Sanitation Hose Replacement

[PAllen529]

Good afternoon,

I have a 1999 52' Sport Deck MY. After considerable trial and error and finally a very good discussion with the Head Mistress I have decided, at her recommendation, to replace the sanitation lines in the boat. A quick inspection shows this to be a fairly daunting project with hose mounts every 10" or so. Looks like a LOT of unscrewing and screwing in very tight places. However, I'm not sure I have any alternatives. Before I decide to try it myself or contract it out I thought I'd ask the group and see what experiences some of you may have had and what you would do differently if you could do it all over. Perhaps a smart tip might be found as well. Thoughts?

 

[jmooney]

The hardest part is where the hoses go through bulkheads , they are sealed with 3m 5200 at the bulkhead and this needs to be cut loose. Some of the better hose is larger diameter than original, so the bulkhead holes need to be enlarged. More than likely, you will have to cut hatches to access the hoses . My first hose replacement took three weeks. Because of making better access, I replaced this hose years later in less than a day. Also replace the aluminum cushion (Adell) clamps with stainless steel.

 

[rwaldrop13]

We tackled this on Pau Hana for the aft head about 14 months ago. We found the biggest challenge to be running the new hose thru the under-deck fittings in the mid-ship passageway, where a difference in angle with the fish tape of 2 degrees resulted in trying to thread the hose through the wrong opening in a crossmember. My biggest recommendation is use the white sewage grade hose, as it seemed to be far easier to work with than the old hose I pulled out, and take your time - Don't rush. My only concern was rather than having to remove 5200 or hose clamps, was adding hose clamps to hold the hose after completion, since somewhere along the way before us the clamps were removed. I used a cheap heat gun to heat the hose and slide it over the barb fittings at the tank and pump. This was our first "big" project aboard, and it took 2 of us to thread the hose thru. You might try connecting the old and new hose with a barb fitting and using the old hose as a messenger line to draw the new hose thru.