Plastic pipe. What's it called?

Maine Sail · Mar 8, 2009

Quest..

Ted said:
My boat (1983 vintage) is missing some water pipe fittings. The previous owner never got around to fixing the supply pump that pressurizes the water system which supplies water to the sinks and shower. The parts that are missing are used to connect semi flexible 3/8" inside diameter gray plastic pipe to tees and elbows. To make a connection to another fitting you slide a threaded coupler over the pipe then slide a metal washer like part over the pipe than a gray plastic ball with a hole in it slides over the pipe. The ball part mates with the adjoining fitting which a guess makes the seal. Does anyone know what this plastic parts are called and where they can be purchased? Thanks.

The fittings you describe are most likely Quest Polybutelyne. It has been discontinued (class action law suits) but there are a few RV places and a hand full of plastic pipe supply houses that may still have the original fittings. Quest still makes fittings that look nearly identical but are not 100% the same..

Here's a place that still has some surplus - http://www.mhrv.com/pfq.asp?offset=25

Rick D · Mar 8, 2009

Thanks Maine!

I bookmarked that source, I was looking for some last year and could not find any via internet search.

sailaway78 · Mar 8, 2009

Never did like that stuff

I never did like that type of plastic stuff. Guess it works, but the reason they no longer make it is because of law suits, and there has to be a reason for the law suits. So, since you are going to have to buy some pieces anyway, bit the bullet and get rid of all of it. If you fix what you have as it is, sooner or later you will have to go through the same ordeal again. Probably be harder to find pieces in a year or two than it is now. Replace with something readily available. Lots of choices, and not a lot of expense.

William12213 · Mar 8, 2009

I just discovered some fittings at home depot that are really handy and easy to use. They are called sharkbites. You can connect them to copper, pvc, fliexible tube and vinyl tubing. no gluing no mess. I used them to do a repair in the house and I was amazed how well they worked. I think they only come in 1/2 and 3/4 but I could be wrong.

Rick D · Mar 8, 2009

Replace All?

That's a whole bunch of plumbing to replace that isn't leaking, is sanitary and compact. Naw, it works for me and I suspect most of us, so I'll continue using it. Two boats, twenty years, no leaks.

SlipAway · Mar 8, 2009

PEX Fexible Tubing & Connectors

I believe you are looking for PEX flexible tubing. I find it here in Wiscosnin at Menards. I also have a 1983 Hunter and when I bought it I needed to replace some quick connect fittings. They are still available and very easy to fix once you make a few connections.

Here is a link to Lowes -

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=howTo&p=Improve/PEX.html

Greg W.
SlipAway

windward54 · Mar 8, 2009

Hey Rick,

If you are looking for a local source for the gray plastic connectors, try:

Delux RV Supply
(562) 531-9123
8595 Rosecrans Ave
Paramount, CA

I broke a couple of fittings last year and was able to find the parts there.

Steve Dion · Mar 8, 2009

The last time I checked you could still get Qest Fittings at Ace Hardware. I would also assume that you can get them at most RV supply companies.

The latest and greatest is the PEX but I must assume that it is not compatible and for thsoe of us with Qest, it is time to think about changing our system over to PEX.

Steve Dion · Mar 8, 2009

Whale also makes some replacement plumbing for the boats. I do not know what pipe they are using but it also something that is worth investigating.

petersea · Mar 9, 2009

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|51|106370|315127&id=813029

Made by Sea Tech. Generic name ? Sea Tech also has a full line of fittings.

Maine Sail · Mar 9, 2009

PEX vs. Polybutylene

Steve Dion said:
The last time I checked you could still get Qest Fittings at Ace Hardware. I would also assume that you can get them at most RV supply companies.

The latest and greatest is the PEX but I must assume that it is not compatible and for thsoe of us with Qest, it is time to think about changing our system over to PEX.

Steve,

The older polybutylene Quest is not the exact same stuff as the newer PEX stuff sold by Quest. The old stuff had a stainless washers and a compression fit.

PEX pipe is built by many different companies and is built to a OD standard, like copper pipe is, meaning anyone's 1/2" fittings should work with it. I would not buy PEX at a marine stroe as it will be MUCH cheaper at a plumbing supply house or a home center. The OD of the older 3/8" polybutylene Quest and the new PEX standard are not exactly the same so newer fittings designed for 3/8" PEX may not fit the older Quest polybutylene..

TimCup · Mar 9, 2009

william, I've used those sharkbites...

At Lowe's, they have the same thing, only called Gator bites. They are amazing- basically just a press-in install, works with pex, or with copper, and eliminates sweating joints. I personally like to solder joints, but have used those "bite" fittings several times in tight spaces where a torch could do damage, and it's the fastest connection you could ever do. The neat thing is, even though they are bullet-proof (no leaks), you can actually remove them by pushing in on the sleeve. A lttle pricey, though...

cup

dragonrider · Mar 9, 2009

capt

the law suits were because cities and counties used the pipe for main water lines and then found out it can not stand up to the chlorine the county i lived in was one of those counties escambia county florida

Plastic pipe. What's it called?

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