Lord forgive me for this diatribe

[harry potter]

Scottish Canals removed them about ten years ago, hoses can fall in water, cause Legionaires disease, water from them can make its way back into the public system poisoning the whole populace.

Hundreds of sailors have died after using them, the fact that it does not happen for fifty years or more is not an argument.

 

[harry potter]

Proof? When? Where? If?

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

When I kept a boat at Haslar I occasionally watched dogs piddling against the hose posts ... that was enough for me! We always use your own hose and take a 5litre food quality container of water from home for making tea with ... :encouragement:

 

[capnsensible]

I think you may have put your finger on it there Little Grebe. Looking at the amount of silly boat washing that goes on, it could be a good thing too.

Why is washing a boat silly? Or is there a silly way of doing it? Id rather do it properly to get rid of all the salt, sand and general dirt off.

 

[duncan99210]

Why is washing a boat silly? Or is there a silly way of doing it? Id rather do it properly to get rid of all the salt, sand and general dirt off.

Occasional boat washing isn't a problem but washing constantly washing the boat down when it doesn't really need it is a waste of water.

 

[johnalison]

Occasional boat washing isn't a problem but washing constantly washing the boat down when it doesn't really need it is a waste of water.

If you'd seen tha amount of guano on my boat the other day you wouldn't have thought that cleaning was unnecessary. I do agree, though, that cleaning/washing down can become a fetish with some owners. A boat should be able to resist being covered with salt water without harm, and I have often arrived dirty at harbours where using hose water for washing was nt allowed. However, for many of us, it makes sense to hose down after a splashy trip, and if nothing else it ensures that I can see through my screen.

 

[RobF]

Dean and Reddyhoff marinas now also lack hoses which apart from MDL establishments doesn't leave that many left in my neck of the woods.

I do wonder if the decision is as much about saving their water bills rather than anything rlse

MDL at Torquay and Brixham have also removed hoses on the pontoons.

The water in the marina pipe is under mains pressure. How on earth can it ever "back syphon" into the mains supply? It's H&S gone mad.

Yup, and the marina staff know this as well. Apparently, the water companies were strongly threatening to withdraw water supply from the marina altogether. If I recall correctly, legal action was threatened and removal of standing hoses on pontoons was agreed as a solution.

 

[[2068]]

The point at which I thought differently about marina hoses was in France, along the Seine.
Someone had left the hose dangling in the river.
I picked it up, and was contemplating using it to fill our fresh water tank.

But then I noticed that the end of the hose was moving.
Please don't ask me exactly what they were. Small black wriggly wormy things?
I'm very happy that the hose never went anywhere near my boat.

 

[duncan99210]

The point at which I thought differently about marina hoses was in France, along the Seine.
Someone had left the hose dangling in the river.
I picked it up, and was contemplating using it to fill our fresh water tank.

But then I noticed that the end of the hose was moving.
Please don't ask me exactly what they were. Small black wriggly wormy things?
I'm very happy that the hose never went anywhere near my boat.

Don't worry, the little wriggly things were moving, water hadn't killed them, probably safe to drink....

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Any water supply that could be fouled by water backing up should have non-return valves in. Very cheap and two in series gives great protection. Otherwise there needs to be an airgap between outlet and the possible contamination. So ok for your water tank as that should be sterile mains water and anyway you don't shove hose right into the tank thus in practice an airgap. I have worried about hoses falling in the harbour so the action of the marina is not entirely stupid and eliminates that risk - bit of an overkill perhaps. Use trigger nozzle when washing decks and remove when filling tanks ?