Livewell Seacock:

[Big_Chet]

Had some work done on my Parker and took her out to run thru the work done. I found that while the pump for the livewell turned on the livewell was not getting water. When I checked the seacock it was closed. No big deal, opened it and it worked fine. Asked the mechanic why the seacock had been closed. He said you should always close it when you are running and not using the livewell cause water will be forced into the pickup and into the livewell and who needs the extra weight. I've had the boat for 15 years and except for checking it annually for proper function I have never even given a thought to opening and closing it as needed for livewell use and have never had a problem. Am I missing something? What's the consensus of the group?

 

[warthog5]

Am I missing something?

Yes you are. It's the # 1 neglected valve.
You had the valve replaced..... Obviously it was Stuck in the OPEN position.

Had a hose broke...You would have flooded the boat and sunk it.

On a wet slipped boat you always close it when boat unattended.

Your mechanic is correct. Why carry the weight if not needed. 8.3lbs per gal for saltwater.... and well say 30gal... It's like having another good size person on board.

The valves get neglected, because they are usually hard to get to and forgotten about.

 

[Mpellet]

I open and close my seacock at least once a week when the boat is in the water and always leave the seacock in the closed position when the boat is unattended in the slip. Opening and closing weekly ensures that the valve will remain operational and not seize and leaving the seacock closed while the boat is unattended hopefully prevents the boat from sinking in the slip from a hose failure upstream of the seacock….

 

[Big_Chet]

Yes you are. It's the # 1 neglected valve.
You had the valve replaced..... Obviously it was Stuck in the OPEN position.

Had a hose broke...You would have flooded the boat and sunk it.

On a wet slipped boat you always close it when boat unattended.

Your mechanic is correct. Why carry the weight if not needed. 8.3lbs per gal for saltwater.... and well say 30gal... It's like having another good size person on board.

The valves get neglected, because they are usually hard to get to and forgotten about.

While I did not need to have the seacock replaced nor was it and it's kept in a dry slip I much appreciate your input and will keep the valve closed when not in use. Just have to remember to open it before turning on the Livewell or I'll end up with a burned out pump. Thanks

 

[Big_Chet]

I open and close my seacock at least once a week when the boat is in the water and always leave the seacock in the closed position when the boat is unattended in the slip. Opening and closing weekly ensures that the valve will remain operational and not seize and leaving the seacock closed while the boat is unattended hopefully prevents the boat from sinking in the slip from a hose failure upstream of the seacock….

While the boat is kept in a dry slip I get it and much appreciate your input and will keep the valve closed when not in use. Just have to remember to open it before turning on the Livewell or I'll end up with a burned out pump. Thanks

 

[Inshore Chaser]

While the boat is kept in a dry slip I get it and much appreciate your input and will keep the valve closed when not in use. Just have to remember to open it before turning on the Livewell or I'll end up with a burned out pump. Thanks

There should also be a valve on the livewell spray nozzle. This allows you to turn off the flow to the livewell with the seacock open. So open the seacock in the morning, use the livewell valve during your fishing day, and close the seacock at the end of day.

 

[pelagic2530]

Had some work done on my Parker and took her out to run thru the work done. I found that while the pump for the livewell turned on the livewell was not getting water. When I checked the seacock it was closed. No big deal, opened it and it worked fine. Asked the mechanic why the seacock had been closed. He said you should always close it when you are running and not using the livewell cause water will be forced into the pickup and into the livewell and who needs the extra weight. I've had the boat for 15 years and except for checking it annually for proper function I have never even given a thought to opening and closing it as needed for livewell use and have never had a problem. Am I missing something? What's the consensus of the group?

Quite frankly, seacocks of all types should be closed when not being actively used. An increasing amount of pumps and plumbing components are made from plastic, with quick-connect fittings increasingly prevalent especially in wash down pumps. If a hose or fitting fails with the seacock open, the boat may take on a lot of water, very quickly, and the bilge pumps are unlikely to be able to keep up. Certainly, if the boat is kept in a slip, the seacock should be shut off when the boat is unattended.

Seacocks should also be cycled regularly, and Groco recommends packing the ball valve body with grease on fittings where that’s possible. Although I’m not sure I’d introduce petroleum products into a system that services a live well. In my opinion, regularly exercising the valve is probably good enough.