Plug

Posted By: GEN, Santana 2023A-Tall, SE Michigan
Date: 3/15/08 9:36a.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: Ballast Valve Assembly (Mark Welch)

I can't speak for Paul but I like it when the plug just raises upward to seal the tank. It has vertually no circular scrapping to close. On the possible bad side if a stringy weed gets sucked in the tank, the abraision of the origional plug system should cut the seaweed. In reality, the plug doesn't really need to completely seal the bottom of the tank. Being the boat has the plug hole about a foot below the water line, you have very little flow going into and out the tank. Once or twice I when sailing and totally forgot to close the plug and never experianced any difference compaired to when it's closed. (Those were during milder water times.) When it comes down to it, I'll take the quick and easy modified plug system any day! http://76.235.121.46/webcaptain/Hull-Water%20Ballast.htm The article is about 1/3 to half way down the page. It took me about a year searching through a bunch of parts catalogs to fine it and when I looked at all the motions I wanted, the De-Sta-co, Model 604 clamp unit was the only one that would work. It comes in either regular steel, (the one I have), or in stainless steel, (the one I should have got.) One important thing. Get the larger upper nut at the same time as the clamp unit. I didn't and it took me about a month to find a semi-local store that carried the 3/4" fine thread nut!) Sea you, George E. Norkus