Flat hose?

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bobgarrett

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We have a flat hose on a roller cassette for filling the tanks but its now leaking badly despite not being that old or over-used. I have seen others using even flatter hoses which looked more material than plastic and am keen to try one of these. Anyone have any experience of these and where to get them? I cannot find via google but maybe I am using the wrong words.
Thanks
 
Ditto

We have used our flat hose for just over a year and it leaks worse than a sieve. I made a trip to our local B&Q yesterday to buy a replacement but was informed that because of the problems with this flat hose they have stopped selling them. You can buy them from Amazon, Wilkinson's etc but I think the same problem will occur.

I think we'll now look at the rigid hose even though it presents a few problems of stowing it but in the long term will last for a lot longer time.

Just my 5 penny's worth!!

dansar
 
After my last hose self-destructed with a dissecting aneurysm (if you don't know - never mind) I got a standard replacement from the chandler but threw the wind-up reel away as it's more trouble than it's worth. It now takes up very little space flaked into a plastic bag.
 
We still use our wind-up reel flat cloth hose after 8 years of cruising. No leaks yet, but it only gets used about 10 times a year as we usually jug our water. We are very careful with it though ...... but the kinks can be frustrating when the pressure is low.
 
Aldi & Lidl sell them from time to time for peanuts - they are a disposable item. I buy 2 at a time to provide a spare & for those occasions when the only tap is 100m away.

The "fabric" ones are just a reinforcing fabric tube with a light plasitic waterproof tube inside it. They can get brittle with cold or sunlight & passers-by standing on them will often nip them. For an odd leak, I cut out the damaged bit & insert a short length of proper hose (or copper pipe) and a couple of jubilee clips. Not elegant, but it works.
 
We bought a cheepo Aldi one (fabric sheathed) and it failed after second use. The hose inside split right at the connection. We've been using one of the blue plastic type hoses in the white casette for the last year (liveaboard). It's only just developed a tiny leak so we're pleased with the material. However we bought a 20m one and I wish we'd gone for the 15 because now it won't all go back in the casette propely.
I've tried squeezing all the water out as I put it away and tried sucking all the air out but nothing will pursuade the damn thing to fit back on the reel that it once did. Even swearing at it and telling it that I HATE it have had no effect. I've also tried threatening to cut it in half but to no avail. I WILL carry out my threat, I WILL!

I would never go and buy an Aldi one again though.......
 
Many many years ago I worked for a company call "GARDENA" they specialised in hose fittings and hoses. Flat hose will always leak eventually. MY ADVICE do not purchase flat hose ever.

Buy the best you can afford and always buy longer than you think you will need.

All the best

Peter
 
The marina where we berthed in Plymouth (no names no pack drill) removed all the water hoses from the pontoons.

They advised in a letter (received some days later) that only FOOD GRADE hoses could be used and we would find the same requirement wherever we go.

Delayed departure while we spent all morning chasing around Plymouth to find a hose. We found one in a caravanning shop close to the marina (d'oh). They are not cheap - about £30+

I am told:
- food grade hoses do not leach chemicals and
- flat hoses expel water when coiled - to stop nasty things growing

Of course, wherever we go with our food grade hose we find everyone else doing just as we used to. Careful coiling probably expels most water - whatever the hose ...

... and when I put "food grade hose" into Google I found caravanners' forums where exactly the same sort of debate takes place!
 
I bought a "food grade" rollable hose over a year ago now, blue hose on a white cassette type reel, and we used it all last season going down the French Canals to the Med, and it is still working just fine this summer, with no leaks or problems.

Quite expensive though at about £30 I thought.

Probably get what you pay for, so works out cheap after a period of time.

GL
 
ebay

I bought a flat garden hose on a reel from ebay, £4.99 with free postage and its still working fine. I live on my boat so that gives you an idea on usage!
 
rivonia said:
MY ADVICE do not purchase flat hose ever.
Peter
Click to expand...

I had trouble finding flat water to go through mine;)

Aldi would certainly refund your money back if you had proof of purchase if a hose failed on second use.

I've always bought quality hose from builders merchants. Not cheap but it doesn't collapse. Storage is the problem though, and I hadn't really picked up too much on the 'food grade' business....which is technically correct, but almost certainly overkill in most instances....though i've just read something from an ex hozelock employee that implores you to ONLY use food grade for drinking water and gives many persuasive reasons..oops

This looks good

http://www.megaflex.co.uk/component...acturer_id,0/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,31/


Tim
 
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When I bought my first real boat in the 80,s it came with a flatish black plastic hose, it sits in the sun all day ,never kinks and is still in as good condition.Why cant we buy hoses like that anymore.
 
I think the problem with getting a 20m flat blue hose back on the reel is temperature related. I find that if you spread the hose out along the pontoon and squeeze it from end to end to expel the water, it benefits greatly from being left in the sun for half an hour or so even in the winter. If it's not sunny your stu**ed!
 
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