How long do sanitary hoses usually last. My nose suggests that our seven year old hoses need to be replaced. Has anyone done this job on an H44? In particular, how do you snake the new hose from the forward head to the holding tank? Also there seems to be some kind of sealant where the hoses meet the fittings. What is it? I don't look forward to this job!
Sanitary hose lifetime
- Thread starter Larry Jackel
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If the hose is equivalent to what we had on our 40.5, then 7 years is pushing it. I can't imagine it could be more difficult than the route on our boat and I used the old - attach the old hose to the new hose - trick to snake it through the tough parts. Glycerine, baby oil or other lube which doesn't permeate the new hose if used sparingly may help.
I use the same trick, but I rub dishwashing soap on the hose. It is not petroleum based, will not permeate through the hose and will dry after a while. Good luck
Time to change them
3 reccomendations:
Buy the best hose money can buy
Use new hose clamps, and make sure you get high quality ones.
Review the pipe fittings on the tank. It might be a good idea to unscrew them an put on fresh sealant. The pipe goop that Hunter uses can crack over time.
When putting hoses on fittings, it can be a very snug fit, and hard to do.
Dip the end of the hose in boiling hot water. It will soften up the end just
enough to make it easy to slide over the barb fittings.
To use the old hose to fish the new one through, the trick is to never risk losing the connection between hoses. If you just try and use tape, etc., that won't be strong enough.
Drill small holes in the hose walls, and connect the hoses with 1/8" line. Then wrap with duct tape to make it all run nicely in line.
Before doing this job, rinse your tanks a whole bunch of times. Then, make sure you do this on a day that you can leave all your ports and hatches open. Ventilate the boat well, or you'll regret it.
Once you're all done, write the date with marker on the hose ends. That way you, or the next owner, will know when they were changed
7 years is pushing it. The problem is that on the long horizontal runs, the crud (to be polite), stays in the lines unless you really flush them well after every use.
3 reccomendations:
Buy the best hose money can buy
Use new hose clamps, and make sure you get high quality ones.
Review the pipe fittings on the tank. It might be a good idea to unscrew them an put on fresh sealant. The pipe goop that Hunter uses can crack over time.
When putting hoses on fittings, it can be a very snug fit, and hard to do.
Dip the end of the hose in boiling hot water. It will soften up the end just
enough to make it easy to slide over the barb fittings.
To use the old hose to fish the new one through, the trick is to never risk losing the connection between hoses. If you just try and use tape, etc., that won't be strong enough.
Drill small holes in the hose walls, and connect the hoses with 1/8" line. Then wrap with duct tape to make it all run nicely in line.
Before doing this job, rinse your tanks a whole bunch of times. Then, make sure you do this on a day that you can leave all your ports and hatches open. Ventilate the boat well, or you'll regret it.
Once you're all done, write the date with marker on the hose ends. That way you, or the next owner, will know when they were changed
What are the best hoses money can buy? I used the ones from West Marine (says "odor protected". The 1.5 inch OD costs $11.99/foot)). Anybody know of better ones?
I just changed my hoses and the ones giving problems were those from the septic tank to the macerator and from the macerator to the thru-hull. The hose from the head to the tank seemed OK, though I may change it too soon.
I just changed my hoses and the ones giving problems were those from the septic tank to the macerator and from the macerator to the thru-hull. The hose from the head to the tank seemed OK, though I may change it too soon.
We have found that the most you can expect from the most expensive hose is five years. On our last two Hunters, we replaced all of our flex hoses with PVC. In the case of those few tight corners, we either left the existing hose in place or replaced it with flex hose. This approach is the only one we have found or heard of that completely eliminates the odor issue permanently.
I've done a bunch of lab and real-world testing on this so...
* Forget PVC hose. They look good, but none last and they are hell to fit. Use Trident 101/102. 10 years easy. No need to heat ends, slips right on. Glycerine is the best fitting lube; soap remains slippery, but glycerine dries. DON'T use oil, inside or outside; bad for the hose.
* No sealant on the hose. If they leak, there is a problem with the barb that needs fixed. 2 clamps, screws opposing. For pipe fittings, there are many good Teflon products.
* Forget PVC hose. They look good, but none last and they are hell to fit. Use Trident 101/102. 10 years easy. No need to heat ends, slips right on. Glycerine is the best fitting lube; soap remains slippery, but glycerine dries. DON'T use oil, inside or outside; bad for the hose.
* No sealant on the hose. If they leak, there is a problem with the barb that needs fixed. 2 clamps, screws opposing. For pipe fittings, there are many good Teflon products.
I'd like to add that sanitation hose lifetime, at least to some degree, depends on...
how much, and how, you use your head(s)....
Obviously, using the head as little as possible, (by "going" ashore whenever possible),
using fresh water to flush the head(s)
flushing the hoses well (with fresh water) after each use,
using "Peggy" recommended tank treatments like "Odorolus" and "KO",
making sure the vent line is open,
putting as little urine, (which degrades into ammonia and uric acid) into the tank(s) as possible (you figure it out),
pumping out the holding tank frequently so that the boat doesn't sit any longer than necessary with waste in the tank(s) (and hoses), ...
all help to slow the rate of deterioration of the hoses.
I know, ....just common sense suggestions,... but since the job of replacing the hoses is not a pleasant one, IMHO, "every little bit helps".
how much, and how, you use your head(s)....
Obviously, using the head as little as possible, (by "going" ashore whenever possible),
using fresh water to flush the head(s)
flushing the hoses well (with fresh water) after each use,
using "Peggy" recommended tank treatments like "Odorolus" and "KO",
making sure the vent line is open,
putting as little urine, (which degrades into ammonia and uric acid) into the tank(s) as possible (you figure it out),
pumping out the holding tank frequently so that the boat doesn't sit any longer than necessary with waste in the tank(s) (and hoses), ...
all help to slow the rate of deterioration of the hoses.
I know, ....just common sense suggestions,... but since the job of replacing the hoses is not a pleasant one, IMHO, "every little bit helps".
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