How to plumb a faucet

druid

druid

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Apr 22, 2009
837
Ontario 32 Pender Harbour
You'd think I was the only one in the Universe doing this, but I'm sure SOMEONE else has done it...
I'm installing faucets in the sinks in the galley and the head. I'm using 1/2" potable-water hose. I CANNOT find an adapter to hook the hose to the faucet! Apparently the faucet is 1/2" NPS (Straight), while all the adapters for my hose is 1/2" NPT (Tapered). I finally found a grey plastic fitting that fit on the faucet, but apparently there are two sizes of "1/2 inch hose". I managed to get the hose on after heating it, but there's no way I'll ever get it off again.
WHERE can I get a fitting for a 1/2" hose to a faucet? Or: what do (did) YOU do to install a faucet?

druid
 
kimelmore

kimelmore

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Dec 28, 2010
462
Catalina 380 san pedro
I found everything I needed to do the two head sinks and the galley sink at Home Depot in the plumbing department.
 
ggrizzard

ggrizzard

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May 27, 2004
2,038
Hunter 30_74-83 Ponce Inlet FL
I did as well but I had to take the old pieces into the store to match the appropriate replacement parts.
 
sailcapt340

sailcapt340

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Sep 26, 2008
677
Hunter 340 0 Wickford, RI
Just last year I did my entire boats water system (2000 Hunter 340). I upgraded from the original size lines to 15mm. The best prices I found were from FreshWaterSystems in SC. www.freshwatersystems.com. They offer the widest selection of fittings and sizes and fast delivery.
The job was hard but the piping and fittings were easy to get. Try them.
 
THECUSCUS

THECUSCUS

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Sep 25, 2008
960
Macgregor & Island Packet VENTURE 25 & IP-38 NORTH EAST, MD
Use a short flex hose from faucet to a shutoff valve (you are installing a valve??) with NPT threads on the one side. Look under your sinks at home. And a +1 for using the push to connect fittings and plastic water lines. As cheap or cheaper than hose, and should last/hold up better.
 
druid

druid

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Apr 22, 2009
837
Ontario 32 Pender Harbour
I've tried HD, Lowes, Home Hardware, Rona, Madiera Marine, Martin Marine, Steveston Marine and Hardware... None had the correct fitting. I don't want to go online since I need to check the fittings to make sure they work (I take along a faucet and a small piece of hose).

I got the grey one to work, but the hose barb WAS the wrong size (too big). Why are there two different sizes of "1/2 inch" hose?

druid
 
druid

druid

.
Apr 22, 2009
837
Ontario 32 Pender Harbour
THECUSCUS said:
Use a short flex hose from faucet to a shutoff valve (you are installing a valve??) with NPT threads on the one side. Look under your sinks at home. And a +1 for using the push to connect fittings and plastic water lines. As cheap or cheaper than hose, and should last/hold up better.
Click to expand
I'm not sure the flex hose will work for me. The shutoff valves are "upstream" of the pump, and there are several Tees between the pump and the faucets (CW goes from pump to galley faucet, head faucet (15 ft away) and HW tank. HW goes from HW tank to galley faucet and head faucet).

druid
 
jibes138

jibes138

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Jan 27, 2008
3,086
ODay 35 Beaufort, NC
Up in Canada the dimensions might be in the French system EH? How about McMaster Carr?
 
Ukeluthier

Ukeluthier

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Jan 7, 2015
77
Menger 19 Catboat Annapolis, MD
I just did the same job and found 1/2" NPS to 1/2" hose barb adapters in brass at my local Ace Hardware.
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,697
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
I do this with regularity. The section in any home center with the flexible SS hoses with varying ends; compression, ballcock, toilet, NPT male, NPT female etc. (sometimes called IPS) is where you'll find the answer. One end will go to the faucet and one end will mate to NPT. These hoses feature gaskets/seals so they work with both tapered (male adapter end) and straight threads (often found at the faucet end). You then find the adapter you need to get your hose to the end you chose for the flexible SS hoses..

I did a faucet on a Cape Dory 36 about two months ago & the boat was plumbed with 1/2" clear reinforced PVC hose. Two 1/2" male hose adapters, two hose clamps, and two 12" 1/2" X 1/2" SS faucet hoses and done.. Took all of about 3 minutes at my plumbing wholesaler to find all the fittings.
 
druid

druid

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Apr 22, 2009
837
Ontario 32 Pender Harbour
Maine, I looked at those SS hoses, thinking they MIGHT be the answer. But they didn't have any that would work for me. Then end that didn't connect to the faucet was either 3/8" NPS or 3/4" "Garden hose".

It DOES seem like things are different here in Canada...

druid
 
Bob J.

Bob J.

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Apr 14, 2009
774
Sabre 28 NH
Maybe the fittings on your faucet are set up to accommodate a 3/8 lavatory supply. If that's the case you will not find an adapter that can connect directly to the faucet/boat tubing without it leaking. You may need to go with the 3/8 lav supplies at the faucet then adapt to a 3/8 compression x whatever size your boat tubing is.
 
T

twalker H260

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Dec 2, 2003
764
Hunter 260 winnipeg, Manitoba
Fittings here in canada are for the most part the same as the US. you are running into the difference between how different types of tubing and pipe are measured. Some use inside diameter, some use outside. Those using outside often have different wall thicknesses based on the material used. If you used the grey adapters they are likely intended for polyethylene pipe (black irrigation pipe).

Instead of using 1/2" hose switch to 1/2" pex with crimp on Stainless crimp rings. Not see through but as easy to use as the 15mm tubing that hunters originally shipped with. You can then use the standard home plumbing parts that you will find at home depot, Lowes, Rona etc. Standard residential plumbing here uses shutoffs (valves) that go to 3/8" compression nuts/tubes to fasten to the flexible risers that attach to the faucet. (there is a 1/2" pex to 3/8" compression - male if you don't want to put in a shutoff under the sink.) You should then be able to use any standard faucet riser - steel braided, chrome, copper or polyethylene (these will use 3/8" compression at one end with 1/2" female at the other. you will also have a broad selection of adapters, connectors, valves etc. to get everything connected from your pump, to filters, to faucets.

I switched to regular Pex from the 15mm as virtually no one in the landlocked prairies carries fittings for it!

I will also vote NOT to use the push on connectors. We trailer sail and the vibrations on the road caused the push on fittings at the freshwater tank to work free, draining the entire tank into forward stowage compartments and into the bilge! - almost cost a weekend of sailing! When pressurized push on's work ok but if the pressure isn't sufficient they can release/leak from vibration in the lines.

(look for a braided steel faucet riser from Canadian tire) for the pipe to faucet connection.)
 
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Meriachee

Meriachee

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Aug 1, 2011
3,972
Catalina 270 255 Wabamun. Welcome to the marina
jibes138 said:
Up in Canada the dimensions might be in the French system EH? How about McMaster Carr?
Click to expand
McMaster-you-in-Canada-are-a-bunch-of-terrorists-and-we-will-not-sell-to-you-Carr? Yeah, those guys. :)
 
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