Bertram33 User Forum

I need to replace my head hose. One of the guys on the Hatteras site had this to say about the white "marine" head hose: You guys must like doing things over and over. The white hose sucks! the only place to use it is on a Vacuflush wher there is vacuum. I have told you guys over and over to use the industrial air and water hose available at any commercial hose supplier like Amazon or Goodyear or any Parker store. Heavy wall rubber no wire and 200 or 300 psi rating. Stays soft and seals well on fittings and in 30 years of using the stuff have never had any permeation. I don't know how many Hatt MY's I have replaced all the rotted wire reinforced hoses for HEADS, AIR COND etc. with this stuff. Never ever a problem. Warning it does not say MARINE on it no ABYC, FBI,CIA Passagemaker, West marine, PMY, CE, NAMS,SAMS, POTUS on it............................... But it works and lasts and lasts. Bertram and Chris Craft have used it since the 60,s. YMMV Here's the link to the whole thread: http://www.samsmarine.com/forums/showth ... 139&page=2 What do you guys think?

I just replaced mine this Spring with the standard 1 1/2" white hose from West. The one that goes from the output of the toilet. Mine hadn't permeated either, but I had to work on my Lectrasan so many times, it wore out one end. There's so much water running through it that I don't it matters Doug but it might be a different case for those with holding tanks. Rick Ticket 85 SF Merc 454 MPI's Falmouth, MA

Doug, I have never tried the commercial hose, but I agree that that white hose is a PITA. I replaced all of mine about 8 yrs. ago. I had to dip it in boiling water to get it to streach over the fittings. It is now stiff, leaking and stinking. I think I may give the non Marine hose a chance. I would stll run the recommended Marine hose from my thru hull to the mascerator pump just as a cya. Gene Dugan Boca Raton, Fl. "Nauti Marie" 1989 33 FBC 2007 8.1 Crusaders

Good timing. I am going to change my head next week. I will ask the rep for his opinion on the topic when I pick up the new head next week. When I ordered it he was very knowledgeable and helpful (and local)so I am sure he will have good guidance and recomendation.

Doug, I recently replaced my head with a vacuflush system. They were helpful with my concern of the odor issue. Like you say do not use the white hose if it is coming from the bottom of a holding tank. They recommend using pvc pipe for any standing sewage. I have a very short run (4 feet) from the tank discharge outlet to where it rises above the holding tank. PVC would not work for this so I used a Shields Series 101 non-odor 1 1/2" hose from West Marine (not cheap) $10.00 a foot, but is great for the job. The WM model # is 159186.

Cliff, I just installed the Valuflush system as well. Like a new boat isn't it. Now I have got to clean the bildge and get the oil smell out as that's what you have when the raw water is gone.

Hi Kurt, Yea I really like the Vacuflush. I installed one in my last boat also in the late eighties and it never clogged once, never stunk up the boat in the eighteen years I used it. To clean and keep the bilge clean try adding some Tide with fresh water, run the boat and let the wave action work to clean all the area's you can't reach. I do this once every year and the bilge is always fresh. I did add a pump/pick up hose in the lowest part of the bilge to suck the bilge completly dry as well since the boats standard pumps will not do so.

When I replaced my holding tank (went a little larger) I replaced as much of the hose with the PVC tubing. Short hose connection from toilet into PVC, then short hose from PVC into holding tank. I also converted to fresh water and increased my water tank to 90 gallons cause it had pinhole leak. No smells whatsoever.