Skin Fittings & Seacocks

Guidi Through-Hull FittingsDespite the findings from the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch and ISO standards, brass skin fittings still form the vast majority on offer from many marine stores. Quoting from the Random Harvest Report No 28/2000..." Brass is not accepted for use in underwater through-hull fittings"....."because of its susceptibility to dezincification in seawater and the ready availability of superior alternatives". (See the full report here) Brass is commonly made of 60-70% copper and 30-40% Zinc, and we all know what happens to our Zinc anodes. Dezincification is the process where the zinc content of brass fittings slowly dissolves leaving a porous and fragile shell.

The solution is to use materials made for the job.

Bronze fittings are without doubt the very best you can buy, quality products could easily last the life of the boat, however they are not cheap, especially for valves, but taking into consideration the costs of lifting the boat, boat yard costs as well as the work involved in changing the fittings, then the difference overall might not be significant.

DZR Brass (Dezincification Resistant). Accepted for use in seawater, it is a low zinc content alloy which is heat treated after production. The resulting alloy is resistant to dezincification. It would be a good choice for those of us on a tighter budget.

Stainless Steel does not suffer from dezincification as it has no zinc in its composition however it is not a good choice for skin fittings and seacocks below the water line. Stainless requires oxygen to maintain its stainless properties. Areas starved from oxygen can corrode very quickly due to crevice corrosion.

19.00 ex. VAT   22.99
Top quality DZR (Dezincification Resistant) full bore BSP ball valves manufactured by Effebi. DZR is a dezincification resistant copper alloy manufactured...
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13.71 ex. VAT   16.59
Stainless steel replacement handle for the original zinc plated steel handle of Effebi Isis DZR ball valves. The zinc plated steel handle and locking nut...
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16.36 ex. VAT   19.80
Quality solid bronze thru-hull manufactured by Guidi. RINA validated & compliant with UNI EN ISO 9093-1 Large flanged hex nut and BSP thread....
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31.36 ex. VAT   37.95
Quality solid bronze thru-hull with integrated strainer, manufactured by Guidi.  Large flanged hex nut and BSP thread. Manufactured from solid bronze: UNI...
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12.64 ex. VAT   15.29
Quality solid bronze scoop/strainer designed to fit the 1260 thru-hull fittings manufactured by Guidi. The scoop is secured to the hull with four screws...
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6.52 ex. VAT   7.89
Quality solid bronze hose connector manufactured by Guidi. EN 10226/1 (BS 21) - BSPT male thread with large flanged hex nut. Manufactured from...
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Quality solid bronze 45º female - female elbow manufactured by Guidi. EN 10226/1 (BS 21) - BSP female - female thread. Manufactured from solid...
Discontinued Product
 

5.12 ex. VAT   6.20
Quality solid bronze  male - male BSPT nipple manufactured by Guidi. EN 10226/1 (BS 21) - BSPT male - male thread. Manufactured from solid bronze:...
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6.77 ex. VAT   8.19
Quality solid bronze 90º female - female elbow manufactured by Guidi. EN 10226/1 (BS 21) - BSP female - female thread. Manufactured from solid...
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9.00 ex. VAT   10.89
Quality solid bronze female equal tee manufactured by Guidi. EN 10226/1 (BS 21) - BSP female thread. Manufactured from solid bronze: UNI 7013/8...
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3.13 ex. VAT   3.79
Quality solid bronze male BSPT - female BSP hexagonal bushing manufactured by Guidi. EN 10226/1 (BS 21) - BSPT male - BSP female thread. Manufactured...
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6.60 ex. VAT   7.99
Quality solid bronze 90° male - female elbow manufactured by Guidi. EN 10226/1 (BS 21) - BSPT male - BSP female thread. Manufactured from solid...
In stock