New seacocks/thru-hulls

The old topic "Seacocks" is already discussed in detail, a search just now gave 100 results. In the old subjects you can find members who stubbornly claims, that at least their seacocks were made of bronze, and then after a test must admit that the yellow material is brass. Hanse werft has maybe not been completely honest with the owners who by telephone have been assured, that the thru-hulls and seacocks were made of bronze.
Later inquiries have earned an answer, that the material was DZR-brass, by some called "marine grade" brass. Brass is made by copper and zink, and the DZR has been added other metals to slow down the detoriation. The DZR was chosen because it is cheaper than bronze or Trudesign. In the pictures below you can see my old thru-hulls, which when replaced after seven years in 2013, still had a pretty good look. Notice the red ring in the yellow brass, where detoriation has started.

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My old ball-valves marked DN20 (Diametre Nominal), were the type your plumber mounts in your house (plain chrome-plated brass I suppose). Those were in my boat a bit rusty in the handles but otherwise seemed OK.

My decision to change the seacocks came after the horror stories in 2012-13, where several boats from many different shipyards had unwanted fountains in their boats.

The change from DZR to bronze or Trudesign is not that costly, so the Hanse-owners with a 8-12 years old ship should maybe change the seacock/thru-hulls now?
If not, I advise to buy wooden plugs to place near the "fountain-to-be".

This is not an attempt of mouth-to-mouth rescue of the old tread, but basicly an friendly advice
to the owners of old Hanses, which still have not changed their thru-hulls.

Regards Kjeld




Edited by Captain Cook - 24 February 2021 at 11:04

I too changed all 2 years ago. I did not like the Trudesign 90 degree bend (in middle of picture). It was of a small inner diameter.

   I'm planning to change to true design on my 370 as well. What have you done on the SD50? TD is still missing a double nipple....

yes i did the valve on SD50 as well including glass filled nylon male to male to connect the ball valve to the saildrive. 4 years no problems, see mt earlier posts:

I know very little about the TruDesign product and the material it is made out of. Is there a greater chance of getting cracking from water freezing in cold weather versus a metal part? The basin where the boat is moored is fed by a fresh water creek making the top layer much much less salty and it freezes easily in the winter.