Hoses for the heads

[Guest]

I'm trying to renew the outflow hoses from the heads. The seacock is a Blake's with an outside diameter of 41mm and the hose has an internal diamter of 38mm. I cannot get the hose in place. I have tried grease, washing up liquid and warming the hose - all to no avail. Is there a trick here? My boat is about 15 years old could the seacock be imperial and the hose metric?

 

[Guest]

Try Blake's own hose - it fits

 

[vyv_cox]

How much heat?

If you heat the hose with an air gun, inside and out, when it reaches a temperature of about 60C, just about holdable by hand, I think you will find it easy to put on. At this temperature the hose is very soft and pliable. I change mine every 2-3 years, also metric hose on Blakes seacocks, and experience no problems.

 

[Mirelle]

Eureka!

Thanks Vyv - I often have the same troubles. I have been faffing about with boiling water ever since I first had a boat with plumbing - I never thought of using the hot air gun!

 

[jtwebb]

I am fortunate enough to have the boat next to the house. This allowed me to cut the hoses to length and put them in the tumble dryer. I used the low heat setting. Next time I would put them in an old duvet cover or something as there were a few little dents in the drum afterwards. One had to be fairly quick going out to the boat. I presume there is a risk of changing the characteristics of the hose if it is heated to too high a temperature?

J Webb

 

[drawp]

I had the same problem last autuum - fitting a new hose onto a 15 year old Blakes sea-cock. Hot-water, hot air guns and brute force only resulted in destroying the hose nipple on the seacock. I was surprised at the hose nipple as it was only made from brass and had become brittle. When I called Blakes to bitch about it, they recommended that the nipple be replaced every 10 or 12 years. They supplied me with a replacement nipple (at an inflated price) but the diameter was smaller (presumably now metric) and the hose slipped on easily.