[Public-list] Replacing old through-hulls

[Rachel]

I just went through the researching process on new seacocks (many 
brands), and, just as a cautionary note, the cheaper Grocos (i.e. the 
ones with the vinyl-covered stainless handle, vs. the cast bronze 
handle) have a BRASS stem.  I specifically called the tech folks at 
Groco to ask about this, because some catalogs listed the stem as 
stainless and some as brass.  The Groco rep. told me that the stem IS 
brass.  It used to be stainless, but they were getting some unreliable 
quality on the stainless, so they switched (yeah, so now they're all 
crappy, lol).

The expensive, bronze Groco seacocks are made in the US, but the 
cheaper ones are made overseas.

In my opinion, if you are looking for more economical seacocks (along 
the same lines as the cheaper Grocos), you're better of with the 
Conbraco Apollo seacock.  They look very similar to the cheaper Groco, 
but are made domestically, and have a bronze stem (all bronze wetted 
components).  I think the only vulnerable part on these is the 
vinyl-covered stainless handle (which is on the cheaper Groco too), but 
Conbraco has beefed it up quite a bit, and it's also easily and cheaply 
replaceable, and easy to keep an eye on.  Probably if one took the 
vinyl off it would last much longer as the stainless would be exposed 
to air.  At any rate, I think it's the best of the "less expensive" 
seacocks.

I don't think brass parts have any business in a proper seacock.  Not 
that others' opinions can't differ, but at least one should know what 
one is getting.

Rachel
1967 Alberg 30, #221


 1183230263.0