Heads Pipes to the Sea Cocks - Sikaflex?

[Mariner69]

I am fitting vented loops to the heads on the boat I have just acquired.

Luxury compared to bucket & chuckit with a low headroom in my old boat - I leave it to your imagination; but traumatic barely describes it.

I have the pipes, the two jubilee clips per hose end and some enthusiasm but do I need to put any 'gunk' like sikaflex on the sea cock spigot before sliding the hose in to place?

I have looked through the back posts and don't see it mentioned.

Thank you in advance for your assistance and recommendations.

 

[winsbury]

I did on mine as the old hoses had some so seemed sensible to do the same with the new ones.

 

[Tranona]

No. The spigot has a lip on it and you will probably have more difficulty in getting the hose to go on properly than worry about it not sealing. You will probably need to heat the hose with boiling water or hot air gun to get it on. The clips are to stop it from moving, the seal is on the lip of the spigot.

 

[winsbury]

I found the sikaflex lubricated the act of putting new hose on so there was no need to heat it with the attendant possibly of deforming it permanently.

I love this forum, there's almost always multiple ways of looking at the same problem

 

[rogerthebodger]

do not put any sealant on the seacock spigot as you will not be able to remove the pipe to clear the blockage that WILL happen due to the build up of calcium that WILL restrict the pipe size after a little while.

I am considering changing the spigots for compression type fittings for easy dismantling for maintenance.

 

[laika]

Another No: The two jubilee clips, with the screws on opposite sides of the pipe will be just fine and as Rogershaw said, you want to be able to get it off again. Per Tranona's post #3, heat gun is invaluable in making the job easier.

 

[pmagowan]

No, if anything I would use some vaseline to get it on but the jubilee clips are the thing. You definitely do not want to struggle to remove it at a later date when the shonet hits the fan or somewhere worse. I can not see that it would provide any additional benefit since the clips work and thus there is not a problem needing a solution.

 

[prv]

I know Mariner69 already has his pipes, but for any other readers contemplating the same job I would heartily recommend ASAP's butyl sanitation hose: http://www.asap-supplies.com/marine...water-hose/seaflow-butyl-sanitation-hose-38mm

It's very, very flexible, will make tight bends without effort and without collapsing. It's easy to get on and off the hose barbs, even when it's been clamped in place for some time. The inside is completely slippery-smooth so hopefully crud won't build up on it. And it is reputed to be highly resistant to smell permeation, though mine hasn't been in place for long enough to really test that.

It's not cheap, but it's worth it.

Pete

 

[laika]

I know Mariner69 already has his pipes, but for any other readers contemplating the same job I would heartily recommend ASAP's butyl sanitation hose: http://www.asap-supplies.com/marine...water-hose/seaflow-butyl-sanitation-hose-38mm

I've used the vetus stuff which costs at least as much but is no fun to work with: wider than other hose so you have to flap out some of your holes, but not very bendy and hard work to cut unless you've got a decent pair of wire cutters. Having cured the smell problems that my boat had when I bought it by investment in decent hose I thought it was worth it, but if the ASAP stuff gets your thumbs up I'll check it out...

 

[Mariner69]

Thank you all for your very useful advice which was used to good effect.

On launching the boat after repairs I tested the heads and they seemed to work well but the Plastimo pump was leaking from the pump handle and put more water on the deck than down the bowl.

Is there a manual for the pump, all my searches refer to 'manual' but no answers for the 'instruction book'?

The old owner said it dries up 'after a while' but I have my doubts as he wouldn't allow anybody to even use the heads. He then suggested that a new electrical unit would solve the problem!

Thanks again for all the help.