Thru hull question

[hump180]

I have a concern about my thru hull for the head raw water intake in the head cabinet. I just hauled out so while winterizing I thought I would troubleshoot a small leak I had in the head cabinet at at the thru hull for the head. This leak was at the fitting above the seacock valve. Trying to troubleshoot I ended up disassembling the unit down to the plastic nipple from the thru hull. I am wondering what kind of sealant I can use on the threads when I screw the valve back onto the nipple? It looks like it needs something(teflon tape,silicone?) The whole thing just looks like a bad setup to me and I am afraid that in spring when I launch I will find it leaking and have to haul out again. Does anyone have any experience with removing the valve unit from the thru hull and then reassembling?
Thanks, Bill

[prh77]

If you are happy with the actual thru hull, then I have used teflon tape when installing valves or fittings etc.

[Jeff Kaplan]

bill, i use teflon paste pipe sealant on all threads, no leaks. i replaced all the thru hulls and seacocks last season. no problem...jeff

[Ron Hill]

Bill : Either Teflon tape or pipe dope will work fine to seal those threads.  Just remember the plumbing rule - never back up!!  Always end by tightening! 

[waterdog]

Make sure you have confidence in the fittings you have attached here.   I had some absolute crap attached to my seacocks in this area - hose fittings without barbs.   I have no idea if it was original or a previous owner, but pull apart everything and have a look at it and make sure it something you want to have below your waterline before you reassemble with teflon or whatever you use. 

[hump180]

Waterdog, I have similar issues with the hose fittings. Some barbed and others not, some without any type of beading at all, just smooth with a hose and a clamp over it. Hopefully it was not the factory that built this because my fittings look like someone went to a plumbing junk bin and picked out whatever might fit. I will be going to some stores today to try and construct something more confident.

Also thanks to everyone for their input, I will probably pipe dope the fittings and teflon paste the fitting that the seacock screw on to.

Bill

[seanmcelligott]

I actually have a similar problem with this fitting.  When I open the valve, it leaks.  When it's closed it doesn't leak.   Does this mean I need to replace the valve? Where do I get one?

[Ron Hill]

Guys : It's common practice to use double clamps on all fittings below the water line. 
I'd recommend that all fittings that go into a hose have at least one barb.  Some times multiple barbed fittings are a pain to get the hose off of, especially on hoses that are taken off periodically.