Forespar’s Marelon thru-hulls and seacocks have been around for enough years now, that their plastic construction has proven to be reliable if properly maintained, i.e. lubricated regularly. There is no shortage of folks ready to tell you about the handle of a plastic seacock that has broken off in their hands and say “never again.” On the other hand, there’s always someone rushing to the chandlery to pick up some Marelon fittings after having a bronze thru-hull fail at the dock due to stray current corrosion. This is one of those areas where some honest self- and boat-assessment ought to be your guide. I.e., are you the type of person that will consistently lubricate and work the handle on your thru-hulls at least once a season, year after year? And are your thru-hulls in locations that could be broken by a heavy object, or even a foot, landing on them? If Marelon will work for you, check out these smart engine raw water valves. The neat thing is that there is a garden hose fitting for flushing saltwater out of the engine at the end of the season. Just attach the hose, flip the handle, and voilá!

link: www.forespar.com