PEX for water and/or waste hoses?

[zigzag930]

Sorry if this has been posted already, but SAM's does not allow 3 letter searches so I can't tell if PEX tubing has been discussed.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone has replaced the "clear reinforced vinyl hose", copper pipe and/or PVC waste lines using PEX. I would think it would be a great replacement for copper water supply lines and that "clear" flexible hose used for various water connections, but what about 1" PEX for waste lines or seawater intake connections to a thru-hull?

They make PEX in 1", but not sure if it's odor resistant, etc.

So if anyone has any input on this, please share.

 

[Pettigrewr]

I was considering PEX for water lines but after careful consideration, went another way. Pex likes sweeps and not bends (it kinks with bends) and pricing out all the fittings and tools needed, I went back to the old stand-by of copper tubing with flares and reinforced plastic drinking water approved tubing with barb fittings and double clamps.

 

[Pascal]

Copper is proven. Most 50 years old Hatteras still have the original copper. I have redone all my plumbing, not because it had issues but because I moved everything around, and used copper with SharkByte fittings. Some of it is 4 years old and I haven’t had a single leak. I ve pulled and yanked at some of the fittings under pressure and not a drop.

 

[zigzag930]

I was actually going to ask about shark-bites also, as they get lots of vibration on a boat that doesn't happen in a home.

Glad to hear they are holding with no issues.

 

[Pettigrewr]

Pascal did it perfect!
Copper and shark bite fittings!
If I was doing a complete change, that's the way to go.

 

[BOATER BOB]

Redone my water lines with Pex and brass fittings 7 years ago no leaks
Bob

 

[q240z]

I'm using PEX on my Roamer refit, in part, because it's an aluminum hull and the only pitting on the hull interior was directly under or in close vicinity to Chris Craft's original copper fuel and water lines.

Another benefit to PEX regardless of hull material is that, if you're in places that freeze in winter, it doesn't burst or develop cracks should water in the lines freeze. Every big boat I've owned that had copper lines also had sections that previous owners had bypassed with hose because the copper tube burst during a freeze. PEX can expand and then returns to its original size when the ice inside melts. It also insulates rather than conducting cold/heat from the air to the fluid inside the tube.

The Pro PEX I use bends fairly well, but I do have a bag of TEE and 90° elbow fittings that come in handy in some places.

 

[rsmith]

I'm using PEX on my Roamer refit, in part, because it's an aluminum hull and the only pitting on the hull interior was directly under or in close vicinity to Chris Craft's original copper fuel and water lines.

Another benefit to PEX regardless of hull material is that, if you're in places that freeze in winter, it doesn't burst or develop cracks should water in the lines freeze. Every big boat I've owned that had copper lines also had sections that previous owners had bypassed with hose because the copper tube burst during a freeze. PEX can expand and then returns to its original size when the ice inside melts. It also insulates rather than conducting cold/heat from the air to the fluid inside the tube.

The Pro PEX I use bends fairly well, but I do have a bag of TEE and 90° elbow fittings that come in handy in some places.

Unfortunately it does freeze and burst. I had it happen in the cellar way at my moms house in Pennsylvania. I had heard the same about it not bursting but it sure does. Another thing I found was the mice really like to chew on it. If you’ve never had the pleasure of having a rat on the boat it probably wouldn’t bother you. But I’ve had the unfortunate experience several times and they like plastic.

 

[q240z]

No rats on the boat, and I've never had a problem with PEX in my homes, either.

But about freeze-bursting, Pro PEX, the grade I use, can expand to 2x its original size without any damage. That's far more than water expands when it freezes. This type of PEX tube is assembled using an expander that stretches 1/2" ID tube that I use to 3/4", and then it just returns to its former size. That's how this type of PEX seals to fittings. There are other types that I've heard aren't very flexible and require Shark Bite or compression fittings. Perhaps that's what your mother has?

Also, I've heard of fittings bursting from freezing. But they're not made of the same PEX material. They're either hard plastic or brass.

 

[Rich60175]

PEX uses corner adapters to give a nice rounded 90 deg, I believe a 6” tight radius.

 

[Captain Ralph]

Unfortunately it does freeze and burst. I had it happen in the cellar way at my moms house in Pennsylvania. I had heard the same about it not bursting but it sure does. Another thing I found was the mice really like to chew on it. If you’ve never had the pleasure of having a rat on the boat it probably wouldn’t bother you. But I’ve had the unfortunate experience several times and they like plastic.

Pex or the earlier Poly?

 

[Beachcomber]

There are 3 types of Pex A B & C Pex A is the expandable connection type and can expand up to 7 time its original size and return to normal. It is very flexible and available in different colors.

 

[rsmith]

Pex or the earlier Poly?

PEX that I put in 3 years ago

 

[rustybucket]

I use pex on quite a bit of stuff. Even air lines in the shop are 1" pex. The thicker stuff 3/4-1" doesn't bend as well but the 1/2" bends very easily and they have 90deg plastic sweep guides that you clip the pex in for 90deg turns where you don't want to use a fitting, has a 3" or so radius and will not allow the pex to crimp/kink.

I prefer the brass pex fittings with the stainless steel crimp rings. These crimp rings are removable with a screwdriver/pliers so you can undo and re-make connections fairly easily.

The shark bite fittings are nice but REALLY add up in cost when doing larger projects. The brass fitting with SS crimps are actually pretty cheap comparatively but you need to have an $80 crimper tool to make them up.

Is way better than having to deal with pvc glue or copper flares...etc. Bonus that all fittings and pex are available at all big box stores hd, lowes..etc. On the boat (and in the shop) I have a pex tray/kit with assorted fittings, crimps and all the tools necessary to make connections. So on the boat, if I have a problem, or need to do something, I just grab the box and do the project/fix. Very handy.

I have pex on my raw water intake for my AC units and pretty much all the fresh water on the boat is pex.

I'm not sure the big pex would be good for waste lines, it's REALLY stiff and unless you just had straight runs, would probably be somewhat of a pain to work with. Also not sure about it leeching smells.

 

[kidzstore]

I'm using PEX on my Roamer refit, in part, because it's an aluminum hull and the only pitting on the hull interior was directly under or in close vicinity to Chris Craft's original copper fuel and water lines.Another benefit to PEX regardless of hull material is that, if you're in places that freeze in winter, it doesn't burst or develop cracks should water in the lines freeze. Every big boat I've owned that had copper lines also had sections that previous owners had bypassed with hose because the copper tube burst during a freeze. PEX can expand and then returns to its original size when the ice inside melts. It also insulates rather than conducting cold/heat from the air to the fluid inside the tube.The Pro PEX I use bends fairly well, but I do have a bag of TEE and 90° elbow fittings that come in handy in some places.

Fist off I want to correct the person that pex should only break at a joint not the pex itself. It it did crack or tear it was previously damaged someway. I use pex everywhere underground, underwater, boat, rv and house. It always seems to last the longest and you can turn or move at joints and they still never leak. They also say never to crimp twice but I have even done that and we are 10 years in now. Just did some repairs today on the old grey stuff on my 65MY and turned out perfect. Next on the agenda is running all new lines to the Heads.

 

[firbanks]

As my crappy gray polybutylene joints leak I am replacing sections of gray pipe with PEX. I’m using the shark bite connections to go from gray pipe to PEX. For the PEX to PEX I’m using the brass crimp-on fittings (which need the tool mentioned above) which are easy. I keep plenty of extra fittings (including crimp plugs) to be able to keep the rest of the boat up in case of leaks (which isn’t rare with polybutylene fittings).