[C320-list] Thru hulls

[Jeff Hare]

Graem,

In my opinion, you're far less likely to break off the thru-hull than you
are to break the handle.  If the handle just breaks cleanly you won't be
able to open/close it, but if it breaks further in where the screw holds it
in place, then you'll get water coming in where the handle connects to the
body of the valve.  In this case, the bung won't do you any good.  

Also, I believe a wooden plug doesn't work great with these thru-hulls
anyway because if you plug it with too much pressure, you can crack the body
and water will still come in.  They're really a carryover from bronze
thru-hulls where you can hammer a wooden plug in without worrying about
splitting the bronze.

In My Opinion:  The best bet is to attach a roll of rescue tape to the
thru-hulls instead of plugs and know where to get hands on a pair of
scissors quickly.

I also keep a little rescue kit containing a balled up wax ring (like they
use for setting toilets) inside a ziplock bag that I can open up and press
over a leak.

-Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf
Of Graeme Clark
Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2016 11:51 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Thru hulls

The problem I have  with thru-hulls is that you are damned if you do and
damned if you don't!

If you never shut it, a plastic thru-hull, is unlikely to fail whilst the
boat is moored up. They don't corrode and there is no significant load on
it.

BUT if you never open and shut it, it will eventually seize up (I think
Marelon advise regular exercising of all their thru-hulls) The bigger risk
is probably a hose popping off the spigot of the thru-hull or splitting
somewhere else below the water line. I think this is why we use double hose
clips etc.

With a 20 year old boat, I notice some of my  thru-hulls are  stiff to
operate and wonder if one day something will break off in my hand whilst
operating it For that reason I make sure there's a wooden bung of the
appropriate size attached with a bit of cord to each thru-hull, ready to be
thrust into the breach, should it ever happen!

Graeme
Jaskar, #366

On 21 Jul 2016, at 16:39, Brian/Carol McLamb <bjcnmclamb at gmail.com> wrote:

> In my humble opinion you are doing it correctly.  We keep our boat in NC
on the Neuse River in Oriental and are familiar with summer humidity.  All
of our sea cocks remain closed when we are not physically present, and keep
some damp rid containers in a couple of places throughout the boat.  Mold
has not been an issue for us except for the year we retired and took off in
the rv for an extended period of ten months.  
> 
> Brian McLamb s/v Serenity #1075
> 
> Sent from my iPad
> 
>> On Jul 20, 2016, at 8:57 PM, Troy Dunn <troutwarrior at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> So...we are new to the boat ownership thing.   Everything we have been
>> taught and read has led us to believe that boats in general are notorious
>> for sinking in their slips.   Usually because of some downstream failure
of
>> a filter, hose, or fitting that is attached to a thru hull below the
>> waterline.   Our interpretation of that information has been to close all
>> thru hulls prior to leaving the boat for an extended period of time.  
>> I suppose what constitutes extended is open to interpretation, but as 
>> weekend sailors (for now) we religiously close all thru hulls before 
>> we leave the boat for the week and go back to our jobs so we can find 
>> money to pour into the boat.
>> 
>> So imagine my surprise this past few weeks as various posts have 
>> surfaced with problems whose solutions including zip tying a thru hull
permanently
>> open.  Seriously?  Is this actually a good idea?   We are totally new to
>> this, but that sounds like a bad idea based on what we've been told 
>> by folks we think know what they are talking about. Key word is think.
>> 
>> On the other hand...our boat has one of those really nice A/C systems
which
>> has a humidity control function.   We've wondered aloud if it was ok to
>> leave the A/C thru hull open all week and keep the humidity out of our
>> boat.   Does the joy of knowing our clothes and bed linens won't mildew
>> outweigh the risk of arriving to a boat that has settled 4 ft. into the
>> Chesapeake muck?   Just don't know.
>> 
>> Curious about your thoughts.  We have 4 thru hulls that we have to open
and
>> close each week.   Our macerater thru hull is permanently closed and
wired
>> shut per regs for our location.
>> 
>> Troy and Kim Dunn
>> Hull #514.

-------------------
I work irregular hours and often write emails late in the evening and at
weekends; that doesn't mean I expect you to do the same; reply when
convenient!