[C320-list] seacock access

[tharrison at innovations-plus.com]

Thanks Jeff. 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jun 8, 2015, at 8:25 AM, "Jeff Hare" <Catalina at thehares.com> wrote:
> 
> Hi Ted,
> 
> I'm not a fan of the design.  I wish I could tell you "where" they tend to
> break, but I only have one data point. But mine broke right at the base of
> the handle where the little white removable thru-hull plug is stored.  This
> plug covers up the screw that holds the handle in place.  If the handle just
> breaks off squarely at this spot, I suspect you'll get no water.  If there
> is any damage to the cylinder portion of the handle that is held in with the
> screw, then there could be a nice little gusher.  A roll of rescue tape
> would easily handle this kid of leak.  Highly recommended that you keep a
> few rolls of this on board anyway.  (I believe I started seeing this at Home
> Depot recently).
> 
> Whatever you do, unless you plug the thru-hull from under the boat, *do not*
> remove that screw holding the handle in.  Not only will the water blow all
> the parts deep into the bilge, you won't be able to get all the parts back
> in place with any water flowing through this hole.  
> 
> For the newer owners, each thru-hull has a white removable PLUG on the
> handle with a little loop on the end.  Attach a piece of small diameter line
> to the loop, dive under the boat and put the plug in the hole.  Fix the
> thru-hull/whatever and then you can pull on the line to remove the thru-hull
> plug (in theory) to save you from a second dive.
> 
> I discovered when I was replacing the valve tailpiece assembly with one of a
> different configuration.  There are 4 Philips head machine screws that hold
> the tail piece onto the thru-hull.  If you find that one of your thru-hulls
> is really hard to operate, try loosening each of these machine screws just a
> tiny amount.  They seem to regulate the pressure on the ball valve seals and
> might make it easier to operate and put less stress on the handle.  
> 
> -Jeff Hare
> #809
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf
> Of tharrison at innovations-plus.com
> Sent: Monday, June 8, 2015 8:02 AM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] seacock access
> 
> Jeff what is the impact on breaking a handle on the water? How much water
> will enter?  Will water only enter when you are replacing the handle? 
> 
> Ted hull 424 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Jun 8, 2015, at 7:54 AM, "Jeff Hare" <Catalina at thehares.com> wrote:
>> 
>> 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??
>