Seacocks- open or closed?

[Flacht6]

What do you guys think should I leave the seacocks opened or closed?

I opened them to drain them, but then closed them thinking that would prevent bugs and other critters from crawling in.

what say you?

 

[GSENT]

Have the boat ready to go back in the water, which would mean open.

 

[lakecabin36]

I leave mine open, never had a problem. Ours is stored indoors though.

 

[throwback2]

Leave them open.The only time I winterized my old Pacemaker in the water,it was pulled out with the seacocks closed.The next spring when she was put back in the water,I opened the valves and realized both were cracked.I'll never do that again.

 

[AllDodge]

If winterizing in the water need to use a plate clamped over the top of the sea strainer with a male air fitting. Attach air line, open seacock and blow air thru to empty water from seacock. Close the seacock and then remove air line from strainer.

To the OP question, if your on the hard I would leave them open. What ever small insect gets in there will be purged out in the spring. Now if the boat will be outside unused during the summer, I would close them so things like mud dobbers, or other winged insects don't build a nest

 

[throwback2]

My boat didn't have sea strainers,wedge type on the bottom.

 

[AllDodge]

Need to pull the hose off and suck out all water if done again