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Appreciation post: that old brass faucet I almost threw overboard
I bought a 1975 Pearson 30 last fall and the galley faucet was this ugly, corroded brass thing I planned to swap out immediately. After three months of looking at new plastic ones online, I finally decided to try cleaning it with vinegar and a toothbrush instead. Took me about 90 minutes of scrubbing on a Sunday night during my night shift weekend off, and it came up looking like something out of a restoration catalog. The o-ring was shot so I tracked down a $3 rebuild kit from a marine supply place in Norfolk. Now I get compliments on it every time someone steps aboard. Makes me wonder how many other old fittings I've written off too fast. Anyone else save a part you were sure was junk?
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robinc6614d ago
Huh, I gotta disagree actually! I replaced a perfectly good brass seacock on my old boat with a fancy new Marelon one and never looked back. Brass is maintenance nightmare in salt water - even if it looks nice, that dezincification will sneak up on you. My old one looked great after cleaning too but I caught it starting to crack around the threads. Pretty is pretty, but I'll take peace of mind over a showpiece any day.
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That $3 rebuild kit probably saved me from a $200 headache later, so I get where you're coming from @robinc66. My old faucet is so shiny now I'm half convinced it's just jealous of all the attention modern plastic gets. I caught myself staring at a rusty hose clamp yesterday wondering if a little vinegar could fix it too. My wife found me at the kitchen table scrubbing it with a toothbrush and said "you know that's a 50-cent part from Home Depot, right?" Still, something feels right about getting another season out of an old piece, even if it is a ticking time bomb.
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