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Choosing the right hose for your boat

Are your hoses still in good condition at the beginning of the season? Leaking or porous hoses as well as unpleasantly smelling greywater hoses can cause serious problems during the season. If you are contemplating buying new hoses for your boat, you will discover that the selection is large and that a few factors need to be considered.

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What does the structure of a hose look like?

Ordinarily, hoses consist of several layers. From the outside, the only visible area is the cover that surrounds the hose and protects it from all external influences. The tube is the innermost lining of the hose. This layer only comes into contact with the liquid inside the hose. The middle layer between cover and tube is called the body or carcass. This layer can consist of different materials, from fabric to steel wire. This layer mostly absorbs negative pressure or excessive pressure.

1. Cover

2. Body

3. Tube

boat-hose

What is important when choosing a hose for my boat?

What diameter should a boat hose have?

On the one hand, you should consider the dimensions of the connection fitting when choosing the right hose diameter. On the other hand, the required flow volume for reaching the maximum pumping capacity of a connected pressure water or sewage pump is relevant.

If these dimensions should not be compatible, you can easily customize the different diameters with a reduction nipple or suitable hose nozzles .

The dimensions of hoses and hose fittings are often given in inches, and these are mostly the dimensions of the inner diameter of the marine hose. Most of the times the dimensions of sea valves, connecting pieces or connection fittings refer to the inner diameter of the hose. The outer diameters of yacht hoses are only significant when selecting appropriate hose clamps.

Inner diameter (mm) Inner diameter (Zoll)
12,7 1/2
15,9 5/8
19,1 3/4
25,4 1
31,8 1 1/4
38,1 1 1/2
44,5 1 3/4
50,0 2

What material should a yacht hose be made of?

Marine hoses come in all kinds of materials. Which material is right for you and your boat depends on the type of liquid that will flow through the hose. Particular attention needs to be paid to temperatures and aggressive or corrosive substances.

However, also pressure and potential odors are important when choosing a hose. In addition, drinking water hoses have to be non-toxic, clean, and tasteless.

What is the bend radius and suction that a marine hose should be able to withstand?

Some boat hoses come with a built-in steel insert, which results in an extremely flexible hose that can even be installed in small corners. Marine hoses without inserts should not be installed in sharp corners due to a danger of buckling. These hoses are also not suitable when there is too much suction, since the hose will collapse and the liquid can no longer pass through.

A potential buckling of hoses should also be taken into account for straight lines. Always install hoses in a manner that they will not be damaged or smashed by falling or moving objects during the boat ride. Most yacht hoses cannot be completely reconditioned to their original shape once they have been smashed.

What can a marine hose on board be used for?

Drinking Water Hoses

Supply lines on board have to be non-toxic, clean and tasteless and require a certification for drinking water. Portable drink water systems can become dangerous for your health if installed incorrectly or the wrong materials were used. In Germany the drinking water ordinance regulates the quality of drinking water hoses and additional components. Hoses for drinking water have to be UV-resistant or equipped with UV protection, need to be opaque and observe an appropriate resistance to pressure. Opacity is for example an important feature that protects against microbes and algae formation.

We carry three different types of drinking water hoses in various qualities.

Hose °C Stability Ø in mm (inner/ outer) Color Features Guidelines
AQUAPAL Freshwater Hose -30°C to +90°C 13/20 19/27 light-blue Interior layer transparent & smooth, plastomer, unplasticized, homogenous, odorless and tasteless.
Outer layer ozone-, UV-, oil-, weather- and grease-resistant highly flexible and traversable
• EG 1935/2004
• EG 2023/2006
• EU 10/2011
• FDA (21 CFR 177.2600)
Approved Drinking Water Hose -20°C to +65°C 13/19 19/25 dark-blue Abrasion- and UV-resistant opaque • DVGW
• AB W549 & W270
• KTW category A
Drinking Water Hose -10°C to +60°C 13/20 blue red Non-toxic and cadmium-free - - -
drinking water  mood
Water mood Drop mood

Clean and germ-free hoses

Especially when you are not constantly on board and water remains in the pipes for a few days or weeks, it is important to keep the pipes and the water itself clean and germ-free with the appropriate products. There are several products with different active ingredients to choose from.

