Installed a new seacock. It's the composite plastic kind. The manual says to lubricate regularly. But how?
Boat has others of the same material so keen to service them also.
Is it as simple as squirting some inox or silicone spray between the handle and valve then motioning it a few times?
Or must I remove the handle, to better access the moving parts?
Or cork from the outer, remove from thread and lubricate from within?
Appreciate the advice
Hi Jdol, what brand is it? The NZ made TruDesign seacocks have teflon impregnated balls and don't require lubricating.
Hi, I'm pretty sure brand is Forespar. Looking for the manual to confirm
www.defender.com/pdf/Marelon.
The Forespar site says, "QUICK NOTE ON MAINTENANCE New valves come greased. Valves that have been sitting on store shelves for a long time may need more and have the handle/ball exercised. Use any non-petroleum grease (Lithium, Silicones, etc) and no aerosols! Use a soda straw to get the grease through elbows and tailpipes and USE THE VALVES regularly to avoid marine growth from building up and seizing them. The more you use them the less you have to maintain them!"
My survey inspection report .....above water plastic outlets should be replaces for SS to comply with integrity of the hull.
My understanding, plastic will not comply any more, all mine are ball SS valves, they comply.
That could be an interesting development. Though vessel survey and vehicle rego inspections are open to interpretation from the inspector. Then there's the old compare apples with apples trick, a rated plastic job or a dodgey SS from lucky dragon. Then again bronze was the material of choice for many years ?
Agree Charriot, good one........
The Marelon link above didn't work for me so I searched and found this;
www.forespar.com/marelon-marine-boat-plumbing.shtml
So they indicate;
Forespar provides Marelon? plumbing systems to the world's top boat builders and continues to develop modern alternatives to age old heavy bronze fittings. We are the only manufacturer to offer motorized Marelon? seacocks (ROV systems) that meet and exceed all Marine U.L., ABYC and ISO standards.
So they have all the certifications which is great - but I would stick with "age old heavy bronze fittings" unless a few kilograms of weight are critical to your sailing.....................
Also just web searched Trudesign and they look tops, and have many certifications. As indicated maintenance and use are the issues. So if you use these regularly (say every 2 weeks) and properly service them regularly (say annually at each slipping) they should give good life.
www.trudesign.nz/marine/products
If not would suggest as mandatory bronze or stainless for all skin fittings and seacocks as well as associated take off tails - eg
www.watsonmarine.com.au/seacocks/
Excellent article here;
www.boatsales.com.au/editorial/details/boating-advice-seacocks-lead-to-sinkers-56151/
Use double ss 316 utilux clamps on your take off tail to secure the reinforced pvc marine tubing to the tail.............
Bronze and stainless are pretty close on the galvanic chart but it depends on the the grade of each............
www.worldstainless.org/Files/issf/non-image-files/PDF/Euro_Inox/Contact_with_Other_EN.pdf
So to conclude would suggest bronze for all 3 - skin fitting, valve and take off tail. And use and service your valves annually.
Just found another excellent article here; which covers servicing.................
uk.boats.com/how-to/fit-service-safe-hull-fittings/#:~:text=Seacock%20maintenance&text=Well%2C%20whether%20a%20seacock%20valve,in%20the%20north%2Deastern%20US.
For sure would not do 3 below from the original post it has a very high chance and risk to spoil your day and you could be servicing the valve on the bottom of the sea. Doing 1 and 2 could be useful - suggest contact the manufacturer of your valve...............
1 Is it as simple as squirting some inox or silicone spray between the handle and valve then motioning it a few times?
2 Or must I remove the handle, to better access the moving parts?
3 Or cork from the outer, remove from thread and lubricate from within?
