Thru hull fitting help? Live bait well.

[georgevazquez]

I have a 2000 se 21 and my boat always sits in saltwater. my question is that the thru hull for the live bait well sits underwater, my concern is that it is made of plastic and the boat is 12 years old. Should I replace it and if I do should I upgrade to a brass one.
Also if the hose fails that will also create a problem. Should I in addition to a new thru hull add a ball valve and then add the hose to that. Thanks and keep in mind the boat is always in the water.

 

[bigk23surf]

I had the same thru hull on my 2320 and replaced it with a bronze one with a ball valve. I didn't like the idea of a hose failure sinking the boat. If something goes wrong with the hose all I have to do is close the valve. If I kept it in the water the valve would stay closed when I wasn't on the boat.

 

[Megabyte]

If I kept it in the water the valve would stay closed when I wasn't on the boat.

Always a good idea.
Keep the valve CLOSED when the pump is not in use.

 

[georgevazquez]

No, im talking about the the live bait well hose and thru hull on the transom of the boat the the seacock.

 

[DaleH]

I have a 2000 se 21 and my boat always sits in saltwater. my question is that the thru hull for the live bait well sits underwater, my concern is that it is made of plastic and the boat is 12 years old. Should I replace it and if I do should I upgrade to a brass one.

Any thru-hull fitting should be 1 of 2 materials only - not brass, but naval/marine bronze or Marlon.

These MUST ... not should or someday "will be" ... but MUST be connected to a sea cock (not a brass ball valve) that can close BEFORE the attached hose.

You could (above the waterline only) put a ball valve in to close off the drain when not in use ...

 

[georgevazquez]

Just found a great site that explains everything with pictures, very worth looking at, thanks again guys
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/seacock_primer

 

[georgevazquez]

If I added a seacock wont bait get stuck when I drain my bait well, ( I usually try to get everything out before pulling the drain plug )

 

[DaleH]

Seacock on INLET only ...

 

[bigk23surf]

I didn't have room to put a seacock there or I would have. The best I could do was a bronze thru hull to a bronze shutoff valve. I do agree that it is not the best way but it is better then what I had. I'll take a pic later today so you can see what I did.

 

[grouperjim]

There are no pumps/pressure associated with that setup. It is just a gravity drain for the livewell. That's how it comes from Parker and IMO is fine in that config.

FWIW my setup is similar to the OPs pic. When I first bought my boat I was going to change it. I couldn't budge it. I was about to break out the sawzall but decided it was sturdy enough for its purpose.

 

[bigk23surf]

If I remember correctly the hose was 3 inches so that is going to be a huge seacock and there just wasn't room for it since the stringer is right next where it would be mounted. This is the best I could come up with; it is not perfect but it is better then what was there before.

 

[georgevazquez]

thank you all for your input and pics, this is why I love this site.

 

[Megabyte]

There are no pumps/pressure associated with that setup. It is just a gravity drain for the livewell. That's how it comes from Parker and IMO is fine in that config.

FWIW my setup is similar to the OPs pic. When I first bought my boat I was going to change it. I couldn't budge it. I was about to break out the sawzall but decided it was sturdy enough for its purpose.

I would tend to agree. It is a gravity drain.
No pressure on that hose, though I would replace the plastic with a bronze fitting which is a safer alternative.

 

[georgevazquez]

doing what kevin said, thanks