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My boat had old stem valves in it when I bought it for everything below the waterline, a no-no on boats.
I ripped everything out and installed all new bronze thru-hull fittings and bronze full flow valves.
One I needed was a 1 1/4" for the pump-out (overboard) and at the time one was not available and I was on a time schedule, so I bought what they had, a marelon for like 90 bucks. At the end of the season I pull off all hoses and spray lube in the valves. This year the marelon became very tight and hard to move and some water seeped (tiny bit) through the stem/handle last time I forced it to move while it was in the water. It looks clean, is very rarely used and maybe 2 or 3 seasons old. Anyway, I freaked (a 1 1/4" hole in the boat is huge) and I am not entirely comfortable using plastic (this has been an experiment) below the waterline, so I just bought a new bronze valve and installing it this weekend.
Wondering if others are using the marelon and having any problems or not and how old they are. Do you trust them???
They claim you are supposed to take apart and lubricate twice a year
Quote:
Originally Posted by Local Motion
Anyone using these with success or problems?
My boat had old stem valves in it when I bought it for everything below the waterline, a no-no on boats.
I ripped everything out and installed all new bronze thru-hull fittings and bronze full flow valves.
One I needed was a 1 1/4" for the pump-out (overboard) and at the time one was not available and I was on a time schedule, so I bought what they had, a marelon for like 90 bucks. At the end of the season I pull off all hoses and spray lube in the valves. This year the marelon became very tight and hard to move and some water seeped (tiny bit) through the stem/handle last time I forced it to move while it was in the water. It looks clean, is very rarely used and maybe 2 or 3 seasons old. Anyway, I freaked (a 1 1/4" hole in the boat is huge) and I am not entirely comfortable using plastic (this has been an experiment) below the waterline, so I just bought a new bronze valve and installing it this weekend.
Wondering if others are using the marelon and having any problems or not and how old they are. Do you trust them???
I have used them on trailer boats only. Maybe someone else can give us better info.
They are commonly used on aluminum boats since bronze fittings can't be used. The balls need to be greased annually but otherwise they work fine in below waterline applications on wet slipped boats.
Marlon valves look great but I will not use them any more. Brass or stainless steel are the only thing I will use after having problems with Marlon valves.
I have never had any problems with them. They seem to have their advantages like corrosion resistance and don't freeze up like bronze valves do when not used frequently. I just wouldn't use them if I were to keep my boat in the water for long periods of time.
While I usually prefer bronze I have had no issues with Marelon and do trust them. Exercise regularly and they are fine. Only time I have any question about them below the waterline is when they are mounted horizontally in a place the hose cannot be well secured close to the valve on a fast boat that takes a beating. Not that they would fail in that application (I have never seen it happen), just more comfortable with bronze, which of course should be supported as well in that application
Marlon valves look great but I will not use them any more. Brass or stainless steel are the only thing I will use after having problems with Marlon valves.
You will have trouble with brass valves below the waterline, especially in salt water. Stainless steel also to a lesser extent.
What you should be using below the waterline is bronze.
Marelon valves below the waterline?
