Inline Port

[lehighsail]

After working on winterizing systems I thought about how much easier it would be if the lines coming in after the thru hulls had inline ports to connect a hose thru which AF could be sucked.
I searched the forums and found a reference to this by Nahart51 on Oct 25, 2013 in Jen and Fred thread titled Catalina Winterize.

My questions is then, is there a reason not to do this? I searched the internet and could not find such a brass connector that would have two barbs and a hose connector of the proper size. I did find ones that are made for auto AF flushing but they appear to be made of plastic and don't know if I would want to trust them below the waterline.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

 

[alexco38]

Bronze T fitting

I have 3: head, engine, water tank

 

[CloudDiver]

This a very good observation, and IMHO should be done at the factory. The problem is adding the additional fittings comes at a cost to the builder in labor (mostly) and additional material as well as production time. Generally speaking the industry doesn't feel the majority of hulls will reside in a climate requiring full winterization, and the small majority that do will rely on professional yard services to accomplish it. Long and short of it is, yes those fittings are smart and creates great efficiency to the process, but its on the owner to add that option.

Case in point in other industries, my Toy-hauler has no insulation on the water tanks (fresh, grey, or black), or on the plumbing. Its not designed to or prepared for use in winter climates and storage in freezing temps is on me to prepare for. But I live in SoCal, so sorry bout your luck suckas! (kidding, really)

On a weirdly related note, we have wonderfully hard water here so calcium and other mineral deposits play havoc on my household plumbing. It has already claimed the life of one $1000 gas fired water heater and various fittings and valves. If I added the correct fittings in key locations along with an independent pump I could cut off the water main and create a closed loop system to circulate de-scaler through the whole house. This would only be needed every two or three years but there is quite an investment in new fittings/labor to install something like this. My house is actually only 10 years old...

After working on winterizing systems I thought about how much easier it would be if the lines coming in after the thru hulls had inline ports to connect a hose thru which AF could be sucked.
I searched the forums and found a reference to this by Nahart51 on Oct 25, 2013 in Jen and Fred thread titled Catalina Winterize.

My questions is then, is there a reason not to do this? I searched the internet and could not find such a brass connector that would have two barbs and a hose connector of the proper size. I did find ones that are made for auto AF flushing but they appear to be made of plastic and don't know if I would want to trust them below the waterline.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

 

[lehighsail]

Alexco38: Could you please let me know where you found the Bronze Barbed fittings. I have searched the internet and found none of a usable size or configuration. Pictures would be great too. Thanks.

 

[Ron20324]

Alexco38: Could you please let me know where you found the Bronze Barbed fittings. I have searched the internet and found none of a usable size or configuration. Pictures would be great too. Thanks.

It would be real nice if everyone would get that most basic boater's bible- the West Marine catalog. Try bronze tailpieces.

 

[woodster]

look in the Groco catalog they have a good selection of fittings and i am sure you can purchase them at SBO store

 

[lehighsail]

Previous to posting my question, I did search the internet and both of the sources suggested, West Marine and Grocco, but neither seemed to have the piece. I am not looking for a tailpiece, but rather a Tee. The bronze tee should have 3/4" barbs on two of the ends and and a threaded male or female (3/4) on the third or middle end.

 

[woodster]

get a bronze tee and two hose barbs along with a 2 inch nipple and a end cap for the tee leg and make it up ...that way you do not have to trust a plastic gizmo or worry about corrosion.....and you are good to go....

 

[Chris Patterson]

I think this is what you need, a three way ball valve. About 30 bucks at Fisheries Supply..

 

[alexco38]

Many marine plumbing supplier has it.

Alexco38: Could you please let me know where you found the Bronze Barbed fittings. I have searched the internet and found none of a usable size or configuration. Pictures would be great too. Thanks.

http://www.defender.com/category.jsp?path=-1|2243574|2243585&id=2243593

http://www.groco.net/fittings.htm

 

[lehighsail]

While checking out all the suggested leads I came across a website that had exactly what I was looking for. I am going to order it and give it a try and see how it works in the spring on the engine intake line. Thanks again everyone for all the suggestions.