How to Repair OLD Sailboat Plumbing in a Foreign Port! Patrick Childress Sailing #27
November 16, 2018 · 13 min · 17K views · Tanzania
What this video covers
Replacing aging copper water lines on a 42-year-old sailboat in Tanzania requires improvising with PEX tubing and marine-grade sealants when standard plumbing fittings are unavailable.0:52 After a copper hot water pipe burst, the repair expanded to include replacing a deteriorated nylon drain, a failed galley faucet, and a broken through-hull shut-off valve.0:22 To join PEX to existing copper, the repair involves sanding the copper with 220 and 400-grit paper, cleaning with acetone, and sealing the connection with 3M Adhesive 5200 and multiple hose clamps.9:46 For routing tubing through tight bulkheads, an electrician’s fish tape helps pull lines through restricted spaces.11:06 When a through-hull valve handle snapped, the temporary fix involved cleaning the valve body and reinforcing it with epoxy until a replacement can be sourced.8:02 Threaded connections require five wraps of Teflon tape applied in the direction of the thread to prevent leaks, while faucet connections rely on rubber O-rings.12:00 While these field repairs deviate from ABYC standards, they restore system integrity in remote ports.12:57
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