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Monday, April 14, 2014

Replacing Head Discharge Hose Aboard a Used Sailboat


In my experience, every used sailboat pluming project requires creativity.  Standardization hasn’t matured like it has for home pluming projects.  Here is one simple lesson that I hope will save you frustration. 

The most common cruising sailboat head is the Jabsco or Wilcox-Crittenden manual head.  These call for waste discharge hoses (The hose you really don’t want leaking) with an 1.5 inch inner diameter. 

The most common, easily found, smell proof, 1.5 inch ID discharge hoses is the spa hose found, in Lowes, Home Depot, and Ace hardware etc.  Yes, I have driven to all three to verify.  However, their inner diameters aren’t exactly 1.5 inches- they’re closer to 1 9/16.  Given pressure or just time, the spa hose leaks.  Of course sealants and excessive clamping all help but if you want to do this right and, just once…  It’s worth the extra drive and few dollars to buy the hose from West Marine.  Perhaps other marine supply stores use the same suppliers as West but I can’t promise.  Meanwhile, the WM hose fits all my Jabsco 1.5 inch OD fixtures snugly and no leaks- critical aboard any blue water cruiser.

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