Sea cocks with only 1 hose clamp. CD 28

[Pembquist]

The sea cocks in the CD 28 I am buying have only one hose clamp. It is a 1977 boat. Were older Spartan seacocks made with short nipples that made effective use of 2 clamps difficult or impossible? I haven't personally pulled off the hoses but a mechanic who got the motor running said that he couldn't add a second clamp to the raw water inlet seacock as it would just squeeze the hose into the nipples edge. The head has a gate valve, should I be planning on replacing it? (it is probably original.) I'd also like opinions on new ball valve type vs traditional Spartan cones. The boat yard likes the ball valves but I like the cones. Can't come up with anything searching so apologies if its redundant.

Thanks

[Northstar1014]

Mainesail has several articles about seacocks and clamps, I would start there.

http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/boat_projects

I would not feel comfortable with a single hose clamp on any critical hose. I just put two new ones on a spartan seacock of mine last weekend and they both fit fine. I used AWAB clamps with smooth interiors to prevent hose damage. They are expensive clamps, but those clamps are keeping the ocean out, so I want them to be the best quality.

New Spartan cone seacocks are expensive too but they last a very very long time and are easy to service.

[Paul D.]

I would plan on replacing the gate valve. I did so on the cockpit drains on my old Typhoon during a complete refit and used Apollo ball valves. That was 1999 and they still work great (on freshwater). For a 28 I would go with either Marelon or the traditional Spartan Bronze. I believe the head would be a 3/4" Spartan and sometimes those appear for sale here.

http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?pa ... &id=101939

http://www.robinhoodmarinecenter.com/ca ... an-marine/
(Scroll down for the seacocks)

Definitely use two quality hose clamps from a marine supplier on each hose on a through hull. Not the place to skimp. There will be enough room on the Spartan or Marelon valves.

[jbenagh]

Last year, I had a surprise seacock replacement project when the galley backing plate failed. On the advice of the boatyard I used a modern, Groco seacock. We found it very difficult to operate, and due to the constrained space could not really fashion a lever for the handle. Without a lever Susan and my daughter could not operate it which seems to defeat the purpose. This winter I did all new backing plates and will use all the original Spartans. I can adjust them to balance the operation force vs. leak rate (which appears to be zero). The downside is yearly lubrication.

If anyone wants a good deal on a 1.5in Groco with the hose adapter, I'm willing to deal before it goes on the for sale page!

Jeff

[jbenagh]

PS I can fit two AWAB hose clamps on both the 1.5 and .75in Spartan seacocks. It might be good to pull the hose off and measure if you think there are any that don't work.

Jeff

[sgbernd]

Don't worry about a single clamp. They are all that way and are not any trouble.

1) When you are away from the boat, leave seacocks always closed (except for cockpit drains). If the seacock is closed, it can't sink the boat no matter what the clamp or hose does. Even under way or at anchor, only open the sea cocks that are needed and leave the remainder closed.

2) If you ever tried to get a hose off a seacock which has been clamped for a few years, usually the hose is so stuck you can't get it off at all and end up prying or cutting the old hose off. The likelyhood of the hose working itself free, even with no clamp, is near zero.

3) On all but the shaft log (which has dual clamps), you can easily inspect the condition of the SS hose clamps with a flashlight and a mirror. If you see one starting to corrode, replace it with a high quality clamp. Inspect the clamps visibly every year or two and deal with any developing problems. Clamps are cheap.

4) Whenever you mount a hose, give it a good pull at your final inspection. If you can get it off the sea cock, either the hose is too big or the clamp was too loose. Normally, you should not be able to budge it at all, no matter how hard you pull.

s.g.bernd

[Sea Hunt Video]

Don't worry about a single clamp. They are all that way and are not any trouble. . . . s.g.bernd

I read this comment and it surprised me. I was under the impression that the ABYC standards required two clamps on all hoses below the water line. So I decided to ask "Mr. Google".

Unless I am missing something, from all I have read neither the ABYC nor the USCG require two hose clamps. Very surprising to me - admittedly a rookie who knows very little about this stuff.

However, no less a luminaire in yachting than Nigel Calder wrote:

"Many people recommend double hose clamps on all below-the-waterline hose connections; but if the connection is watertight, with a good-quality clamp, a second clamp adds little security, What's more, there is often insufficient room to properly space two hose clamps; as a result, one is halfway off the end of the fitting, and may damage the hose."

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f55 ... -1130.html

Admittedly, this was apparently written in August 2004. However, I am unable to find anything within the ABYC standards that changes Mr. Calder's comment.

S.G., at least for me, your post turned out to be very educational. Thank you.