[C320-list] seacock access

[Jeff Hare]

Unless it's easy enough to operate so that you can open and close it with
just your little finger I wouldn't even consider a cable.  The handles on
the valves we have are crap.  I've broken one in the past (out of the water
fortunately) and there was hardly any effort, just pressing on the end.  

When I open/close them I now use a whole hand and rotate it like I'm opening
a jar, rather than just yanking on the end of the handle because of how firm
they are even when clean and well lubed.  The larger version of these
thruhulls have a nice rugged handle and would be a better candidate for
operating by cable, but I still think it needs a stronger handle for this.

-Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf
Of Warren Updike
Sent: Sunday, June 7, 2015 2:43 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] seacock access

Defender $825 for Groco FBVE-750. Way past my threshold. 
Jeff, what's wrong with my rotary cable connection to valve handle idea? You
didn't give that so much as a "by your leave." (Whatever that was supposed
to mean.) Maybe the most reasonable approach is to relocate the thru hull.
I'm with you on reaching under the bedding. I don't need to see the valve
either. There are more pressing issues at hand.

Warren and Pattie Updike
1994 C320 "Warr de Mar" #62

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Hare [mailto:Catalina at thehares.com]
Sent: Friday, June 05, 2015 4:25 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] seacock access

I think if you really want to solve this raw water intake valve access
problem there are really only a few choices.

1)  Alter the wooden cover board behind the aft engine cover so that you
easily reach under the mattress and operate the valve without needing to
disturb the aft cabin bed or wrestle the board out from under the aft engine
cover.   You might even find a way to hinge the board so that you could prop
the mattress up with it so you could access the strainer.

2)  Change the location of the raw water intake valve.  The valve is about 4
feet of hose away from the pump.  You could put a new thru-hull and possibly
a larger raw water strainer under the galley sink.  "More mature" hulls like
yours would probably have to add the access door under the nav station like
the "less mature" hulls have.  (not that we wanna spend too much time
talking about how your mature your hull is... :)

3) Find some way to add an access door just aft of the rear engine cover.
You'd probably have to Re-locate the raw water strainer.

4) Replace the thruhull with a Groco E-Valve.

Door #1 would be the best choice in my opinion...

Yea, it's a pain but I can reach in and open/close it without needing to see
it, so it's not risen to the level of being in need of change. 

-Jeff Hare
#809

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf
Of Warren Updike
Sent: Friday, June 5, 2015 2:27 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] seacock access

Boy, I'd love to find a workable solution for this. Forespar does not have a
catalog product but can custom make a remote operated valve for $300-400. If
interested, contact Art Bandy, via the contact web page:
http://www.forespar.com/support/contactUs.shtml 

I was thinking of a mechanical solution such as an actuator cable that can
be manually operated without crawling under the bed. Perhaps a rotating
solution such that the cable can be attached to the handle with the axis of
the cable aligned with the axis of the valve. An issue would be the torque
necessary to turn the handle vs the specs of the cable. Teleflex cables are
used on our engines; but, that is a longitudinal force vs a rotating force.
Any thoughts?

Warren and Pattie Updike
1994 C320 "Warr de Mar" #62

-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Lowe [mailto:wflowe3 at aim.com]
Sent: Thursday, June 04, 2015 6:26 AM
To: c320-list at catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] seacock access

 Has anyone devised an easier way to get to the raw water seacock??