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I have a CD-27 with Yanmar 1-cylinder diesel. I have been advised to (1) leave the seacock for the raw water input open so that I can never forget to open it before starting the engine and
(2) to always close the seacock before leaving the boat and only open it when needing to start the engine. What is the wisdom of the readers of this board.
A related question: I have a seacock on output for the electric bilge pump. The manual bilge pump has a separate ouput with no seacock. The electric pump requires that the battery power be on and that a switch on the fusebox be on. When I leave the boat, should I leave the seacock open and the power and bilge switch on, or should I shut everything down and close the seacock? Same question when under sail ... should I open things up, or leave them closed? Should I only enable the electric bilge and seacock when there is a known need to remove water from the bilge? (So far the bilge is almost always bone dry .
JSS wrote: I have a CD-27 with Yanmar 1-cylinder diesel. I have been advised to (1) leave the seacock for the raw water input open so that I can never forget to open it before starting the engine and
(2) to always close the seacock before leaving the boat and only open it when needing to start the engine. What is the wisdom of the readers of this board.
A related question: I have a seacock on output for the electric bilge pump. The manual bilge pump has a separate ouput with no seacock. The electric pump requires that the battery power be on and that a switch on the fusebox be on. When I leave the boat, should I leave the seacock open and the power and bilge switch on, or should I shut everything down and close the seacock? Same question when under sail ... should I open things up, or leave them closed? Should I only enable the electric bilge and seacock when there is a known need to remove water from the bilge? (So far the bilge is almost always bone dry .
You really don't want to leave any seacocks open when you are away from the boat other than the seacocks from the cockpit drains. I just open the raw water seacock each time which also gives me a chance to quickly check the oil dipstick. Also opening and closing a seacock keeps them from "freezing" due to corrosion.
As far as the bilge pump goes, my CD27 has the electric bilge pump wired DIRECTLY to the battery. No need to leave any switches on. The automatic switch in the bilge takes care of that. Both my hand operated bilge pump and the electric pump drain thru ports ABOVE the waterline so I have no need for a seacock on the bilge pump. That's important for the same reason as above, leaving a seacock open on an unattended boat. You obviously have to leave the seacock open with the arrangement you have now. You might consider having the drainage port moved to above the water line and seal up the old hole the next time the boat is pulled. Then you won't have to worry about and open seacock.
Warren Kaplan
S/V Sine Qua Non
CD27 #166
I place my engine keys on the raw water intake for the engine. If the keys are not on the seacock then the seacock is open. When I leave, I return the keys to the seacock and close the valve.
FW
Bill
Warren Kaplan wrote:
JSS wrote: I have a CD-27 with Yanmar 1-cylinder diesel. I have been advised to (1) leave the seacock for the raw water input open so that I can never forget to open it before starting the engine and
(2) to always close the seacock before leaving the boat and only open it when needing to start the engine. What is the wisdom of the readers of this board.
A related question: I have a seacock on output for the electric bilge pump. The manual bilge pump has a separate ouput with no seacock. The electric pump requires that the battery power be on and that a switch on the fusebox be on. When I leave the boat, should I leave the seacock open and the power and bilge switch on, or should I shut everything down and close the seacock? Same question when under sail ... should I open things up, or leave them closed? Should I only enable the electric bilge and seacock when there is a known need to remove water from the bilge? (So far the bilge is almost always bone dry .
You really don't want to leave any seacocks open when you are away from the boat other than the seacocks from the cockpit drains. I just open the raw water seacock each time which also gives me a chance to quickly check the oil dipstick. Also opening and closing a seacock keeps them from "freezing" due to corrosion.
As far as the bilge pump goes, my CD27 has the electric bilge pump wired DIRECTLY to the battery. No need to leave any switches on. The automatic switch in the bilge takes care of that. Both my hand operated bilge pump and the electric pump drain thru ports ABOVE the waterline so I have no need for a seacock on the bilge pump. That's important for the same reason as above, leaving a seacock open on an unattended boat. You obviously have to leave the seacock open with the arrangement you have now. You might consider having the drainage port moved to above the water line and seal up the old hole the next time the boat is pulled. Then you won't have to worry about and open seacock.
Warren Kaplan
S/V Sine Qua Non
CD27 #166
Hi Joel;
Warren and Bill have given you some great advice; their recommendations are pretty much what I do; also, you might want to consider how to remember everything a 'good skipper' is supposed to do before getting underway and afterward, leaving the boat. I found that it was too much to rely on memory, so I made a list for each important event, like getting ready, leaving her in the slip, radio procedures, marine head use, etc. and laminated the sheets, then posted them in conspicuous places so I'd be sure not to forget anything. So far, it has worked well. Gook Luck.
