Seacock Repair

[John Sill]

I have a repair to make (seacock plywood backing plate has gone soft). The prior bulletin board postings seem to address a different type of installation. My seacock is thru bolted and the bolt heads are somewhat under the thru-hull flange. Consequently the first step is to unscrew the thru-hull. This requires what I believe is a form of spanner wrench, to catch the tabs inside the thru-hull. Does anyone have suggestions for a tool, or is there another method that I'm missing? (This is a bronze 1 1/2" seacock).

John Sill
Beholder's Eye
CD31



johnesill@cs.com

[Boyd]

Hi John...

I recently replaced all the thru hulls on Tern. I used a set of open end wrenches selecting the one which best fit into the thru hull and then grasping the handle or the other flat end of the wrench with a very large adjustable. Worked fine. Apply even steady pressure. The bond will eventually break and the thing will turn. I used some Anti Bond on the most stubborn ones.

To prevent the new plywood backing from turning to mush like the old ones. I carefully fit all the bacing plates, drilled, and rechecked them by dryfitting. Then applied 2 coats of epoxy to the plywood. Over drill the holes so the epoxy doesnt close them down too much. You may have to sand off the epoxy drips. The plywood is now pretty much immune to the ocassional drippy seacock.

Good luck .. Boyd

I have a repair to make (seacock plywood backing plate has gone soft). The prior bulletin board postings seem to address a different type of installation. My seacock is thru bolted and the bolt heads are somewhat under the thru-hull flange. Consequently the first step is to unscrew the thru-hull. This requires what I believe is a form of spanner wrench, to catch the tabs inside the thru-hull. Does anyone have suggestions for a tool, or is there another method that I'm missing? (This is a bronze 1 1/2" seacock).

John Sill
Beholder's Eye
CD31

Tern30@aol.com

[Stan W.]

"SPUD WRENCH." Home Depot. Short $.

Stan W.
NONSLY, Duxbury, MA
CD 28 #225



smwheatley@capecod.net

[Leo MacDonald CD33]

I have a repair to make (seacock plywood backing plate has gone soft). The prior bulletin board postings seem to address a different type of installation. My seacock is thru bolted and the bolt heads are somewhat under the thru-hull flange. Consequently the first step is to unscrew the thru-hull. This requires what I believe is a form of spanner wrench, to catch the tabs inside the thru-hull. Does anyone have suggestions for a tool, or is there another method that I'm missing? (This is a bronze 1 1/2" seacock).

John Sill
Beholder's Eye
CD31

Hi John,

You are correct on the normal method of attaching a Seacock and Thru-hull, put a 1-1/2 in Spartan in. 'Heather Ann' for holding tank overboard.

The 'Spud Wrench', epoxied marine plywood, 3M 4200 and able seaman assistant are the way to go. (See the previous answers.)

The plywood will need a little shaping to conform to the hull. At the time I put 5200 on the plywood to hull bond - now have rethought that, just for the 'what if' situation you now have!

Fit up everything loose, install the Seacock and then the Thru-hull.

Enjoy 'messing around with your boat'!

Fair Winds,
Leo MacDonald
'Evening Light' CD33
(Somewhere in) Long Isl. Sound/Fishers Isl. Sound, CT Fair Winds,



macdoreNOSPAM@aol.com

[M. R. Bober]

Oh Johnny,
I am prepared to recommend "Antibond2015" to "release" the 5200 that you are probably facing. West Marine stocks this item (it's new) and I'll bet BOAT/US does also. It's not a solvent for the 5200 and it doesn't hurt the glass/gelcoat, BUT my thru hulls did release.
Every best wish,
Mitchell Bober
RESPITE
CD330
Annapolis

[John Sill]

Thanks for the info. I have the Antibond, but the Spud Wrench ... would you believe there is a Home Depot nearby!

John