When I launched Poppy recently on Lough Erne I had a problem with sealing the valve and she started sinking in the night. Some pumping stopped us sinking completely. We pulled her out on the trailer in the morning. I have 2 questions please. 1 do I need to replace the rubber seal on the valve at some regular interval? 2 how do I get the valve tighter? The handle/lever for tightening the valve which is inside under the steps is just a short length of flat bar bolted on to the top of the rod going to the valve. It's very hard to turn even with a rag to stop it cutting into my hand. The space is too small to get a wrench in. I can't believe this is standard? Is there a more comfortable handle to turn to tighten to seal the valve?
Wed, 30/06/2021 - 2:10pm
#1
closing the valve to stop sinking!
Hi Jason, I don't do technical but I think the handle you are describing is the one that draws up the plug that seals the bottom of the ballast tanks underneath the boat. My C had a similar set up. The flat lever you describe is threaded onto the rod and the rod runs through a capped, tightly sealed hole underneath the steps and runs for about 12 inches, through the base of the ballast tank and attaches to the plug; by turning the lever clockwise as far as you can, the plug is drawn upwards and seals the tank underneath. If this isn't tightened properly, water will come in There is a second 'orifice' that has a bung in it - this is the inspection chamber that you wiggle your finger through to see if the tanks are full. Can you post some pictures?
Quentin Sands, past owner
1991 26C Mrs MacGregor
1993 Mac19, Margarita
https://youtu.be/BaiQo6MfhTc
This is a link to a video. At 44 secs you see an image of the rod going through the cap into the tank. Is yours like this? Once your tanks are full, you have to tighten the handle all the way to the cap.
Quentin Sands, past owner
1991 26C Mrs MacGregor
1993 Mac19, Margarita
Thanks Quentin Yes that's the same setup on Poppy. I just can't believe that this most critical part of the whole boat is so poorly designed when much of the rest of the boat design is incredibly well designed. So the flat bar that cuts into your hand as you turn it as hard as you is standard? On several occasions I have tightened it as much as I can but someone else has been able to turn it another turn or 2. I don't think that I am much of a weakling but it hurts my hand to turn that bit of flat bar. I've tried putting an adjustable spanner on it but there's not enough space. I'm wondering if it would help if the rubber seal was made of something more compressible like neoprene I wouldn't have to turn it so hard to form a seal? Also maybe making the handle come up higher under the steps so I can get a wrench on to it?
Hi Jason, not sure if this is relevant but I'll post it just in case. I recently had my Mac 19 dropped into Conwy Marina and at the point of launch the ballast tank was empty, the transom valve closed and the air valve sealed. However, when I returned the following day, much to my surprise, the ballast tank was full. Reading through the original MacGregor manual it suggests the leak could be coming from the bolts that hold the centreboard and pulley in place and that they should be resealed with 3M 5200 sealant. I'll try to attach a photo from the manual.
Pete - Mac 19 - Orca
FD4C0A33-9515-44A4-80EE-18327AD5489E