Sanitation Hoses

[toesford]

New to Forum: Another question. Purchased a 1989 2557 Montego two years ago. 5.7 Mercruiser with Alpha outdrive. 496 total hours. Nice craft but boy, does she stink in cabin. Research tells me it is probably permeated sanitation hoses. I agree since they appear to be original from 30 years ago. Anyone with tips before I start replacing regarding the fishing of these lines through stringer and up into head area? Also from holding tank and up to deck waste port. I am also replacing the original head with a manual Jabsco. Nothing fancy here. Love the lines on this boat and hull stringers are solid or so I believe after my own inspection. Have lots to do before next spring so will be asking questions. Thanks all.

[bud37]

One thing....buy the good hose. .....as far as fishing its just a process, take your time.There is a handy tool to have to expand the hose to easily get it on fittings, the small exhaust pipe expander, just expand warmed hose and slip on fittings.....lots of dish soap.

Good luck and wear gloves

[toesford]

Thank you sir. Also read that HOT WATER and immerse the hose end will facilitate the expansion. Don't have a small exhaust pipe expander. Will have to break the black gunk seal around the stringers where original hose was fed through. I assume it is probably a really good silicone 5200? marine type from OEM. Thought I would try putting a piece of doweling into both ends of old and new hose and duct tape them together. Once I go through first stringer, hoses are out of my sight. My big worry is the LONG run from holding tank up to deck port. Can't see a thing until pass the up front water heater. Hope it isn't plastic tied to fresh water line or other unseen things. How long do these hot water tanks last?. This one is original I believe.

[bud37]

Once you remove the deck fitting it is easy to connect outside the boat and you can see down there. Water tanks can last for years and years if taken care of and just one winter if not

The hot water sort of works , but I am here to tell you the expander is bar none the quickest, easiest, least messy way to go....bin there done that.......if you want I can post a pic of the thing.

[Viper]

You can also use a heat gun but be careful not to heat it too much.

[toesford]

Send a pic of the expander. That will help. Thanks

[bud37]

Here, its a powerbuilt 940377.

expander.jpg

[vineyardgray]

Princess auto should have one of those for a nice price.

[toestedford]

Don't know if this post will get to you all but here goes with update on changing black stuff lines. Wow, what a job. Worst I have ever had to perform on a boat. No, not concerned about poop stuff, it was the actually routing and connecting. I bought the best hose which was the worst deal. I have 15 feet left over for sale if anyone interested here in Ontario. From tank to head it took the most indirect route. I had to cut into the floor after removing all that crappy carpeting. Why do they use carpet? Thats another story. With my wife and I cursing, managed to get the line into the head. Found the original head was crapped out so bought a new one and installed it. Fitting from tank to deck. Ah, now there is another sweat causing task. I had to take up part of the floor exposing the tank and bulkheads. The original line was stuffed between the tank and the stringer and I mean stuffed. They actually kinked the hose from the factory I guess when they made the bend from the back of tank to go to front of boat to waste pump out between tank. The "best" hose I bought would not squish enough to fit between tank and stringer. Had to buy another 15 feet of cheaper hose that would compress somewhat to fit. Did NOT kink this one. The cheaper hose fit onto tank fittings and waste connection at deck with a lot less muscle power. The "best" hose, well, that was another story. I found muscle I never knew I had. Hot water, hot air, expanders, yep tried them all. What worked was dry fitting a duplicate fitting pushing it on a little at a time, leaving it, push a little more and over time forcing it to expand. That wire winding inside the edpm lining is one strong sucker. Trust me. All Done. New head, new hoses, no stink, Yep looking and working good. Will post another question on this boat.

[Viper]

Welcome to the wonderful world of marine sanitation hose replacement Glad you got it all done. A difficult task for sure but I bet it's more enjoyable on board now