Quick question : is the attached pic of an original plastic skin fitting? Which would make it 35 years old..and below the waterline.
The plastic valve does not look original, but the skin fitting?
Thanks
Simon cleaver
SV Julie Marie. NS 30 ultra
Portugal.
Hi, when you say’ skin fitting’ , are you referring to the off white plastic fitting between the seacock and exterior of the hull? If yes, that’s known as a ‘bushing’in plumbing circles. Prob a more expensive word in yachting circles. And it is probably original as I had the same aboard my boat, Aloki. As they are underwater most of the time, they can last a long while but above the waterline.. ie. Transom fittings , the sun seems to get that them and they fail. I’d recommend replacing with bronze or Marlen (sp?) when possible. Hope this helps, Gary Aloki, NS 30329
Simon,
working down from the top in the photo: (1) a hose with two clamps, (2) what looks to a be a nylon barb fitting (could be Zytel), (3) a Marelon ball valve, (4) a thru hull (likely original Zytel) and (5) a plywood backer plate on the hull.
The 30 brochure is silent on it but most of the other Nonsuch brochures indicate that “Zytel” thru hulls were used. Zytel is a trade name used by Dupont. It is a fibre reinforced nylon. Zytel
George Hinterhoeller used a number of different valves for through hull fittings. I don’t know where I got the idea from but I thought that the 324 was fitted with Marelon ball valves. I don’t know if any were installed on the late model 30s. There is a good chance that the ball valve shown in the picture is not a factory original.
The below the waterline thru hulls on La Reina were/are bronze (I replaced them all last fall). The above the water line thru hulls (deck drains, propane locker drain and bilge pump drain) were all Zytel. I replaced those as well. taking them out was a challenge because they had been installed with 5200. Turned out they were all in good condition. My brother had one of the Zytel thru hulls snap off when he put pressure on it. If the boat is out of the water you may well want to consider replacement since a failure could ruin your day. If you are replacing the thru hull you should also consider upgrading the backer plate and the barb fitting.
Mark Powers
Sorry Mark it did not snap off. The surveyor said it needs to be replaced because it was brittle. It was’t. It took a couple of hours to get it out and I had to cut it into pieces. Not fun.
Rob Powers
Respite #50 26C Sidney BC
Rob,
I am sure your memory is faulty. Must be the curse.
Mark Powers
Hi Mark
Thanks fir 5hat, that’s just the information I needed, I’m tempted to leave them in place despite their age just beacause they are such a large diameter solid fitting, and therefore less likely to snap. I replaced my two stern skin fitting/thru hulls, and one snapped in the process… too much sun..