ABYC Standards, Forespar

®

Policies and Contacts

ABYC H-27 SEACOCK, THRU-SAILBOAT HULL CONNECTION, AND DRAIN PLUG STANDARDS

Based on ABYC’s assessment of the state of existing technology, and the problems associated with achieving the goals of this standard, ABYC recommends compliancewith this standard for all boats, associated marine equipment, and systems manufactured after July 31, 1998.27.1 PURPOSE These standards and recommended practices are guides for the selection of materials, design, construction, and installation of seacocks, thru-hull connections, drain plugs,and other fittings that penetrate the hull at or below the maximum heeled waterline. 27.2 SCOPE These standards and recommended practices apply to all boats, with exceptions noted in H-27.5.1. 27.3 REFERENCED ORGANIZATIONS ABYC - American Boat & Yacht Council, Inc., 3069, Solomon’s Island Boat road, Edgewater, MD 21037, PH: (410) 956-1050 ANSI - American National Standards Institute, 1430 Broadway, New York, NY 10018, PH: (212) 354-3300 ASTM - American Society for Testing and Materials, 1916 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, PH:(215) 299-5400 UL - Underwriters Laboratories Marine Department, POB 13995, 12 Laboratory Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, PH: (919) 549-1400. Obtain standards from GlobalEngineering Documents, Inc., 15 Inverness Way East, Englewood, CO 80112, PH:(800) 854-7179 (US and Canada), PH: (303) 397-7956 (outside US and Canada), Fax (303) 397-2740 27.4 DEFINITIONS Drain Plug - Removable plug that allows the draining of the bilge. Maximum heeled waterline - The level of the water on the hull when the hull is inclined to, (a) an angle of 7Ëš,for powerboats, or (b) for sailboat sailboats, the level of the sheer amidships. Seacock - A type of valve used to control intake or discharge of water through the hull. It is operated bya lever type handle usually operating through a 90Ëš arc, giving a clear indication of whether it is open or shut. Thru-hull - A fitting designed to accept pipes for boats, hoses, or boat valves toallow the passage of water in or out of a vessel. 27.5 REQUIREMENTS - IN GENERAL27.5.1 All piping, tubing, or hose lines penetrating the hull below the maximum heeled waterline, under all normal conditions of trim and heel, shall be equipped with a seacock to stop the admission of water in the event of failure of pipes, tubing, or hose. EXCEPTIONS: 1. Boats that conform to the level flotation requirementsof ABYC standard H-8, Buoyancy in the Event of Swamping, may sues seacocks, or other means, to stop the admission of water in the event of failure of pipes, tubing or hoselines penetrating the hull below the waterline. 2. Self-draining cockpit drains that dischargeabove the waterline with the boat in the static floating position and meet therequirements of 27.5.1.1. 3. For exhaust systems installations see ABYC P-1, Installation of Exhaust Systems For Propulsion and Auxiliary Engines for boats.27.5.1.1 Self-draining cockpit drains that are not equipped with a seacock shall use reinforced piping or hose that resists kinking and collapse. 27.5.2 Seacocks shall be designed and constructed to meet ANSI/UL 1121, Marine Through-Hull Fittings and Sea-Valves. 27.5.3 Thru-hull fittings shall be designed to meet ANSI/UL 1121, Marine Through-Hull Fittings and Sea-Valves. EXCEPTION:Spuds or flanged fittings bolted to the hull,integral with, or mechanically fastened to the hull, and formed with a material compatible with the hull.27.5.4 If a boat is fitted with a drain plug, the following requirements shall apply: 27.5.4.1 Attachment of the drain plug body to the hull shall be permanently water tight, and constructed to prevent the plug body from loosening when the plug is inserted orloosened for draining. 27.5.4.2 The use of expandable type drain plugs shall be limited to boats equipped with flotation in compliance with ABYC H-8, Buoyancy in the Event of Swamping. EXCEPTION:In wooden boats only, the use of tapered, soft-wood plugs for bilge draining purposes is acceptable.27.5.4.3 Expandable type plugs shall be adjusted and designed to prevent inadvertent disassembly. NOTE:One method of effecting this is by crimping or distorting thethreaded ends of adjusting stem.27.6 MATERIALS27.6.1 All materials shall be galvanically compatible and resist degradation by salt water, petroleum products, UV light for boat, ozone, cleaning compounds likely to be encountered,marine growth, and the effects of heat aging. 27.6.2 Copper-based alloys shall meet the requirements of the 10 Day Moist Ammonia Air Stress Cracking Test in UL1185, Portable Marine Marine fuel tanks. 27.6.3 All plastic fittings shall meet the following minimum physical properties: 27.6.3.1 A minimum tensile strength greater than 10,900 psi (75 mPa), when tested to ASTM D638; and 27.6.3.2 A flexural modulus greater than 500,000 psi (3,480 mPa), when tested to ASTM D790; and 27.6.3.3 Shall contain ultraviolet light inhibitors. NOTES:1. All values are for dry as molded samples in natural color. Addition of colorants or other additives for boats may changethe physical property values. 2. Thru-hull fittings that meet the requirements of 27.5 may be marked “ABYC H-27.”27.7 INSTALLATION27.7.1 A seacock shall be securely mounted so that the system will withstand a 500 pound static force applied for 30 seconds to the inboard end of its connecting fitting, at any point in its most vulnerable direction, without the system failing to perform as intended. 27.7.2 Seacocks shall be readily accessible as installed, and so oriented that their boat handles are easy to operate. 27.7.3 If a flanged seacock is used, its flange shall be securely mounted to the hull. NOTE:A sea chest, backing block for boat, thru-hull, or spud, welded or bonded securely to thehull, shall be considered an acceptable hull structure for mounting a seacock.27.7.4 If installed, drain plugs shall be installed in what is expected to be the lowest portion of the bilge when the boat is in storage. 27.7.4.1 Drain plugs shall be accessible. 27.7.5 Provision shall be made to minimize galvanic corrosion of those devices incompatible with the hull material, See ABYC E-9, Direct Current (DC) Electrical Systems OnBoats, and ABYC E-2, Cathodic Protection. 27.7.5.1 On metal hulled boats, metal thru-hull fittings shall be galvanically compatible with the hull plating or shall be electrically insulated from the hull plating. 27.7.5.2 Metallic thru-hull fittings and drain plugs, installed below the normal accumulation of bilge water, shall be bonded to the boat’s common ground point to minimizestray current corrosion. See ABYC E-2, Cathodic Protection.

RETURNED MERCHANDISE

WEBSITE No returns will be accepted without prior agreement from Forespar
® including instructions on method of shipmentand return authorization number. Customized merchandise is not returnable. Any unused, undamaged merchandiseaccepted for return will be subject to a 20% return and handling charge. www.forespar.com EMAIL Customer Servicesales@forespar.com

REPAIRS

Repairs necessary due to accident, misuse or normal wear and tear, will be made at customers request. Charges forsuch repairs will include published price of replacement parts and reasonable labor costs. All merchandise beingreturned for repair must be shipped prepaid and include return address and repair instructions. CATALOG DESIGN BY Mink Graphic Design (714) 434-1405Catalog Printed in Hong Kong
Catalog Price$2.00 A Return Authorization Number from our Customer Service department is required.Forespar ® is a registered trademark of Forespar Products Corporation.Product pricing, design and specifications are subject to change without notice.