Most of the plumbing on our boat is PVC, some semi-rigid
polybutylene tubing, some clear PVC, and some I am not sure what is. More or
less it was what was available when we had to fix something.
When I re-did the galley and put new sinks in I decided to
trash the old plumbing.
What is now available is semi-rigid tubing made from
cross-linked polyethylene and it is known as PE or PEX. PEX tubing is being used in commercial
and residential applications also, and it is great stuff. It is available in 15mm or 5/8” OD, and it is
color-coded in red for hot water and blue for cold. The tubing bends well and
dose not kink or crush like PVC. You just cut it to length and press on
quick-connect fittings. It looks great, very professional and there is no
question on which line is hot and which is cold. There are fitting adapters to
let you connect to hose barbs and many fixtures. The PEX tubing is rated for about 60psi. Most
boat water systems are only about 40psi.
A PEX plumbing system is great for DIY projects. It is real easy to work with and the cost is about
the same as PVC, maybe a little cheaper. It makes boat plumbing much easier,
looks good, and it is almost fun to work with. I told my wife it was so easy a
woman could do it. (That was a big mistake on my part.)
The most commonly used and inexpensive new plumbing explanation is Pex tubing method in plumbing. It is currently one of the most widely applied plumbing objects in the newly constructed homes, due to its appropriate operational and inexpensive qualities. Pex pipes are more valuable than the conventional plumbing materials.
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