Lou Ostendorff
s/v Karma, CD25D
'82, #63
I don't suppose you have electronic copies of those lists that you would like to share? I, too, have come to realize that our collective memory is insufficient under even the least bit of adversity, like trying to leave the boat before the storm hits the marina or get out of the slip before the channel is too shallow. More than once we have left undone that which should have been done; thus far, the failings have been inconsequential, but a list would certainly help.
Ken
S/V Parfait
Raleigh, NC
Lou Ostendorff wrote: Hi Joel;
Warren and Bill have given you some great advice; their recommendations are pretty much what I do; also, you might want to consider how to remember everything a 'good skipper' is supposed to do before getting underway and afterward, leaving the boat. I found that it was too much to rely on memory, so I made a list for each important event, like getting ready, leaving her in the slip, radio procedures, marine head use, etc. and laminated the sheets, then posted them in conspicuous places so I'd be sure not to forget anything. So far, it has worked well. Gook Luck.
Lou Ostendorff
s/v Karma, CD25D
'82, #63
Hi Ken;
Yup, I got'em electronical...'nuthin speshal...will send you copies and anyone else if requested via email...are you on the river this weekend?
Lou O.
s/v Karma, CD25D
'82, #63
JSS wrote: I have a CD-27 with Yanmar 1-cylinder diesel. I have been advised to (1) leave the seacock for the raw water input open so that I can never forget to open it before starting the engine and
(2) to always close the seacock before leaving the boat and only open it when needing to start the engine. What is the wisdom of the readers of this board.
A related question: I have a seacock on output for the electric bilge pump. The manual bilge pump has a separate ouput with no seacock. The electric pump requires that the battery power be on and that a switch on the fusebox be on. When I leave the boat, should I leave the seacock open and the power and bilge switch on, or should I shut everything down and close the seacock? Same question when under sail ... should I open things up, or leave them closed? Should I only enable the electric bilge and seacock when there is a known need to remove water from the bilge? (So far the bilge is almost always bone dry .
the choice to me is easy
shut the seacocks off so when you go home you can sleep
have the engine noise or some type of card remind you that the cock needs to be opened again
You get a tip of this skippers hat for your practices with the bilge pump output thruhulls, and the key on the engines seacock trick (which I have used for 11 years now).
There is no reason to have the bilge pumps outputs so low down to the water level that a seacock is required..exit the thruhull just under the stern quaters railing. Keep that discharge line as high as you possibly can with screw anchored wire ties around the hose every few feet..no sags allowed. Run the hose amidships from pump to the stern, then make a smooth radiused curve to the thruhull. This will act to prevent intaking water when heeled with the rail under.
Just before you make the turn down to the bilge and the pumps output nipple, put a small arch in the hose. Mine is about 4 inches. This acts to allow only the water on the pump side of that arch to return to the bilge..mostly. The rest will syphon out the exit thruhull.
Cheer!
Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30 ~~Returned from 3 weeks of Sailing! yee haa!~~~
Warren Kaplan wrote:
JSS wrote: I have a CD-27 with Yanmar 1-cylinder diesel. I have been advised to (1) leave the seacock for the raw water input open so that I can never forget to open it before starting the engine and
(2) to always close the seacock before leaving the boat and only open it when needing to start the engine. What is the wisdom of the readers of this board.
A related question: I have a seacock on output for the electric bilge pump. The manual bilge pump has a separate ouput with no seacock. The electric pump requires that the battery power be on and that a switch on the fusebox be on. When I leave the boat, should I leave the seacock open and the power and bilge switch on, or should I shut everything down and close the seacock? Same question when under sail ... should I open things up, or leave them closed? Should I only enable the electric bilge and seacock when there is a known need to remove water from the bilge? (So far the bilge is almost always bone dry .
You really don't want to leave any seacocks open when you are away from the boat other than the seacocks from the cockpit drains. I just open the raw water seacock each time which also gives me a chance to quickly check the oil dipstick. Also opening and closing a seacock keeps them from "freezing" due to corrosion.
As far as the bilge pump goes, my CD27 has the electric bilge pump wired DIRECTLY to the battery. No need to leave any switches on. The automatic switch in the bilge takes care of that. Both my hand operated bilge pump and the electric pump drain thru ports ABOVE the waterline so I have no need for a seacock on the bilge pump. That's important for the same reason as above, leaving a seacock open on an unattended boat. You obviously have to leave the seacock open with the arrangement you have now. You might consider having the drainage port moved to above the water line and seal up the old hole the next time the boat is pulled. Then you won't have to worry about and open seacock.
Warren Kaplan
S/V Sine Qua Non
CD27 #166
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