how do you stop plastic pipe kinking?

[seanfoster]

Well I don't expect many responses immediately, as everyone should be out on the water this weekend!

I'm getting a bit frustrated, I've installed new sea cocks to pick up the cockpit drains, the run is very short (about 8") and I'm using 1" plastic pipe. The problem is the seacock is angled in such away that the pipe needs to bend (not hugely) but every way I try to put it in it ends up kinking, water will run through but at a very reduced rate, are there any techniques that anyone is aware of to stop them kinking?

 

[FullCircle]

Change it for spiral wound reinforced hose......
Also, allow it to be a bit longer so it can deflect a bit mor to reduce pressure on crushing the walls.

 

[hlb]

As above, or if it's really tight, get some BSP pipe fittings and make a steel bend. Not sure about the sea water though.

 

[smeaks]

or domestic plastic fittings that are joined with plastic cement, corrosion proof and very strong.

 

[Pye_End]

Put springs in where the bends are. Available at car shops. Don't know if they rust though - so may not work.

 

[stephenlloyd]

Heat the pipe in a bucket/tray of very hot/near boiling water for about 20 seconds, just before fitting, careful not to burn fingers. Will be very flexible when you're fitting it, and hold its new shape once fitted. Is better to use reinforced hose as Fullcircle said.
Better to use a longer section if possible, and make some kind of anti-siphon loop if possible.
Steve

 

[PilotWolf]

Or try the good old (tropical) fish shop - they have rigid bends that it slides over pipes usually 45 or 90 degrees. Failing that adapt the plastic things that fit on to washing machine drain pipes so they hang in the trap properly.

W.

 

[srp]

I agree with Full Circle - ASAP do a hose with a stainless steel spiral which gives a fairly tight bend without collapsing.
I made a spiral out of 1.6mm bronze welding rod to fit over the outside of my hose, which works quite well - it's lasted three years so far - but I have some ASAP hose ready to replace it when necessary. I can't link to the exact page because of the way the ASAP website works, but if you search for 'reinforced hose' you will find a selection of different sizes - the 20mm dia will go round a 50mm radius bend.

 

[2Tizwoz]

Suction hose like this on ebay has a stiff plastic reinforcement but can be softened with hot water to get the required bend.

 

[Wino]

Try putting a few jubilee clips onto the kink, this stops the pipe from spreading sideways and allowing it to kink or why not a put in a plastic bend either 90' or 60 or get the whole part made up for you in metal?

 

[seanfoster]

Thanks everyone for your reply, I really appreciate it, I've got a number of options to go at here, so no doubt I'll find a solution.