Marine Plumbing Done Right

Marine Plumbing Done Right Presenter: Devon Norris Marine Mechanical Technician [email protected] Vancouver International Boat Show January 2018 1 We’ll Cover: ■ Standards and Codes ■ Excellent reference material ■ Hose selection ■ Fittings ■ Hose clamps ■ Tanks ■ Vented loops aka “The Anti-Siphon Valve” ■ Thru-hulls ■ Q & A 2 Yes, there are boat building codes 3 This is why we do it the way we do: ■ Transport Canada TP1332e (Federal law, therefore compulsory) ■ American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC, requires paid membership, Certified Technicians) – Most of Transport Canada’s code is based on ABYC ■ Most US Coast Guard codes are law in the US and have been paralleled in Canada. They mainly address vessel stability, fuel tanks and systems. ■ Pollution & Sanitation Regulations are covered in the Canada Shipping Act SOR/2012- 69 “Vessel Pollution and Dangerous Chemicals Regulations” 4 TP1332e ■ Pretty broad and vague, but includes exhaust systems, fuel systems, bilge pump requirements, waste, and more. ABYC ■ These are our “go to” Marine Standards with a searchable online database. Considered to be industry best practices. ■ Technicians can take courses with ABYC and must now re-certify every 5 year ■ Generally each system on a vessel has its own code, but for example “plumbing” is too broad and is broken down into hull penetrations, bilge pumps, water systems, etc. 5 REFERENCE MATERIAL 6 Recommended Books ■ Nigel Calder: Boat Owner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual ■ Nigel Calder: Marine Diesel Engines (includes DIY Engine Survey) ■ David Gerr: Boat Mechanical Systems Handbook ■ Ed Sherman: Fundamentals of Marine Service Technology ■ Roger Pretzer: Marine Metals Manual ■ Practical Sailor Magazine 7 Recommended Web Resources ■ Compass Marine: http://www.marinehowto.com – http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/boat_projects (old site) ■ Steve D’Antonio Marine Consulting: http://stevedmarineconsulting.com/ ■ Tony Athens: http://www.sbmar.com/ ■ David Pascoe (retired Surveyor): http://www.yachtsurvey.com/ ■ Seastar Solutions - Shields hose: http://www.seastarsolutions.com/products/hose/ ■ Trident Marine Systems: http://tridentmarine.com/product-category/hose/ 8 HOSE SELECTION 9 Marine Hose ■ Use hose for its intended purpose as per the manufacturer. This information can be found online, in catalogues and printed on the box or hose itself. ■ Use the correct size (inner diameter) for the application. ■ Quality hose will often last 15-20 years in acceptable conditions, so spend the money once. ■ Manufacturers and suppliers will list hoses by application and its use above or below the waterline. Variables include construction, flexibility and resistance to kinking, pressure, heat and chemicals. 10 Marine Hose Image: SeaStar Solutions/Shields 11 Fuel hose ■ All fuel hose should be for the specific fuel type. ■ Hose must meet USCG regulations. ■ Every fuel hose should be clamped with 2 hose clamps and secured every 18” along its length to meet code. ■ Must also comply with SAE J1527. ■ A1 ▪ Commonly used in pressurized fuel systems. ▪ Low permeation and high heat resistance. ▪ Fuel can sit in the hose for long periods of time. ■ A2 ▪ Cannot be used in an A1 application. ▪ Commonly used for fuel vents and fuel fillers (not designed to have fuel sitting in them). 12 Fresh (Potable) Water ■ Materials used in the hose should not affecting the water, i.e. no odour, smell or colour. ■ Rigid pipe (ABS, Copper, etc.) not allowed on boats due to vibration ■ Reinforced PVC Hose – Commonly used. Many sizes. Fittings common. – Can kink, compress or develop leaks due to chafe. – Requires hose clamps ■ PEX – Very durable. Simple installation. Easy to route. No hose clamps – Manufacturer specific fittings – Will not kink or compress. 13 Sanitation Hose ■ Keeping the odour in the hose is key! ■ Keep low spots out of runs to prevent stagnation ■ Reinforced PVC Hose − Reinforced for resistance to kinking under vacuum − Not flexible and difficult to install. Worsens with age − If used, avoid aggressive barbed hose fittings ■ Reinforced Rubber Sani Hose − Reinforced for resistance to kinking under vacuum − Flexible − Works well with all hose fittings − Works better with the odour. − Costs more 14 Raw Water ▪ The hose from the thru-hull or sea cock to raw water pump must be reinforced (hardwall) so it wont collapse from pump vacuum. ▪ Pressure side of the raw water pump can use soft or hard wall hose. ▪ Use hardwall if there are tight bends to prevent kinks ▪ Heater hose or potable water hose not acceptable! Wet Exhaust ▪ Must be SAE J2006 or UL1129 compliant ▪ High resistance to heat and gas permeation ▪ Softwall is easier to work with, if feasible, for runs with no hard bends (kinks) ▪ Even better, costlier but highly flexible and long lasting is silicone hose 15 Bilge Hose ■ No standards as per what hose to use ■ Use diameter of bilge pump outlet ■ Keep runs as short as possible, no dips ■ Corrugated Polyethylene hose is cheap and easy, but clogs easily – Not particularly durable and low resistance to fuel and oil ■Trident XHD Bilge & Livewell is best we’ve used – Smooth inside (no clogs) and out (easy clamping) – Durable and flexible 16 Fittings 17 Brass v. Bronze “Brass with a high zinc content (over 16%) is subject to a type of corrosion known as dezincification. Because of this type of corrosion, brass with high zinc content is not recommended for fasteners, through-hull fittings, or any structural application on pleasure boats, especially if the boat is used in saltwater. Even some of the manufacturers of boating equipment are unaware of this fact, and produce equipment with brass parts that could easily deteriorate in a saltwater environment.” 