New Cape Dory 22 Owner

[Jeff S]

I recently brought home hull#56, formally known as "Kinetic" and currently named "Solitude". She has been sitting in storage and needs some TLC before going in the slip for the summer. My list of projects to work on include: painting the bottom, winch maintenance, clean and oil woodwork down below, sea cock maintenance and polishing the hull. The PO was a very generous and great guy. He had taken great care of the boat and my list of jobs should go by quickly. Any advice on cleaning and maintaining frozen seacocks? Looking forward to being on the water soon.

Jeff S
Duluth,MN
Lake Superior

[Northstar1014]

Congrats on the boat. Resist the urge to use the brute force method on a stuck seacock
This is the resource for seacocks that many of us follow -- very detailed:

https://marinehowto.com/servicing-taper ... -seacocks/

[s2sailorlis]

+1 regarding Maine Sails instructions.

I was in the same boat as you with my CD22. 8 years on the hard, no clue if the PO ever exercised the seaccocks. Frozen shut...

As suggested NO brute force..

I used PB Blaster, a little heat and some patience. In about 3-4 days the plugs popped right out.
There are two screws opposite the cone on the outside, CAREFULLY remove them if you can, if they won't budge don't try anymore..if the two screws open, spray some PB Blaster inside.

They'll loosen up you just need patience. You'll have to lap them and regrease of course. Buy the material from Spartan. It will last you a lifetime. I've service mine every year (no need to lap ever Year..) and I have a ton of grease leftover from my original batch. My seacocks work easily and are water tight.

Don't forget to replace the hoses, use Marine grade exhaust hoses..

Good luck with the boat!

[Jeff S]

Thanks for the information. I was able to service 2 of the 3 seacocks. One of them is frozen solid. My plan is to try and use some PB Blaster to loosen the cone. Because of the location I cannot get in and tap the threaded end. I will let the solvent sit and repeat. Next step is painting the bottom and boat stripe this week. Thanks again.

[Sea Hunt Video]

There is much written on this board about servicing seacocks, "unfreezing" them, etc. I have tried several (many) sprays (PB Blaster, Liquid Wrench, straight WD40, etc.) with poor results. I recently was told of a rust penetrant that is supposed to work very well. It is called WD 40 with Rust Release Penetrant.

https://www.wd40specialist.com/products ... ating-oil/

I have not yet purchased this spray but plan to try it. It can't hurt. So far nothing has worked so............

[Steve Laume]

One of them is frozen solid. My plan is to try and use some PB Blaster to loosen the cone. Because of the location I cannot get in and tap the threaded end. I will let the solvent sit and repeat. Thanks again.

Do not tap on the threaded end. It is ineffective and may damage or bend the threads.

Loosen the nuts and tap the handle, to one side as if you were trying to operate the valve. This turning action is much more effective than trying to push the cone out. As soon as it breaks free the cone will pop out a bit. You don't need to hit it hard. When it is ready, it will break free, Steve.

[Jeff S]

One of them is frozen solid. My plan is to try and use some PB Blaster to loosen the cone. Because of the location I cannot get in and tap the threaded end. I will let the solvent sit and repeat. Thanks again.

Do not tap on the threaded end. It is ineffective and may damage or bend the threads.

Loosen the nuts and tap the handle, to one side as if you were trying to operate the valve. This turning action is much more effective than trying to push the cone out. As soon as it breaks free the cone will pop out a bit. You don't need to hit it hard. When it is ready, it will break free, Steve.

Thanks Steve. I have just put some solvent on the sea cock and I am letting this penetrate. I will give try the tapping next.

[Nebe]

keep that pB Blaster away from your engine. It eats gaskets... ask me how I know..

[Paul D.]

Hey Jeff, just reading this now after your PM. Femme's seacocks were pretty stiff when we purchased her. I would second what you're doing ie. PB Blast and waiting. May need to spray and try them a few times. You could also try a heat gun too when ready to work them, but be careful. I second keeping the PB Blast limited to the seacock fitting and away from hoses.

Good luck, those bronze seacocks are quality items. If yours comes apart and looks OK you should be able to clean them up, grease them up and keep them in good shape for years along with your other fittings. The good Lake Superior is pretty easy on our boats, as long as you don't temp the gales of November and all...you know. You wouldn't like her when she's angry.

Welcome to the CD gang.