Check your hoses!!!

[PMvdb395DA]

As some of you know, I serviced my raw water system this winter.
I was really shocked when I noticed that some of my hoses where in a pretty bad shape!
You can't see it very good when the hoses are fitted.
See this photo, nothing seems wrong...

But this is what you see when I bent the hose... :wow:

During the winter hoses can crack, they can break, seals can break at the very edge, and these actual straps can start to rust and corrode and can snap off.

Feel all your hoses and make sure that they aren't leaking. Look at the edges of them.
If you see water collecting on them go ahead and wipe it off and see if there is water leaking out.
You want to check all of these clips and you want to make sure that these clips are actually securely fastened on each hose.
Feeling and making sure that the hoses have a little bit of spring and play in them will really let you know how the hoses conditioning is.
If you feel one that's dry and it feels cracked you should probably go ahead and replace it.

This was the hose between my sea cock and the strainer...

Can you imagine what happens when this hose snaps?? :smt100

Maybe this post can be a sticky for a while...

 

[PMvdb395DA]

The post about the earthworms got more response.. :smt089

OK check your coolant, not your hoses. :smt013

:wink: Peter

 

[Skip]

I replaced all the raw water intake hoses on my boat when I bought it in March 2006. The boat was two years old. All the hoses showed exterior cracking. The raw water intake lines from the seacocks to the strainers and from the strainers to the Sherwood pumps on the C series were the worst.

There are some maintenance items that I suppose you can defer. Gelcoat cleaning is a popular example of deferred maintenance in my marina, for example.
Raw water intake lines? No deferral there.

 

[Four Suns]

Nothing a little rescue tape won't fix.

 

[Stray Cat]

How many hours did you get out of that hose Peter?

 

[roosevelt14]

I also just replaced my hoses this past summer.:grin:..

Peter mine were even worse than yours!!!

Cheap insurance....Replace!!!!!!!!!!

 

[tdappleman]

nah - leave them - it's a good test for your bilge pumps.... :smt043

 

[PMvdb395DA]

How many hours did you get out of that hose Peter?

Less than 500 hours, and more than 300 hours from that are on fresh water...

The worst part on the hoses is always on the point where they are attached to a sea cock or a strainer.
The rest of the hose looks OK, but when you rally check them with bending or feeling you see the cracking.

I know for sure that when you take a closer look at your hoses you will be surprised how the condition is...

 

[PMvdb395DA]

Nothing a little rescue tape won't fix.

I use that stuff only for my wife and kids.

 

[tobnpr]

Had a hose from the water pump fail on my Chris five years ago. Fortunately, shutting down the engine solved the sinking feeling.
Had a hose clamp fail on my new-to-me Caterpillar and nearly cost me the engine. A little bit of surface rust...

Good advice. Not only check the hoses, but tighten the clamps- and check them for any rust. If rusty- replace them.

 

[Skip]

Do not forget the A/C intake lines from seacock to strainer and strainer to pump. If those fail you will be doing the emergency bilge pump test as well. And everything gets double clamped.
Diesels vibrate a lot-as tobnpr suggests, clamps need peridoic inspection and tightening.

Just another opportunity for some quality time with the Thundering Cathedrals of Torque.