Pex for Water Lines?

[Play'N Hooky Too]

I was wondering if there was any reason that Pex piping should not be used for replacing the water lines on a boat. My 46C originally had copper water lines but over the years as those failed the previous owner(s) had patched them by splicing in sections of flexible water line. Last evening one of those splices popped loose (hot water line behind closet in main stateroom) which was not something I really wanted to have to deal with at 9 pm.

I don't really want to run new copper lines and am not too crazy about going with the reinforced vinyl water line/hose either. I was considering just replacing everything with Pex. Any thoughts or experience with this on a boat?

Thanks
Alan

 

[carolinacoast]

Lot's of newer boats have Pex.

 

[Boatsb]

Lots of newer boats are built like crap too.

That's not a good endorsement.

 

[SEVEN]

Look how long the copper has lasted. PEX hasn’t been in business long for me to see the true test of time.

 

[MV Mystery]

Look up KITEC plumbing failures - a type of pex , that has been an issue with some apartments in North America. Basically a latent defect that can rupture at any time. I have PEX on my boat as OEM (1989) and have not had any issues to speak of, but after reading about kitec in a recent real estate contract- it made me wonder about my boat.

 

[GJH]

Go look at a new Hatteras and other high end boats. Pex-type plumbing. The press-on fittings such as Qest, SeaFit, etc make installation and servicing and adding new stuff so much easier.

 

[DavidSmith]

My house was redone with PEX and I got a 25 year guarantee. No problems in 5 years and the building inspector claimed it could withstand a Texas freeze. I have been using PEX with push-on connections from Home Depot to replace sections on the boat as problems develop. The old grey plastic tubing typically cracks at the screw together fittings with age and stress.

David Smith
Seabrook, TX

 

[Boatsb]

I have original 1966 copper that's been almost trouble free except where the po did bad things.

If it lasted 50 + years so far what would be the improvements?

I have more issues with the faucets and valves than the copper lines.

 

[Pascal]

I bet the original copper wasn't replaced or spliced because it failed but because it was modified by a butcher. Apologies to professional butchers

Copper on my boat is 50 years old and hasn't failed. Whatever I am replacing because of new deaign, I use new copper with sharkbyte fittings. Easy to use and reliable. I ve tried to shake them loose, pull on them, mis align them as test and they don't leak a drop

 

[BOATER BOB]

I plumbed my boat with pex for the water works and used copper for the fuel lines .Pex is a good choice.
Bob

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I bet the original copper wasn't replaced or spliced because it failed but because it was modified by a butcher. Apologies to professional butchers

Copper on my boat is 50 years old and hasn't failed. Whatever I am replacing because of new deaign, I use new copper with sharkbyte fittings. Easy to use and reliable. I ve tried to shake them loose, pull on them, mis align them as test and they don't leak a drop

I have always used flare fittings like OEM, but now that Sharkbites are around, I can see that they would be much easier and probably cheaper too. Its hard to find those heavy duty flare fittings anymore and when you do they are expensive. Plus its not easy to flare that thick wall piping that Hatteras used.

 

[Play'N Hooky Too]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

It seems that the original copper lines that I have were either not very heavy or have eroded over the years to the point were they are paper thin in some spots. A lot of the repairs that the previous owner made are not close to fixtures. Some are right in the middle of the straight runs that go through the engine room. In some areas the pipes look as good as the day they were installed but in others they have heavy scaling that looks like hickory bark.

To be worry free I would pretty much have to go through and replace all of it. Unless there is some serious concerns with using Pex, I would prefer to go that route versus having to re-run a hundred feet of copper.

 

[Boatsb]

Copper is antimicrobial. Copper is tried and true.

 

[whoover]

Great topic, I need to replace some fittings and copper. I am having trouble finding the sharkbite fittings that will fit the 1/2" OD copper. Would anyone happen to have a part number for what they are using.

Thanks
Walt Hoover

 

[rourkeh]

When I did complete refit on my boat I ripped out all the circa 1982 copper plumbing from the entire boat. I replaced with Whale Quick connect fittings and pipe. Much better system, no leaks in 7 years. Easy to run and inexpensive.

 

[BOATER BOB]

Took out old copper completely and replumbed with Pex the nice thing about pex is you can run your new main lines out of 3/4 pex and branch off to each fixture with 1/2 inch pipe so if your taking a shower and someone is washing dishes its not much pressure lose.Also its not effected by salt water.I used the copper crimp rings and bought the pex tools.Like falling of a log installing.
Bob

 

[jrbrein]

My home is 20 years old and has all white Pex with steel crimp bands. Never had a problem. I own rental properties with copper and Pex and during several severe cold snaps I had copper pipes split and leak but never with the Pex lines.

I do a lot of plumbing and use Shark Bite connectors along with steel crimp bands and Pex for all new work. What I do not do is use any connectors that will become inaccessible after the job is completed. That would hold true for soldered copper pipe connections as well...I have seen them fail.

Jon

 

[motoryacht lover]

We have been using Pex for new construction and refits of commercial space since it came out. And we have not had any issues with Pex. Does a boat present different challenges for pipe than a building? Maybe when it runs through a hot engine room also I think bracing of the Pex might be more important than for copper. But we have had no issues with Pex since it came out. Also we use the metal Tees, 90’s, etc., no “plastic” fittings. I don’t even know if Pex makes a Pex fitting. The original Quest pipe that definetly was a problem did make the plastic fittings and they were horrible.