If it is that close to the waterline you are going to get backflow sometimes if you dont have a pump.

Jode5 said..


I would not drain directly to the water , every boat I have had with direct drains has created problems when the boat is healed in rough water.

Unless you have sea cocks on them and close them when you expect to heel more than is polite. But if you forget, then you've got water sloshing out of your sinks. :)

I leave my sink seacock open. Close the engine seacock though and the engine key is on a tag that hangs off the seacock.

Some boats will fill with water through the sink especially when beating. I know of a boat that took on about 1200lts of seawater during a race before the sink cock was closed.

[b]Jode5 said

A boat should be designed so as to be operated in all conditions with the sea cocks open. Sea cocks are there as a secondary means of isolation. Who has not remembered to shut a sea cock? I know 2 people who have forgotten to open sea cocks on their motors and stuffed their water pumps. My boat is alway left in a condition where it can be immediately operated, unless it is not going to be used for a period of time and then I flush fresh water into alI the lines. This eliminates all orders.

I find that makes perfect sense, I worry that if out sailing and the motor needs to be started in an emergency, not necessarily by me, that in a panic situation a closed engine seacock may be overlooked and it all could end in disaster

My sink is slightly on the port side. My sink drain goes to port to a sea cock just above the waterline. Therefore when on a stbd tack there is a risk of flooding via the sink. The sea cock is accessible via the cockpit locker but doing that each time I tack is not practical. What is practical is the cock in the sink drain line just below the sink, especially when some idiot loses the sink plug

The rest of my sea cocks I only open when I want water coming in or going out. The rest of the time they are left shut. But that is my boat and I keep things simple. All boats are different and all owner/operators need to work out what is best for their vessel.

I was working as engineer on the Heron Island transfer ferry some years ago and it had a four page pre start up check list that was crucial to be followed as well as the shut down check list.

First item in the morning was open sea cocks. Last item in the evening was close sea cocks.

It does not matter much what your operational plan is. What matters is that you have one and you stick to it.

Agree with much above.

Jode5, many of us have 30 year old boats and things like the height of sinks aren't easily modifiable. When sailing with my wife we never heel enough to fill the sinks; solo or with mates is a different story.

Procedural options:

- According to Beta installer, the engine can be started in an emergency with raw water sea cock closed; it just has to be opened 30-60 seconds later to avoid overheating.
- If, like me, you hang your key off your engine sea cock and wish to close it (say, when sleeping) but keep the key in the ignition for quick escape in a 'situation', you can hang something from the key as a reminder. I hang a little cow bell type thing for this.
- I'm in the process of labelling sea cocks which are numbered from deepest to shallowest for easier communication between missus and I. Also need a tickable, erasable 'leaving the boat' check list. A mini whiteboard should do. Anyone else do anything similar. (Sorry for thread diversion, Holdfastom).

samsturdy said..


I close all my seacocks when leaving the boat except for the cockpit drains, I have two,
they both drop vertical hoses to seacocks which are open ALL the time.......or should I
close 'em.?.

You should only close them when you want to have a bath.

HG02 said..
One thing to remember if the engine seacock
Is closed and you power up the engine some sea strainers in old boats can become air locked and the cooling pump might not pick up your sea water after opening the sea cock

I meant to add a little more
My old sea strainer was well above the water line when I bought her . and if you did runj the motor before the sea cock was open you ended up with empty sea strainer along with a water cooling pump pumping air.
Its now lower (@ sea level slightly higher) and right where I can see it.
Ive two sea cock in the forward cabin that I would not even try to open they have now been removed completely and the ruminates will be epoxied over along with the speed log hole . Also the sink drain has already been glasses over . Ill pump out

Colombo7E said..
G'day
I have Cooling Water Flow sensor on inlet of water pump. If some reason flow stops I have audible alarm and warning light.

Id like to know where you bought that flow sensor Colombo

G'day HG
I got Flow Switch from my friend in Finland He have company dealing Industrial Instruments.
If you like one I can ask him send one.