18 Brass that is called Bronze ■ Commercial Bronze (90% copper and 10% zinc) ■ Naval Brass AKA Naval Bronze (60% copper, 39.25% zinc, 0.75% tin) ■ Manganese Bronze (58.5% copper, 39.2% zinc, 1.0% tin, 0.3% manganese) ■ Tobin Bronze (+/-40% zinc, ~1% tin) Previously used for prop shafting 19 Proper Bronze ■ “Real” Bronze for use in a saltwater environment has ~90% copper and is alloyed with tin, lead, aluminum or silicon using little to no Zinc ■ Major thru-hull and fitting manufacturers such as Groco uses proper bronze such as ■ Phosphor Bronze ■ Silicone Bronze ■ Aluminum-silicon Bronze ■ Aluminum Bronze 20 Thru-hull on a popular late 2000’s production sailboat ■ Considerable dezincification of brass fitting 21 Stainless Steel ■ It’s not the miracle material it has been made out to be ■ Two major flaws – low tensile strength of lesser grades – common to crevice corrosion which can be avoided by not installing stainless steel in applications where it is regularly exposed to stagnant or still water for extended periods ■ Threads gall very easily ■ It’s very hard to tell the true grade of stainless 22 Brass Fittings ■ Excellent and readily available for all plumbing needs EXCEPT: − Saltwater use − Where galvanically incompatible ■ Aluminum and brass/bronze fittings are not galvanically compatible. Don’t mix them. E.g. brass fittings into aluminum fuel tanks - use a barrier material like a stainless steel bushing or, order aluminum fittings 23 Nylon ■ Fittings are excellent for freshwater applications ■ They do not corrode, but are not very strong ■ Readily available ■ Cannot be used below the waterline Poly ■ Common grey plastic fittings from local plumbing & hardware stores ■ They work fine in vessel plumbing systems (again, not for use below the waterline) ■ Have barbs which are larger than their nominal markings, making hose installation unnecessarily difficult 24 PVC ■ Fittings are excellent for freshwater and sanitation applications. They do not corrode but are not very strong ■ Can become brittle over time, normally caused by vibration or environmental conditions. ■ No use below the waterline ABS ■ Sometimes used for sanitation but is very porous (lets odour escape) ■ The material is too brittle for use on boats 25 Marelon ■ Is a fibre reinforced plastic fitting which is one of two plastic fittings strong enough and rated for below the waterline use ■ Require sealant or teflon tape. ■ No corrosion ■ Ideal for use with Marelon thru-hulls and ball valves ■ Available at most marine retailers 26 Trudesign • Glass fibre reinforced nylon composite • Uses National Pipe Straight (NPS) threads in North America, British Standard Pipe (BSP) in Europe (double check when purchasing) • As with Marelon, ensure dissimilar thread types not used together • Ideal usage is with their thru-hull and ball valve line • Also have range of diverter Y-valves and related fittings • Competitively priced 27 HOSE CLAMPS 28 Hose Clamps ■ We choose to use only AWAB or ABA all 316 stainless steel clamps. ■ These two brands use indented (smooth inside) bands as opposed to perforated - less likely to damage hose ■ Use 2 at all fittings below waterline (recommended) − Unless fitting too short and damage to hose will occur ■ Take a magnet with you when hose clamp shopping ■ T-bolt clamps have specific applications, usually high temp exhaust and silicone hose 29 Tanks 30 Potable Water ■ Commonly polyethylene or aluminum − Poly available to order in many shapes/sizes. − Aluminum or stainless can be ordered pre- manufactured or fabricated custom fit − Flexible tanks available in variety of shapes and sizes . Preferred manufacturers are Vetus or Plastimo with triple or double wall construction ■ Installation: − Ensure no contamination possible − Tank must be vented − Must be disinfected after installation − Mounted above bilge water 31 Holding Tanks ■ Highly recommend tanks with all fittings on the TOP of the tank ■ Installation: − If fittings at bottom of tank, install Service Valves to make your life (or technicians life) easier − No need to drain tank/handle waste water if hoses need changing or modification Image: Dometic Sealand, 28Gal Holding Tank 32 Vented Loops 33 Vented Loops, Siphon Breaks ■ Required at any hull penetration at or below the waterline at all angles of heel (as high as practicable). Prevents siphoning of sea water into tanks/bilge − Holding tank/macerator discharge − Bilge pump discharge − Raw water systems.

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