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.

10.70 ex. VAT   12.95
Quality solid bronze 45° male - female elbow manufactured by Guidi. EN 10226/1 (BS 21) - BSPT Male -  BSP female thread. Manufactured from solid...
In stock
 

19.58 ex. VAT   23.69
Quality solid bronze thru-hull manufactured by Maestrini in Italy with large flanged hex nut and BSP thread. Manufactured from solid bronze: CB491K...
10 days
 

8.34 ex. VAT   10.09
Quality solid bronze male - female 90° elbow manufactured by Maestrini in Italy. BSPT male - BSP female thread.  Manufactured from solid bronze: CB491K...
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6.52 ex. VAT   7.89
Quality solid bronze male - male equal nipple manufactured by Maestrini in Italy. BSPT male - BSPT male thread.  Manufactured from solid bronze: CB491K...
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6.60 ex. VAT   7.99
Quality solid bronze male hose connector (hose tail) manufactured by Maestrini in Italy. BSP male thread with hexagonal casting for easy installation....
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37.18 ex. VAT   44.99
Quality solid bronze thru-hull strainer manufactured by Maestrini in Italy with large flanged hex nut and BSP thread. The wedge shaped strainer can be...
In stock
 

6.19 ex. VAT   7.49
Quality solid bronze female - female 90° elbow manufactured by Maestrini in Italy. BSP female - BSP female thread.  Manufactured from solid bronze:...
In stock
 

90.04 ex. VAT   108.95
Patented Gunmetal bronze BSP ball valve with polymer ball approved by RINA for use below the waterline on pleasure vessels. The Maestrini Vittoria ball...
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16.69 ex. VAT   20.19
Quality DZR (Dezincification Resistant) full bore BSP ball valves manufactured by Maestrini. DZR is a dezincification resistant copper alloy manufactured...
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7.51 ex. VAT   9.09
Quality solid CR brass male - female 45° elbow manufactured by Maestrini in Italy. BSPT male - BSP female thread. Dezincification Resistant...
In stock