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<DIV><SPAN class=465524514-17102001><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Fellow
Alberg Owners,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=465524514-17102001><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=465524514-17102001><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>The
issue with gate valves is that you cannot tell if they are closed with in the
closed position. In many cases the threaded rod is removed from the gate
and you only know that when the boat begins to flood. These valves may
operate well since the boat has been in salt water but some day they
will fail. The recommended solution is to replace them with ball valves
which contain nickel coated bronze ball. At one time Apollo wasn't manufacturing
them with bronze and also having problems, I am not sure if that issue was
corrected. I purchased ball valves manufactured by Buck in Delaware and they
have been in operation for 4 years operating without any
issues.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=465524514-17102001><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=465524514-17102001><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Regards,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=465524514-17102001><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Stephen Sousa</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=465524514-17102001><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=465524514-17102001><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Carina
Vela #114</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=465524514-17102001><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=465524514-17102001> </SPAN><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Capnreitz@aol.com
[mailto:Capnreitz@aol.com]<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, October 17, 2001 9:57
AM<BR><B>To:</B> public-list@alberg30.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Alberg30] New
Alberg 30 Owners<BR><BR></DIV></FONT>
<BLOCKQUOTE><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT size=2>Welcome aboard, <BR>There
are many questions I cannot answer but my selection for valves is a ball
valve. It operates quickly, has few moving parts and rarely leaks. If I have
the room it is my choice. Hopefully others will also comment. <BR>Ralph Reitz
<BR>Dances With Waves #457</FONT> </FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>