[QUOTE=therobesons;2208]As a week end sailor in nice weather, So Cal, do you close all your through hulls each time you doc and leave your boat?

Or do you leave them open or just close them when you know you are going to be gone for a while

Open or close, how do you leave your through hulls?

Thanks

Bob[/QUOTE]

Bob - I try to remember to close them all when I leave the boat. I only open them as required. Usually on day sails, just the raw water, the head and galley sinks.

Craig

I close "all" when I am leaving the boat and like Craig only open those I need when going out.

Close all all the time - I want the boat to be there when I come back. I just don't understand people who don't. They claim: "Well, we stay on the boat overnight and nothing happens. We're on the boat, and we go to the store, and nothing happens. We're at a dock party and nothing happens." Statistically, I guess they're right. But I've heard too many "...rusted hose clamps letting go..." stories to trust to that. We also don't leave our boat plugged in all the time.

Your boat, your choice.

I agree closing thru hulls should be done before departing. I have a tag I use whenever I close the Engine thru hull. I hang it from the switch panel in the nav station to remind me to open it before we motor. As for other reminders I have a check list for departing the boat. I got tired of forgotten glasses or wallets.

I have attached the check list.

Regards,

I close all valves.

In addition, I leave my engine key next to the thru-hull for the engine so there is no way I can forget to open up the valve before starting the motor.(the key ring is large enough to fit over the strainer knob)

Lastly, since my A/C valve is behind the bottom drawer (stbd side) of the sink, I remove that drawer and store it on the stove cover so I don't forget to open the valve when I return to the boat.

Good article...

BoatUS...50% of boats that sink at a dock are caused by underwater fittings failing...

I thought it would have been higher. Stuffing Boxes led this study.

[url]http://www.boatus.com/seaworthy/sinking/default.asp[/url]

Well, knock on teak, but the raw water inlet is the only through-hull I've closed in the past 10 years. Yikes! I keep my engine key near it, too, so I remember to open it. The boat is also plugged in all the time with the battery charger and frig running, but I do keep the fresh water switch off unless I need it. So far so good.

Mike

I close all through hulls on Hilbre when I am not on the boat, besides you want to exercise all through hulls so they do not get stiff. I use a small plunger once in a while on the sink just to clear the small diameter drain.
John Meyer - Hilbre 2135 San Pedro

Bob

We close all through hulls when we leave the boat. I also close all of them when I sail (with the exception of the engine).

The A/C through hull will drain out when sailing and it is a bugger to reprime. I have also heard that there is the possibility of flooding the boat if it heels too far over with the head through hull open.

This thread got me thinking and on my MKII...

There are nine (9) entries into my boat from under the waterline (Engine Raw water, Stuffing box, Galley Sink/Refer Drain, AC raw water, Macerator, Head inlet, Head sink/shower drain, Speed Transducer, and Depth transducer.)

I usually peek around the ones that I actively use (probably 5), but I need to do a better job of actively looking at the others.

Thanks for starting this thread.

Yep, I too keep my seacocks closed when not aboard for any length of time. I do not trust that clear vinyl hose on the sinks, and agree that keeping them closed decreases the critter habitat in the though hull.

I also hang my engine key on the raw water intake seacock so I make sure it gets turned off and on when appopriate as I find it hard to start the engine without the key.

I am not sure if it is fact based but I also felt that by turning off the and isolating the raw water intake that it may limit electrolytic action from the engine to the sea. I know there is still a bond from the shaft to the engine but it makes me feel better about it even if it is a waste of time electolysis wise.