Just a hose fitting

[Diesel]

Thought some of you might be interested in this simple modification.

Problem: No easy way to supply cooling water to the engine while running the motor on the trailer or on the lift.

Solution: Add a brass garden hose fitting to the seacock.

I added a tee and a male hose fitting between the seacock and the raw water pump. G02marine and homer depot had everything but the labor. This modification is simple enough to do and offers the following benefits:

1. The motor can be operated without crawling under the trailer or hoist to supply water.

2. Winter lay up is easy, just close the seacock, connect a hose to your container of RV antifreeze. Start the motor and the the raw water pump will lift the antifreeze into the motor for you.

3. Flushing, once you put the boat on the trailer or in the slip. You can use your onboard fresh water supply to flush the engines with fresh water. If trailering this is a good way to use any left over fresh water you have in the tank. So you don't put additional weight on the truck/trailer.

4. In the event you hit something while offshore and damage the seal between the outdrive and the hull, this hose connection could act as an emergency bilge pump. If this has ever happend to you great gobs of water can come in if this seals is damaged. Idle the engines and drop the garden hose in the bilge the engine driven raw water pump will help clear the bilge.

5. If you have ever had a floating trash bag hang up in the through hull fitting, this modification would allow you to stop the engine and apply water pressure from your electric raw water pump to clear the blockage. This could save you a tow.

6. Lastly, if the engine driven raw water/impeller were to fail. You could use your electric raw water pump to supply cooling water to the engine. The volume will be limited but it might work to idle your way back.

I elected to use a male garden hose fitting and a washing machine hose that has female fittings on each end. The brass cap has a positive seal against the male garden hose fitting.

Warning: If this cap were left loose your engine would lack cooling water and I encourage you to make some kind of reminder at the helm anytime the seacock is closed. I put a cup over the engine/transmission controls.

[Patriot]

I really hope you used marine bronze (not brass). Brass is very bad on the SW side of a boat and should be avoided no matter what. I would rather see Marelon than brass.

[Little Dandy]

Google "Groco SSC". They have this designed and manufactured for adding to existing seacocks or entire units for new installations. I have the add on types on both my intakes. Makes winterization easy.

[Bullish]

I believe it was the Groco SSC model 1250 flush kits that I installed this Summer. That are in-line. Fairly easy to install.

[Diesel]

Cast Iron, Bronze and Brass

Patriot,

Thanks for your reply, I used bronze fitting to make the modification, however I could not locate a bronze Garden hose fitting (Male thread and related cap) these two fittings are brass. I have a boat with the Groco fixture and even the female hose fitting supplied by Groco is brass.

Like most things, it is relative, the application shown is for a raw water cooled Volvo. The saltwater not only contacts the brass garden hose fittings, but the high carbon cast iron block, heads, water pump and manifolds.

[Patriot]

Bullish- I am looking to add the flush kit/emergency de-water fitting you discuss. Do you find the quick-release plug to be of high quality and water tight? That is the only down side I can see as it is another failure point to the sea. The emergency de-water feature is a nice bonus to the flushing ability IMO. Groco list is $189 but Defender carries them for about $125.

http://www.groco.net/08-CD-BURN/GROC.../4Seacocks.pdf (page 6 of the document)

[Bullish]

I put 50 hours on the boat this year since installing with no leakage or any problem with the plug. Your concern is valid though. The plug fits snug since it has double gaskets but it is relatively easy to turn and pull out. I think it is snug enough not to worry about but over time, it may require replacement of the gaskets for piece of mind.

I made sure to install mine so that the plug is on top. I didn't want the plug on bottom where water would be running over it and increase likelihood of a leak.

As far as functionality, it worked fine to flush out the engines.

As per using it to pump water out of the boat in an emergency, I'm not sure it will be all that efficient. I'd prefer to unhook the hoses from the fishboxes and pump out water using the macerators. I bet they pump more water than the water pump on the engine.

[Bullish]

I think I paid about $125 for each.

[Patriot]

The more I look at these, the less I like the plugs. I guess you could also tie-wrap the plug around the body for double security. I would feel better though with a ball valve to the garden hose fitting.

You make a good point with the macerators, that would be the first emergency pump to go to as they pump a ton of water and would embarrass the installed Rules with capacity.

[Bullish]

I like the tie wrap idea. I think I'll use that.

[Little Dandy]

In 4 seasons, I haven't had any trouble with the plugs. I can't see them ever coming undone by themselves, but I suppose anything is possible. I also haven't had any leakage or seapage. Then again, I'm in a rack most of the time. I do lube the O-rings with silicon plumbers grease a couple times a season.

[Patriot]

In 4 seasons, I haven't had any trouble with the plugs. I can't see them ever coming undone by themselves, but I suppose anything is possible. I also haven't had any leakage or seapage. Then again, I'm in a rack most of the time. I do lube the O-rings with silicon plumbers grease a couple times a season.

Thanks, that is the way I am going to go. After researching other options such that I can add a valve for the flushing side you get into more fittings than I would like to use. I wish Groco would offer just a simple casting with the right size NPT for adding a ball valve on the flushing side. Their product is trying to solve both emergency de-watering and fresh water flushing thus the unique arrangement with the quick removal plug.

[Graceland]

I've had the Groco for 4 seasons and never had one problem with it. If you run your motor on a garden hose be careful with thr pressure, you can blow your seals out of your water pump.

[Little Dandy]

I've had the Groco for 4 seasons and never had one problem with it. If you run your motor on a garden hose be careful with thr pressure, you can blow your seals out of your water pump.

Run the hose from the Groco fitting into a 5 gallon bucket & let it get its supply from there. Use another hose to the water supply to keep the bucket filled (overflowing out the scuppers). Just have to be sure neither hose slips out of the bucket (ty-wraps work for me). I've only used it once like that since I boat on freshwater. But the Grocos are the cat's azz for winterizing.

[CharlieT]

For those of you that use the Groco fittings, I have a question. How do you connect the hose fitting end to the hose? Directly, or to some other fitting to make the right angle? Does the hose bend 90 degrees without kinking? I am assuming that the hose barb end is not threaded inside to accept the existing right angle fitting.

Thanks for any help

CT
2001 CC28
Cummins 250 4BTs