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Delancey · 02-12-2016, 15:43

Anyone know a good fitting to use to connect the hose to tarp? A few random web images to follow for reference.

Delancey · 02-12-2016, 15:44

Another one.

Delancey · 02-12-2016, 15:45

Hose fitting.

Delancey · 02-12-2016, 15:46

I think I know what is going on here.

Delancey · 02-12-2016, 15:47

Cabin top gutter.

keepondancin · 02-12-2016, 16:23

I used a 3/4" nylon through hull with a backing nut, and 3/4" reinforced plastic tubing attached to that.

wsmurdoch · 02-12-2016, 16:34

I found some plastic fittings made to use as the drain from a marine sink and installed them in our sun awning. They are much like a thru hull fitting but shorter and lighter because they are intended to clamp onto a thin stainless steel sink rather than a thick wood boat hull. They look like the Forespar 109514 on this West Marine page. FORESPAR Sink Drain Fittings | West Marine

UNCIVILIZED · 02-12-2016, 17:39

A plastic through hull fitting or sink drain should work. But first, glue a thin piece of closed cell foam, or neoprene, etc. to the tarp where you want to install the fitting. And overtop of this, glue a piece of canvas, or tarp material on, to reinforce the tarp itself. Making efforts to have the perimeter edges of this reinforcing patch resemble those on the clew, or reef points of a mainsail, so as to avoid creating stress risers.

So with these mod's, the tarp should be easier to attach the through hull to, & have it form a good seal. And the tarp will last a bit longer. Also, ensure that everything is good & clean, prior to using this rig to collect water for your tanks. As many tarps have some pretty stiff chemicals on them when new. And which outgas from them for quite a while after taking them out of the package. Including some which do this as they slowly break down from age, & UV. Both the tarps proper, & some of the coatings on them. So an activated charcoal filter somewhere along the way might be advised, to trap & remove any residual chemicals in your water.

**JPA Cate** · 02-12-2016, 20:01

It depends on how you want it to look. If that is unimportant, I just sewed a cone onto where the low point would be when the awning was lowered for water catching, and seized the cone over the hose. A constrictor know will do just fine. If that seems untidy to your mind's eye, well, we made one with a through hull fitting, and put the hose on it with a hose clamp. Both ways work, and I'm sure the sink drain would too. One of the tidier arrangements I saw was a cloth dodger, with rain gutters fitted, through hull spigots at low point, and hose to deck fills. Always be sure to rinse it for about 10 mins before you capture the drinking water. The first "catch" is still good for washing clothes, etc.

Since ours were designed to be dual purpose, sun-awnings and rain-catchers, I always made them from Sunbrella, or WeatherMax80, so no worries about weird chemicals out-gassing.

Ann