Pros and Cons of Seacock thru-hull check valve...

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Halfhitch

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My boat has a Groco bronze seacock and mounted directly on top of it is a Groco bronze check valve. It feeds a livewell pump and a washdown pump gets its' water from the second fitting on the livewell pump. I boat exclusively in saltwater. I have never had a check valve on my previous boats and don't see the benefit of having a check valve since the livewell pump intake is below water level. I can only think that the spring-loaded check valve can only serve to reduce flow. I trailer the boat. What would the +s and --s be? Opinion/advice??
 
Is the livewell tank above waterline? Is the inflow to the livewell tank at the top of the tank?
if the inflow is below the top then it will drain out when you turn off the pump.
 
Yep,,, what Skunk said. I've got one on mine and it will drain tank if pump isn't running, even if you have standpipe installed, backflows out the fill hose. I did rebuild mine, flipped the flap over because it had taken a set being open. Even being below water level the tank will drain down to that water level. My check valve is in lower left of this pic.

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Yes, the livewell is in the top of the transom bulkhead and the in-flow fitting is at the top of the tank. I eliminated the standpipe and installed a side drain fitting. I just wondered if the system was filled with saltwater consistently for weeks on end it would cause any adverse effects.

And John, there you go again showing off that spotless bilge. You know you are causing some of us to have to pay for counseling after seeing some of your pictures. :)
 
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On some boats if the seacock is open and the boat is running water can get sucked up into the livewell. If using it as a cooler or any other reason with the drain hole plugged, it will fill the livewell with water, melt your ice and even spill over onto the deck if the cover isn't latched. For the washdown you have a cock easily accessible and usually a sprayer on the end that would prevent it. Maybe that is why it is there? I don't recall a check valve being on the 282 or 300 that I've owned.
 
Thanks for those thoughts, Fishtales. I know what you say is true because I have had my livewell on a previous boat fill with water when pressurized by running at high speed. I learned to turn off the spigot on the fill fitting.
 
Halfhitch said:
Yes, the livewell is in the top of the transom bulkhead and the in-flow fitting is at the top of the tank.
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If that is so you don't need a check valve .
Halfhitch said:
And John, there you go again showing off that spotless bilge. You know you are causing some of us to have pay for counseling after seeing some of your pictures. :)
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I would second that His boat is spotless .
 
Mine is always dirty when fishing, if it wasn't for the deck wash she would be totally covered in blood .
We bleed and gut dollies as soon as they come on the deck then straight on ice. The guts keep the birds busy so they don't chase our bait. These are on the deck just for the picture.
I notice you don't gut yours.

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wrxhoon said:
Mine is always dirty when fishing, if it wasn't for the deck wash she would be totally covered in blood .
We bleed and gut dollies as soon as they come on the deck then straight on ice. The guts keep the birds busy so they don't chase our bait. These are on the deck just for the picture.
I notice you don't gut yours.

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First time catching them, still have a lot to learn. Bucket list thing,,, taking my own boat to the Keys and fish the Gulf Stream for Mahi.

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hehehe talk about topic creep...:D

We don't gut or bleed Mahi.
probably because they go insane on deck and we just want to get them in a cooler asap so we can boat the next one and the one after that.

The absolute best fish in the ocean to catch and eat.
 
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Nothing better than fish pictures and Lies..... I mean stories about fishing. Well, actually fishing is better.
 
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