Sea Cocks

[johnnybuoy]

Good afternoon,
Our galley sink and heads sink drain by gravity via hull fittings positioned halfway between the waterline and the deck, just pull the plug and it drains away, is this standard practice on LM,s or should there be stop cocks fitted so you can keep the sea on the other side!,
many thanks in anticipation,
John
Siren.

[Charles]

What sort of LM is she John? In our LM 27 the drain pipes for the galley sink and wash basin join with a seacock under the galley. It looks fairly standard to me.

Charles

[johnnybuoy]

Hi Charles,
Thanks for reply, she is an LM 27.
I must admit I feel these outlets should be protected with sea cocks
john

[nauticalnick]

Hi John,

It is good practice to fit a seacock in this situation and l would go for one of the modern nylon/plastic types. In the past l've used 'Tru-Design' from Lee Sanitation - no connection just a good product !

Nick

[johnnybuoy]

Many thanks for this,
I have just had a look on site at this product range and it's perfect for my application.
all the best,
john
Siren

[jandane]

This is how it can be made. Old fashioned type. The big one for holding tank / toilet and the little from sinks in pantry and toilet

[johnnybuoy]

Hello Jandane,
I was just studying the photograph image you sent of your sea cocks,many thanks, I have decided to copy this arrangement. With regard to the waste water do you pump it out or does it drain safely away.
Thanks for your help, have a great Christmas and new year.
all the best
John.

[jandane]

Hi John.
You do right. In my opinion it really is a no-go sailing around with open hoses under the water line, unable to lock it off if a hose bursts or starts leaking. Of cause, if the drain is located above the water line it is not dangerous, but not so nice.
My holding tank is located in the locker just under the zink in the cockpit and the bottom of it is equal to the waterline. When the seacock opens, everything drains out via gravity. This summer, on the day we left for our summer trip, the toilet seacock handle broke inside the pipe and in "closed" position. I gave some challenges during the 4 weeks trip, to look after small harbours with suction pumps for holding tanks. It will be replaced during the winter and I will choose one of the new type from Tru-design in ABS....i guess.

[oceandancer]

Hi John,

I had to change my sea cocks some years ago and it's VERY difficult working under the galley, so difficult that I cut a maintenance access hole in the floor beneath the bottom drawer with a jigsaw. This makes the job so much easier as you can do the job from above. You can put back a cover panel if you like but no-one is going to see below the bottom drawer.

Regards

Mick