Seacock Drain Plug Stripped
Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 12:20 pm
I was cleaning the cockpit locker where the head drain seacock is located and brushed my hand by the seacock (a Perko 595E). When I did one of the two drain plugs fell out into the bilge. It turns out the threads on the plug are completely stripped, and the previous owner had simply jammed it into the hole. My F25 has a holding tank, so I have never actually had the seacock open, but I am having visions of someone opening it, the plug vibrating out with the help of water pressure, and finding my boat sitting at the bottom of the marina.
Since this seacock has two drains I figure I should be able to close off the stripped one, and just use the other. Welding it shut should do the trick, but it is in a hard to reach location for a welder. How about a shot of trusty silicone in the hole? Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
Kind of makes you wander how many other nasty surprises are located in an old boat doesn't it? I was cleaning out the bilge sump and noticed that two of the four keel bolt nuts could be turned with my fingers.
Since this seacock has two drains I figure I should be able to close off the stripped one, and just use the other. Welding it shut should do the trick, but it is in a hard to reach location for a welder. How about a shot of trusty silicone in the hole? Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
Kind of makes you wander how many other nasty surprises are located in an old boat doesn't it? I was cleaning out the bilge sump and noticed that two of the four keel bolt nuts could be turned with my fingers.