Products with activated oxygen , natural citric acid or silver ions dissolve algae and bacteria films as well as calcium deposits, preserve the water and prevent odors. Micropur’s starter kit Tankline MT Box contains all three ingredients. Additional effective products for purification are available in our online shop.

Bilge and Hydraulic Hoses

Hose Temperature Stability Ø in mm (inner/outer) Guidelines Reinforcement/Pressure Absorption
PVC Fabric Hose -10°C to +60°C 10/15, 13/18, 16/22, 19/26, 25/33, 32/42, 38/49 REG. (EU) 10/2011 Class A, B, C – phthalate free High-strength synthetic fabric
Spiral Reinforced Hose -10°C to +60°C 19/24, 25/30, 32/38, 38/46 REG. (EU) 10/2011 Class A, B, C - F.D.A. – phthalate free Impact-resistant and shatterproof PVC wire spiral
PVC Hose -10°C to +60°C 10/14, 13/17, 16/22, 18/25, 25/34 REG. (EU) 10/2011 Class A, B, C – phthalate free Single-layered PVC hose
Steel Wire Reinforced PVC Hose -10°C to +60°C 13/18, 16/23, 19/27, 25/33, 28/36, 32/40, 38/47, 50/60 - - - Steel wire spiral

Boiler/Hot Water Hoses

Boiler or hot water hoses are very temperature-resistant due to a fabric insert and are suitable for water temperatures of up to 120°C. SVB carries two different models with various inner diameters between 13-38 mm. If you are planning on installing the hose in tight corners, our SVB experts recommend the first hose.

Hose Temperature Stability Ø in mm (inner/outer) Features
Hot and Raw Water Hose -40°C to +120°C 16/26, 18/28, 25/35, 32/42, 38/49 Can be used as suction hose and for tight corners with steel wire reinforcement Up to a pressure of 10 bar!
Boilerschlauch -40°C to +120°C 19/24, 25/30, 32/38, 38/46 Fabric insert for heat protection

Sanitary/Sewage Hoses

The most important feature of sanitary or sewage hoses is odor impermeability. To ensure that no odor escapes, you should use a hose with a built-in barrier layer. This type of hose proves to be the best protection against unwanted odors on board.

Hose Temperature Stability Ø in mm (inner/outer) Features
Sanitation Hose -15°C to +60°C 19/26, 25/33, 38/47 • Steel spiral reinforcement
Blackwater Hose -30°C to +80°C 16/26, 19/29, 25/35, 38/48 • Durable, odor-impermeable rubber
• Embedded steel spiral
Sanitation Hose w/ Barrier Layer -40°C to +120°C 19/29, 25/35, 38/48 • Built-in barrier layer & double steel spiral
• Wall thickness 5mm
• According to ISO 8099: 2000 standards

What are the advantages of the Quick-Connect plumbing system?

The plumbing system of the English manufacturer Whale is suitable for cold as well as warm water and heating systems on board with a water temperature of up to 65°C. This system was specifically developed for portable use on boats and caravans and offers a lot of advantages. The semi-rigid polyethylene pipes can be shortened or extended as you wish and installation is incredibly flexible.

Thanks to clip connectors, installation and disassembly of the system is very easy. The pipes can be replaced many times without having to disassemble the rest of the system. Due to the composition and opacity of the material, algae also form less easily. The outer diameter of the system is 15mm, on the interior the pipes exhibit a diameter of 10mm.

Piping system Quick-Connect whale-connect Fig. 1
Piping system Quick-Connect whale-connect Fig. 2
Piping system Quick-Connect whale-connect Fig. 3