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How best can I free my seacocks from the cockpit. They are green and have not been moved in ages, but need them working before a survey.
Hi Peter
In my experience the best option is to replace them rather than to free them up. I have had seen them fail and boats sink. I had one fail myself (I wrote about it in a Journal article last year) but luckily was aboard when it happened and could react quickly.
Do not use brass – use bronze gzr. All hose connections below the waterline must have two stainless steel jubilee clips and tighten them with a socket, not a screwdriver.
ChrisIs the survey for insurance? The Surveyor will probably have some useful advice.
Chris is absolutely right, do not compromise on seacocks. Having said that, and don’t blame me if this goes wrong, as a last resort white vinegar will generally free them up but it will also dissolve corrosion and hence weaken / damage corroded bronze. I would do this with the boat out of the water.
I always wipe the inside of seacocks with waterproof grease when I have the boat out of the water by sticking a soft brush up them from the outside. Have softwood bungs of the correct size to hand near each seacock.
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