Marelon durability in service

Our sailing email group would like to know if there are any durability concerns with Marelon. Specifically does the material become brittle or crack and if so, at what length of service and under what conditions? Are there any other cautions in selecting, installing and maintaining Marelon thru-hulls as replacements for bronze? Thank you. \Rog Jones For The Cal List on Yahoo! Cal 29+ #1 Swiss Navy Cal 2-30 #77 St. Lori's Comet

Right to the source! Thanks Rog....... Greg 1977 Cal 34 III - My First Love....................... 1986 P36-2 ----- Original Message ----- From: Rog Jones To: sa… [at] forespar.com Cc: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, December 23, 2006 6:36 PM Subject: [Cal_Boats] Marelon durability in service Our sailing email group would like to know if there are any durability concerns with Marelon. Specifically does the material become brittle or crack and if so, at what length of service and under what conditions? Are there any other cautions in selecting, installing and maintaining Marelon thru-hulls as replacements for bronze? Thank you. \Rog Jones For The Cal List on Yahoo! Cal 29+ #1 Swiss Navy Cal 2-30 #77 St. Lori's Comet

Here is the reply from Randy Risvold at Forespar. I think this is a lot better than conjecture about the durability of these products. Personally, I have used these valves and fittings on new and used boats for years and have been very pleased with the durability. \Rog Cal 29+ #1 Swiss Navy Cal 2-30 #77 St. Lori's Comet _____ From: Randall Risvold [mailto:ra… [at] forespar.com] Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2006 9:43 AM To: ro… [at] nvsailing.org Subject: Re: Marelon durability in service Marelon Valves and Fittings have been used in boats for over thirty years. They will not corrode as will Bronze and Marelon will not become brittle with age as will P.V.C. Attached is some further information regarding Marelon. Randall J. Risvold Forespar Products Corp. 22322 Gilberto RSM, Ca. 92688 (949) 858-8820 Office (949) 858-0505 Fax (949) 280-2077 Cell

Rog Jones wrote: > > Here is the reply from Randy Risvold at Forespar. > > > > I think this is a lot better than conjecture about the durability of > these products. > > > > Personally, I have used these valves and fittings on new and used > boats for years and have been very pleased with the durability. > Rog: Thanks for getting the information for us. Perhaps the conclusions we should draw are: (1) that any thru-hull fitting, and especially those with seacocks attached, needs to be protected against damage (principally, things falling against the fittings with great force, and in the case of metal, electrolysis); (2) which means that proper installation is critical--the devices should not be subject to physical abuse; (3) and regular maintenance and inspection are important. It's easy to err on the side of caution and choose bronze. It's a material that many of us have a feel for--we've used it, maybe broken it through abuse, and so we have a notion of how strong it is. Plastic, on the other hand, conjures up images of materials like nylon, or PVC, or polyethylene. We tend not to think of reinforced plastics, like the ones that form our hulls and keep the water out pretty well and endure abuse, too. An objective view would probably make us think more kindly of Marelon. After reading horror stories about stray currents in marinas, I'd be especially inclined toward it if I had shorepower hooked up. The last time I looked, my checkbook would plead for Marelon, too. Chris Campbell > > >

Good stuff it seems based on the data the company sent as well as the other information from experienced people. Maybe I will give it a try as I am at a dock with a ton of electric all around me. Thanks Rog! Greg ----- Original Message ----- From: Rog Jones To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Cc: ra… [at] forespar.com Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2006 1:51 PM Subject: [Cal_Boats] Marelon durability in service Here is the reply from Randy Risvold at Forespar. I think this is a lot better than conjecture about the durability of these products. Personally, I have used these valves and fittings on new and used boats for years and have been very pleased with the durability. \Rog Cal 29+ #1 Swiss Navy Cal 2-30 #77 St. Lori's Comet ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Randall Risvold [mailto:ra… [at] forespar.com] Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2006 9:43 AM To: ro… [at] nvsailing.org Subject: Re: Marelon durability in service Marelon Valves and Fittings have been used in boats for over thirty years. They will not corrode as will Bronze and Marelon will not become brittle with age as will P.V.C. Attached is some further information regarding Marelon. Randall J. Risvold Forespar Products Corp. 22322 Gilberto RSM, Ca. 92688 (949) 858-8820 Office (949) 858-0505 Fax (949) 280-2077 Cell