Freshwater Plumbing Tubing

[kefroeschner]

We are about ready to install the fresh water plumbing on Orion and wonder what experience/recommendations any of you have regarding choices -- Whale, Sea-Tech quick connect systems, standard hardware store stuff, PVC, PEX, ad infinitum ... Thanks, in advance, for the insights and advice.

[sailorchic34]

For a boat, pex by far is the way to go. Really great temperature and pressure ratings, easy install. PVC will get brittle with age. I've used the whale fittings with pex and they work fine, except at the water heater. There due to side stress from the pex, the pex to threaded fittings started leaking, replaced the fitting and the same thing happened. Used a brass pex to threaded fitting from the hardware store and all has been good for years.

[bobconnie]

+ 1 for PEX works great and it was an easy thing for me to do by myself. Much better and easyier then pipe of any type of fit and and to be able to make leakless joints !! just our 2 cents

[kefroeschner]

Thanks for the info -- looks like pex is the way to go. I have seen fittings by Whale, Sea-Tech and also similar things in the local Lowe's and Home Depot in both plastic and brass. Sounds like the brass fittings might be best. Any thoughts?

Thanks Again.

[sailorchic34]

I found that the brass fittings worked better at the water heater and faucets. The plastic fittings worked great where there was no bending forces on the fitting, from the flexible pex tubing. All have been leak proof for 5 years, btw

[Sailmonkey]

we've got 3 years and 12,000 miles on our PEX. I used the brass fittings with the copper compression rings.

[twistedtree]

Watts has a PEX crimp ring system that uses stainless rings. I favor that over brass. The system also utilizes one crimp tool regardless of the tubing size, and that's not true for all systems.

[boatsail]

I am in the housing business and have worked with pex numberous times. I'm also getting ready to redo my entire plumbing system on my boat. Not even a question. Pex all the way. It's so easy a caveman could do it!

[Waterwayguy]

Here's our current replacement of our fresh water plumbing system.
The Trawler Beach House: 30 Year Old Boat Plumbing Replacement
Chuck

[kefroeschner]

Wow. Super very good forum! Thanks to you all.

I think it's got to be PEX and the Watts fittings. Waterwayguy's site was the clincher.

Thanks Again.

[Freedom45]

I haven't purchased from them yet, but looks like a good source...
Plumbing Fittings, Plumbing Tubing, and Plumbing Valves - FreshWaterSystems.com

Chuck