boat now, most are almost 50 years old!

This engine seacock came out yesterday... the hard way!!

 

[jim rosenthal]

Replace them. I do have some original ones on my 1971 Hatteras, but they are working fine and are exercised a few times a year. You could also haul the boat and then thoroughly service them- if they are in good shape and can be made to work like new, fine, but they are pretty old at this point.

As far as replacements, Groco, Apollo, Conbraco, Buck-Algonquin are all good. You want something made in USA,not offshore stuff. I know of no part of a boat that is capable of causing a sinking as quickly as a sea valve, if it decides to misbehave.

 

[Pete]

I should have mentioned that nothing is going to happen before the boat is on the hard in March 2018, or earlier if something requires it. From the knowledge obtained from this thread, I suspect I will have the yard remove the through hull leaving the actual through bolted seacock in place, and also remove the top flange and guts from the engine room side. Depending on the condition of the castings I will decide to rebuild or replace. Any observed condition short of like new and it will be the replace route. Docking four hours away from the closest lift capability makes messing around with something that could cause a major flooding problem stupid.

Pete

 

[SEVEN]

Good call.