Pressure Water Plumbing - PEX, etc.

[Christian Van H]

Hi All! I'm getting ready to replumb my boat with PEX and I was wondering what size hose is most common for general pressure water plumbing? I figure most yachts are plumbed with either 1/2" or 3/4" ID hose... also, if anyone out there has used PEX, do you recommend the stainless clamp type, or the copper ring compression clamps for the fittings? Right now I'm leaning toward the stainless clamps. Thanks, Chris

[bob kingsland]

I used 1/2", Chris, with the compression fittings. Worked very well, although the stuff is stiff and only bends in fairly big sweeps.
I had 1 minor problem last summer, wouldn't hold pressure, but it was because of a minute crack in a filter housing that I couldn't see, not because of any problem with the fittings. Tighten till you hear it creak.

Best, Bob S/V Restless

[DirtRdEarl]

Gulfstar used 1/2" PEX or an equivalent in 1980. I have made some changes and additions to my system, but the original is still in service, and you can you use the new PEX fittings.

[Christian Van H]

Thanks for the replies guys! PEX it is! There are two swaged clamping systems I have my eye on: the stainless clamp, and the copper ring. Not sure which one yet...

[Roy M]

I'm getting ready to replace my entire plumbing system, after thirty years. The PEX system, now approved for residential construction in Southern California, is nice, but getting the components in small amounts is difficult at local suppliers. Whale makes a similar, metric system, which is easier to obtain locally, so I will probably go that route. The polybutylene system, known as Qest (pronounced Kwest) is no longer being produced, though our local marine shops have the fittings for repairs. If anyone has a source for standard 1/2" PEX tubing (in less than full roll quantities) and fittings, please let me know.

[Christian Van H]

Pex is available at Home Depot, Lowes and eBay now...all in small quantities. Home depot has 25' rolls of 1/2 and 3/4 plus alot of fittings. No worries mate!

[Celestialsailor]

Here is a pex job I did on the Island. Great to work with and 1/3 the time to plumb a house...

[thefilthywhore]

I have been lurking around this site for a while, but this thread needs this input.

there are a few diferent types of pex fittings or systems

!. whale, shark bite, other various names. these are the type where you push the pex pipe into a fitting and a locking ring clamps onto the pipe, using an O ring to make the seal.
2. zurn or other manufacturer- these types are the ones that use a crimp ring arouond the pipe at all of the fittings. the crimp ring is usally a copper alloy
3. wirsbo- this type is similar to the zurn, but does not use a cripm ring to make the connection, instead it uses the thermal memory of the pex and a small pex ring to reinforce the memory effect of the pipe. most fittings are made of an impact resistant plastic or for machined parts (valves, threaded fittings, etc.) usally brass.

while changing to any pex piping is a great improvement to your boats plumbing, I feel that it is not the best choice to trust all of your fresh water supply to an O-ring or a copper ring.

the wirsbo pex is installed by slipping a pex ring over the end of the pipe, inserting an expander tool into the end of the pipe, expanding the pipe, then quickly removing the expander tool and inserting the fitting before the pipe closes over it. within 60 seconds the fitting will creat an air/water tight seal to the pipe, even though you can still twist the fitting within the pipe to adjust the angle.

wirsbo pipe is not available at home depot or lowes, it must be purchased at a plumbing supplier. the pipe is about $35 per 100' and the fittings are about $0.25 each. the expensive part is the tool (about $150 + on ebay), but works great for streaching hoses to fit on barbed fittings.

* disclaimer* I do not have any connection to the manufacturer or dealers for any plumbing systems, I am a Building Inspector who has seen the product work in extreme conditions without failure, and I trust it with my precious water supply. this is the system I installed on my boat for my pottable water and is what I will be using to install a hydronic heating system later this year.

for more info on wirsbo pex goto:
Uponor - Plumbing Systems

joey

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by thefilthywhore

I have been lurking around this site for a while, but this thread needs this input.

there are a few diferent types of pex fittings or systems

!. whale, shark bite, other various names. these are the type where you push the pex pipe into a fitting and a locking ring clamps onto the pipe, using an O ring to make the seal.
2. zurn or other manufacturer- these types are the ones that use a crimp ring arouond the pipe at all of the fittings. the crimp ring is usally a copper alloy
3. wirsbo- this type is similar to the zurn, but does not use a cripm ring to make the connection, instead it uses the thermal memory of the pex and a small pex ring to reinforce the memory effect of the pipe. most fittings are made of an impact resistant plastic or for machined parts (valves, threaded fittings, etc.) usally brass.

while changing to any pex piping is a great improvement to your boats plumbing, I feel that it is not the best choice to trust all of your fresh water supply to an O-ring or a copper ring.

the wirsbo pex is installed by slipping a pex ring over the end of the pipe, inserting an expander tool into the end of the pipe, expanding the pipe, then quickly removing the expander tool and inserting the fitting before the pipe closes over it. within 60 seconds the fitting will creat an air/water tight seal to the pipe, even though you can still twist the fitting within the pipe to adjust the angle.

wirsbo pipe is not available at home depot or lowes, it must be purchased at a plumbing supplier. the pipe is about $35 per 100' and the fittings are about $0.25 each. the expensive part is the tool (about $150 + on ebay), but works great for streaching hoses to fit on barbed fittings.

* disclaimer* I do not have any connection to the manufacturer or dealers for any plumbing systems, I am a Building Inspector who has seen the product work in extreme conditions without failure, and I trust it with my precious water supply. this is the system I installed on my boat for my pottable water and is what I will be using to install a hydronic heating system later this year.

for more info on wirsbo pex goto:
Uponor - Plumbing Systems

joey

Well Joey...First I have to say..."Interesting Handle name you have" The picture I posted is Wirsbo. I had heard it was the best. I personally feel the boating industry will adapt this very soon..

[thefilthywhore]

I am sorry, I didn't look closely at the picture. yes it is wirsbo, great stuff, very few plumbers use anything else anymore.

my handle is the name of my boat. you can see a few pictures at http://thefilthywhore.us

I think uponor-wirsbo just has not realized the potential of the marine market.

joey

[Christian Van H]

Hey Joey! (notice I used your real name) I was planning on using the PEX variation with the stainless crimped clamp ring and ALL brass fittings. Is their any reason grounded in fact this isn't a viable system for yachts? I havent heard much bad about any of the crimped systems. As for your upcoming hydronic install...I had no idea that PEX was suitable! I am reinstalling a webasto 2010 system in my 42 footer, and would love to use PEX instead of "heater" hose. If this is based in fact, this is GREAT news! Thanks, Chris

[Doghouse]

Christian,

I would highly suggest that you keep "emergency" hose clamps with you. My boat was built with the Stainless crimp rings and not the copper go-no go rings.
The boat was built in 2007 and has had 2 of the rings fail already. Luckily I was at the dock where the loss of water was not a problem, just a heck of a mess. I had the dealer double check all of them, but I don't know if I can ever trust them now. I am honestly thinking about replacing them with double hose clamps.

[GordMay]

Use PEX c/w Oxygen Barrier in hydronic heating applications.

[Stevens 47]

This youtube link shows the compression fitting very impressive. I am sold.

YouTube - How to make a wirsbo pex fitting

[bhenry]

The plumber I work with building homes did all the resarch and uses Wirsbo. Ask your plumbing supplier about proper allowable air temp when making connections.

Bill