What are the best thru hull fittings?
What are the best thru hull fittings?
Groco Bronze Thru-Hull Fittings are the best choice for below-the-waterline use. They are supplied complete with a bronze locknut or they may be threaded directly into a compatible seacock.
How do you measure a thru hull fitting?
thru hulls and other fittings are measured according to “nominal pipe size”. this is more or less an inside diameter of the fitting. I.e. the hole in your thru-hull will be about 1/2″ in diameter if it is labeled as a ‘1/2″ thruhull’.
Can plastic materials be used for thru hull fittings?
Cracked nylon (acetal plastic) thru-hulls are a common problem, as a walk in almost any boatyard will bear out. Unlike fittings constructed of industry approved materials (bronze, Marelon, etc.) nylon thru-hulls are not recommended for use at or below the waterline.
How long do bronze thru hull fittings last?
Healthy bronze through-hulls exhibit a uniform golden hue. When properly protected from corrosion they will retain this color for many years. We have maintained a particular sailboat for the past 40 years, and she still has her original through-hulls (57 years and counting).
When should I replace my through hull fitting?
You can check the thru hulls first when scraping the paint from the metal and if it looks golden and not pink, it is in good shape. If the metal is pink, the thru hull fitting should be replaced immediately, since the metal has no strength and is ready to fail.
How do you seal through a hull fitting?
For both thru-hulls (intake and discharge), apply a good amount of marine grade sealant (polyurethane or polysulfide) around the inside of the thru-hull’s mushroom flange, then insert it into the hull. 3M 5200 is a popular sealant and it’s clearly labeled for through-hull fittings.
Can you use brass fittings on a boat?
While brass has many familiar uses aboard—from clocks and joinerwork trim to lamps and electrical components—it should never be used in raw-water applications.
Can you use brass on a boat?
High-zinc-content alloys like ordinary brass or Tobin bronze must never be used for seacocks or any raw below-the-waterline (BTW) plumbing. This prohibition includes even the smallest seacock or raw-water strainer drain plugs, which are often inadvertently replaced with brass rather than bronze hardware.
How often should you replace thru hull fittings?
If your boat has a brass thru hull fitting, you should replace it ASAP. Brass is not suitable for under water fittings on boats. It will corrode away and may sink the boat. Replace it with a bronze thru hull or a Marelon thru hull.
What do you use to seal through a hull fitting?
Is brass compatible with stainless steel?
When it comes to stainless steel (301, 304 and 310) and brass, they are only two metals apart, which means they can be safely connected together with minimal risk of galvanic corrosion.
Can you mix bronze and stainless steel fittings?
Well-known member. Bronze and stainless steel are fine in contact with each other. If you look at the galvanic series you will find that they are not widely separated. As you observe bronze props on stainless steel shafts are common.
Is brass or stainless steel better for salt water?
Stainless steel, on the contrary, has a higher resistance to petroleum products and many acids than brass, and it can be passivated in either citric or nitric acid solutions. Some grades of stainless steel are also superior to brass in more-aggressive marine environments such as fast-moving currents.
Will 3M 5200 adhere to stainless steel?
We’ve also found that it does not bond to stainless steel as well as some other products. Bottom line: Decades of proven use underwater make the high-strength 3M 5200 adhesive a professionals favorite for below-the-waterline projects.
What is a TRU plug?
TruPlug is used as a temporary or emergency plug in boating applications where water would enter, circular, oval, or irregular hole caused by emergency maintenance or hull breach due to impact.
What is a Garboard drain plug?
Various companies make garboard drain plugs, basically threaded bronze fittings that securely plug a drain hole when the boat is afloat and can be opened when it’s on the hard to let out rainwater.
Should hulls be bonded?
Yes any medal through hulls need to be grounded to the boats bonding system. I.ve always “green wire” bonded mine to a dedicated bonding zinc located below the waterline.
Are all boat drain plugs the same size?
Hole Diameter The most common for today’s recreational boat is one that fits a 1-inch diameter hole. Whichever garboard drain fitting you choose, make sure matches the transom hole and that there is enough surface around the hole to accommodate the size of the flange without it hanging below the bottom of the transom.
What are the scuppers on a boat?
A scupper is an opening in the side walls of a vessel or an open-air structure, which allows water to drain instead of pooling within the bulwark or gunwales of a vessel, or within the curbing or walls of a building.
How do you plug holes in fiberglass?
When you are trying to repair a small hole in fiberglass, the best type of product to use is a premium epoxy. This will insure a proper repair and will not allow for shrinking of the material and create a water tight seal. We recommend the Hawk Epoxy Kit. It contains the epoxy resin, catalyst and filler for the job.
Does a boat plug go on the inside or outside?
Re: drain plug – Inside boat or outside? The kind your looking at should go on the inside. The screw in type, on the outside.
What is most common size for boat drain plug?
The most common for today’s recreational boat is one that fits a 1-inch diameter hole.
Do boat plugs go on the inside or outside?
Do all boats have scuppers?
Virtually all ships, as well as boats large enough to have decks above the waterline, are made with some form of scupper. These often include flap or ball designs that enable water to flow off of the decks, but not back into the ship should the scupper opening dip below the waterline in high seas or rough waters.
What are the best screws to screw into fiberglass?
So whether installing screws into solid laminate or through a fiberglass skin into a core plug of cured epoxy, use stainless-steel sheet-metal screws.