Dock Water Lines

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WALSHIE

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I have the honor of being the "Utilities Chairman" of our working club. Currently our water system to the docks is a series of garden hoses with those cheap "Y-valves" where people want to install a hose.

We run our stuff exposed, not in the docks. I want to make something more substantial with real fittings and real hose bibs at every other slip (we CAN share). Does anyone have a suggestions for what type of hose or pipe to use? I can't find a UV rated PEX. I think the black poly pipe is meant to be buried. So far, garden hose seems to win but there MUST be something better.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!
 
The marina we're at uses what appears to be the black poly rolled pipe you can buy at Lowes or Home Depot. I'va also seen the same pipe used at the marina our daughter's and son-in-law's boat is kept. That is definitely better than garden hose. Hy
 
is PVC UV Resistent? I don't think it was.

Honestly the exposed garden hoses have worked very well for several years. It's just the connections that are bad. At this rate, I'm considering using all hoses with barbed-fittings.
 
Black poly pipe comes in two grades, regular cheapo and UL approved which usually has a white stripe.
It will last 15 to 20 years with little maintainance above ground. The connectors and tees are easy to find and use.
We have three docks that have water turned on all winter. The pipe was strapped to the dock sides at the hose bib and loops under every finger. In fall we losen the strap and lower the pipe doen 3 feet and leave the water turned on for the liveaboards.
At the seawall we have 30 feet of heated tracer line taped on it from where it emerges underground to two feet below low water.

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I vote PVC. Just end them with a T them at every other slip with 2 metal valves to connect the hoses to. I like the ball type on-off valves as apposed to gate valves.

If you still want to use hoses just connect them to PVC Ts with metal valves on them.
 
I would look at the Shark Bite plumbing system. Not sure if it is UV resistant but depending on docks, it might not be an issue anyway. Having had a family owned small marina and dealt with all sorts of plumbing issues on the docks, this would be a system that I would seriously consider in all or in part of any water system for a dock.
 
The short term solution would be copper. It would be gone as fast as you could get it in!

I vote black poly as well. The white PVC is going to get dirt ugly faster and if it gets smacked by a swim platform, it is more prone to crack.

If this is used for potable water, do you need to consider an end of the line check valve to drain the line after use like a sprinkler system to preclude bacteria? Just asking.
 
Be sure the tubing or whatever you decide to use is potable water safe.......the black tubing/pvc is not.
 
I've seen more PVC used than anything else. Just don't forget about winterizing the system when you install it. Any place it dips will need a drain valve.

The KISS method would probably lean towards continued use of the hoses. Perhaps better Y-valves or actual faucets mounted between slips?
 
I believe PVC is a petroleum based product....PEX is not. They both look like plastic tubing.
 
1) We actually do have copper on one dock with flex tubing at where the docks meet...no thefts yet
2) Potability, technically YES but you'd be crazy to drink the water which is in a 300' run exposed in the sun...very HOT!
3) Yes, I winterize, blow the water lines every fall
4) Sounds like the poly lines are the best course of action...as the other gary specified.
 
PEX is not UV rated, but it has lasted 7 full seasons at our marina, and has not given us any problems.All lines are strapped to underside of the dock, to prevent any wear.
Lines get blown out at end of season.
 
I would want to run 1" or larger lines to maintain pressure on long runs such as that. PVC is cheap and has many size options.
 
Is there any reason not to check with a plumbing supply house or even the county plumbing inspector to see what would work best in your situation?

And why not run the pipe under the docks so exposure won't be a problem?
 
quote:
Originally posted by WALSHIE

1) ,,,,, Potability, technically YES but you'd be crazy to drink the water which is in a 300' run exposed in the sun...very HOT!

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But it cools down after a while. Then you can drink it. Placed under the docks, rather than exposed to the sun, will keep the water near the ambient air temperature.

By the time the water gets to the marina, it has already run several miles in pipes.
 
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