There is no such thing as an all-purpose hose on a boat. No single hose type can withstand engine exhaust, bring freshwater to the galley, safely transport gasoline to the carburetor, drain the cockpit, and flush the head. Using the wrong hose can cause problems that range from an inconvenient mess to a burning boat. This handy run-down will help you identify one type of hose from another and assist in choosing the right hose for the job at hand. We'll start with a visual guide to common marine hoses, then go into more detail about each type. (See photo above).
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1. Exhaust hose. Able to withstand temperatures to around 250 F, an exhaust hose is often reinforced with wire, which may be stainless, or other special reinforcement. Other, more expensive silicone hoses are capable of sustaining much higher temperatures.
2. Hot and cold PEX potable water pipe. Many modern boats use PEX tubing for hot and cold plumbing. PEX is available in three distinct grades: A, B, and C. Although all are perfectly acceptable for potable water, Grade A is the most flexible and easiest to run in the tight confines of a boat. Fittings are easy to connect to the pipe, although you may need special tools. PEX is not the only option for potable water, however (see 6).
3. Sanitation hose. Often white, with a smooth bore to prevent trapping waste that could lead to odors, sanitation hose has an expected lifespan of approximately 10 years.
4. Corrugated bilge pump hose. This cheap hose is often supplied with bilge pumps. While easy to run, cut, and bend, its ridged internal structure restricts flow, making it a poor choice.
5. Smooth-bore bilge pump hose. Although four times the price of corrugated types, smooth-bore bilge pump hose offers up to 30 percent greater efficiency.
6. Potable water hose. Potable water hose comes in both reinforced and non-reinforced types. They're easy to tell apart as the reinforced hose will have strong synthetic cord strands visible. This one is clear but opaque is generally a better choice for potable water because there is less chance of algae growing inside.
7. Fuel hose. Fuel hose must be marked as such and will be stamped A1, A2, B1, or B2. Older hoses are incompatible with fuel containing ethanol, so if yours is older than about 10 years, it's most likely due for replacement anyway.
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8. Thru-hull hose. For any connections to thru-hulls, reinforced hose is the only way to go. A cheap hose may fail and sink your boat.
Properties: Chemical resistance and low permeability
Question: In the photo I sent in you can clearly see the &#;A2&#; lettering on the side of the hose, along with a bunch of Lloyd&#;s approval numbers and such. My question has to do with the &#;A&#; letter designations.
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I&#;ve heard that these have changed in their meaning over the last few years and I&#;ve also heard that the bar has been raised on the requirements. Can you clear the air on all of this? What does A2 vs. A1 mean for example?You are correct. We covered this a while ago in What do the New Marine Fuel Hose Markings Mean , but it would be worth circling back again because this is still a fairly new topic, and not well understood. It&#;s especially important for owners who are considering replacing fuel hoses in used boats.Things changed with these designators in when the EPA-mandated diurnal emissions requirements for gasoline fuel systems on boats went into full effect. Basically what happened as a result of the new regulations is that the permeation rate standard for marine fuel hoses was tightened up rather significantly. A new designation was established for fuel distribution hose that now requires a permeation rating maximum of 15 g/m²/24hrs (15 grams per square meter in 24 hours). This is the new maximum for what is designated &#;A1-15&#; hose.Several things about this designator are important. First, any fuel hose with an &#;A&#; designator is fire-rated based on USCG requirements and specifications. It is the only rating allowable for fuel hose used in gasoline engine room spaces. In terms of the permeation specification, the new EPA required 1-15 designators are required for fuel distribution hoses. The assumption here is that these hoses are constantly filled with fuel and therefore we need to have a much lower permeation rate to keep fuel vapor leakage into the atmosphere at an absolute minimum. &#;A2&#; labeled hose is also USCG fire-rated but has a much higher permeation rate specification of 300 g/m²/24 hrs. It is also allowable in engine room spaces but should only be used for either fill or vent hoses going to the fuel tank. Again, the assumption is that these hose sections are not constantly exposed to raw gasoline, so a higher permeation rate is OK. There is also an A1 designation with a 100 g/m²/24 hrs. rating that is actually getting a bit hard to locate as most boat builders are using either the A2 or A1-15 hoses.To add to any confusion here, there is also &#;B&#; rated hose available that has similar permeation properties but no USCG fire rating. They should only be used in non-engine room compartments.For details on fuel hoses in diesel-powered boats, see Diesel Fuel Hose Ratings Explained
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