Has anyone replaced their domestic water piping?

[eherlihy]

I just bought 100' each of red and blue PEX-A, an assortment of fittings, and a PEX-A expansion tool, so that I can replace all of the 40 year old Polybutylene (PB) pipe in my O'day 35. The PB pipe is grey.

I have had a couple of small leaks over the 15 years that I have owned the boat, but I still recall the broker recommending that I replace all of the pipe when I bought the boat.

Google Gemini says this:

"
For marine water systems, PEX-A is generally considered the best choice, followed by PEX-B, while PB (Polybutylene) should be strictly avoided due to reliability issues and bans in many regions. [1, 2, 3]
Here is how they compare for boat installations:

• PEX-A: The top choice for marine plumbing. It is highly flexible, making it incredibly easy to route through tight, twisting bilge spaces and bulkheads. It utilizes expansion fittings, which maintain the full interior diameter of the pipe and ensure maximum water flow to your fixtures. It also boasts excellent freeze-resistance. The main drawback is that it requires an expensive expansion tool. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
• PEX-B: A stiffer, slightly more rigid pipe. While functional, the insert-style fittings have a smaller inner diameter, which creates flow restrictions and can reduce water pressure in your boat's system. It cannot be expanded, and if it kinks, the damaged section must be cut out. However, it is cheaper and uses standard crimp or clamp tools. [1, 2, 3, 4]
• PB (Polybutylene): Obsolete and notoriously prone to leaking and degradation when exposed to chlorine over time. You should not use PB for a new installation or repair. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

"

 

[Project_Mayhem]

There's a gentleman on here with a Catalina 310 or 320 that redid his plumbing within the past year. Unfortunately I can't recall his username but I bet with some searching, you could find the thread

 

[kloudie1]

In my humble opinion, the whole PB thing is a bit overblown. Of course, the safe thing is to replace it but most of the failures in PB were in attics of houses. Of course, a failure in the attic means a huge mess and I think that is where the overreaction came from. Additionally, I seem to remember that only one manufacturer was responsible for most of the bursting failures. The PB in my boat is 42 years old and looks fine. I have had a couple of leaks at fittings over the years, but snugging them up stopped the weeping. I do agree that if you are going to change it, you are heading in the right direction..

EDIT: my experience is in a place that pretty much never freezes, so that may color my comments.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

I just bought 100' each of red and blue PEX-A, an assortment of fittings, and a PEX-A expansion tool, so that I can replace all of the 40 year old Polybutylene (PB) pipe in my O'day 35. The PB pipe is grey.

You're off to a good start. What's your question ?

 

[colemj]

I also think the worry over PB is overstated. Our previous boat came from the manufacturer with PB and Qest fittings. All of their boats did, and they are 30yrs old now and the PB plumbing is still fine on them.

But if you are intent on changing it, Pex is the right choice. Personally, I prefer push-fit or speed-fit connectors rather than the permanent ones because they allow more future flexibility and allow for changes after installation.

Mark

 

[eherlihy]

You're off to a good start. What's your question ?

You're right. - I think that when I posted the AI stuff, my question was overwritten.

My question is whether anyone here has done this? If so, how long did it take and there any tips that you can share?

 

[Dave]

This thread is locked to avoid any confusion. The OP has reposted the same information in another thread with photos. Since the new post includes more information this thread was closed.