Blog

Oct 08, 2023

How to change a hull pass and a valve on your boat?

After several years without being maintained, our Ecume de Mer is in urgent

After several years without being maintained, our Ecume de Mer is in urgent need of work. The valves and the through-hulls have suffered from electrolysis, and need to be changed.

This sailboat is equipped with four through-hulls:

Let's take as an example the valve and the grommet of the toilet drain.

The existing model is too damaged to be disassembled, so we remove the old hull passage with a grinder. We take care to protect the area as much as possible, in order to avoid resin dust or filings flying around the boat.

The location being conical, and our new grommet being cylindrical, we apply an epoxy filler, so that the hole matches perfectly the new model.

After adjusting the location to the correct diameter with a hole saw, the area to be glued is cleaned to ensure a perfect bond.

Different models of shell grommets are available on the market. They are available in brass, CR brass, bronze, plastic Randex or stainless steel.

Offering excellent value for money, we have chosen a set of CR brass grommets as a replacement. This trade name indicates that the brass has a composition that makes it more resistant to electrolysis. The price difference between a conventional brass model and a CR is about 15%, but will give our Ecume de Mer optimal protection.

We carry out a first "blank" assembly to check the coherence of our installation.

Before inserting the grommet into its location, we apply Sikaflex 291 to ensure that the grommet is bonded and sealed.

Then we proceed to the clamping of the part, an operation for which two people are needed. One is on the inside of the shell to screw, and the other is on the outside to hold the part in place. It is important that the Sikaflex overflows to ensure the integrity of the assembly. A wipe with a rag or the sacrifice of a finger, which is less advisable, can remove the excess Sikaflex.

We finalize the installation by placing the plug and a pinch guard right next to our through-hull. In case of a problem, this one is immediately available and will avoid the crew to turn over the square to find the bag of new pinoches, hidden in the obligatory armament.

Unless you are a very good handyman, changing the through-hull fittings is not for the average person. As this type of operation can be delicate, and can jeopardize the safety of your boat, we advise you to call on a professional for the installation of this equipment.