Leaking water lines

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Sep 19, 2006
6
- - Ft. Pierce, Florida
I am the new owner of a '97 Beneteau 461.I suspect a leak in the hot and cold rubber water hoses. They lead from the starboard manifold and go between the hulls, emerging under the port head. How can I replace them Or leave them and install new ones. Thanks and have a good day.
 
Jul 20, 2010
81
Precision P28 Lake Ouachita
This is just a suggestion and I have not tried this myself but I always thought if my boat developed such a leak I would disconnect the hose on both ends. Then I would attach a new water line to one end (very securely) and use the other end to pull the new line into place. Much as you would change out a halyard. This is not without risk as I can attest to having lost a halyard inside my mast. But that's a whole other story.
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
You can secure the new hose to the old with a coupling or wire them together and pull them through. I would apply some tape over the connection to mitigate the chances of the hoses hanging up on something.

Another option is to put a line on the end of the hose and pull the old one out. Then you would use the line to pull the new one through.

The only really tricky part is if the hoses go thru a bulkhead that may be small.
 
Aug 19, 2004
239
Hunter 35 Vancouver, BC
..... I would attach a new water line to one end (very securely) and use the other end to pull the new line into place
Electricians have the most amazing lubricant for pulling cables through conduits. Not expensive and slipperier than anything. Also manages to eventually dry out without leaving a gooey mess. Amazing stuff that would be a big help for this job.
 
Jan 7, 2011
1
Santana 30 San Francisco Bay
Neil McDonald said:
Electricians have the most amazing lubricant for pulling cables through conduits. Not expensive and slipperier than anything. Also manages to eventually dry out without leaving a gooey mess. Amazing stuff that would be a big help for this job.
The yellow stuff leaves a lot of crud. Use the clear kind if you were to try it.
 
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Mar 29, 2010
12
Beneteau 461 Oceanis St. Thomas, USVI
Before I would attempt this repair, I would make absolutely certain the water is not coming from someplace else.

I just finished this repair on my boat. To tell which hose is leaking, simply connect a new hose (hot or cold) above the floor and test. If the pressure system does not cycle (after you have pressurized the system), you have guessed correctly and need to replace that hose. I would suggest just replacing both the hot and cold hoses at the same time. Do yourself a favor and order the correct hoses from Beneteau directly. Aftermarket hoses will not last and are larger in diameter, leading to doing this difficult repair twice (ask me how I know this).

In an email from Beneteau for my 1999 461 Oceanis:

There were two different hose systems used on your boat.
Part : 021285 Descrip.: HOSE FW PVC S-RIG 12X16 Black with BLUE stripe $4.52 per meter
Part : 021286 Descrip.: HOSE FW PVC S-RIG 12X16 Black with RED stripe $5.19 per meter

Part : 072477 Descrip.: HOSE FW CRISTALTRESS 12X20 ALL BLUE Hose
$4.43
Part : 058178 Descrip.: HOSE FW CRISTALTRESS 12X20 ALL RED Hose $4.43

Not sure if this applies to your boat, send the parts department an email and ask ward.richardson@beneteauusa.com


The procedure is as follows:

You will need approximately 18- 20' of hose. I attached one end of the new hose to one end of the old hose with a plastic coupler (West Marine, Barbed Hose Coupler, 1/2" Part # 1856046) inside the hose (you may have to heat the hose a little to make it go on easily), and then taped the outside of the two hoses together. Do not be tempted to use a hose clamp, there is not enough space to do this. I then ran a snake all the way through both hoses and hooked it on the end of the new hose (some more tape here). Apply some electrical lube (available at Home Depot) directly to the new hose as you pull it through (at the spot where it goes under the bulkhead in the sink enclosure on the port side). I pulled from the water heater (starboard) side, much more room to get a good grip on the hose. It will be difficult to pull at first, but liberal application of lube helps a lot. Once you have pulled the new hose through, make your connections and check.

Hope this helps. If you would like to give me a call, send me a PM

Jim
 
Sep 19, 2006
6
- - Ft. Pierce, Florida
Thanks for all info. I have replaced the hot and cold lines but left the old ones in as I could not get them out. I drilled small holes in the fiberglass struts and ran the new hoses. So far it seems to be working. I did speak with Beneteau first and they said this was a viable option.
 
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