General - Marine hose is a vital part of your boat. It’s used in lieu of pipe because it’s flexible and it provides better and easier installations, especially where tight spaces, movement and vibration are a factor (typical in most boats). As plumbing they deliver, circulate and discharge the fluids (liquid and gaseous) for most operating systems (engine, generator, exhaust, bilge, drainage, live well, sanitation, potable and grey water, ventilation, gas appliance, climate control, etc.) and they’re often connected as an extension of a hole in your boat (above and below the water line). A Marine Hose failure (bursting, leakage, obstruction, permeation) can ruin your day or worse (explosion, fire, sinking, carbon monoxide poisoning, breakdown [boat and/or system], noxious odors, costly repair and cleanup). Therefore, Marine Hose must be specially designed (with proper formulations and flexible heavy wall construction) to provide the best possible, long term performance and resistance to its fluids and aging in a tough environment (vibration and movement, heat and cold, ozone, salt air & water).

Water System Hoses

Raw Water "Pick up" Intake-These hoses are connected to a hole in the boat hull below the water line (preferably via a good sea cock which should be routinely inspected, tested and secured when the boat is not in operation). It delivers raw (outside) water for the engine cooling, sanitation, air conditioning and live well systems. Use only hose recommended for "below water line" connections and preferably one constructed with a hard spiral helix to prevent kinking and collapse under suction if the raw-water screen becomes clogged. Because a breach in the hose can flood or sink your boat, we recommend using the best hose possible. The heavy wall rubber raw water pick-up hose with 2 ply and wire helix reinforcement (essentially a small, heavy wall exhaust hose-our series #100 and #250) is the best. XHD smooth vinyl hose with a hard PVC helix like our #148 white sanitation hose or our #147 series may also be used except where heat is a factor.

Engine Coolant-These rubber hoses circulate engine coolant water, and must be resistant to kinking, heat, antifreeze, ozone, etc. A heavy wall, 2 ply hose (like our raw water intake hose #100 & #250 series) is the best, but a good heater hose (#130 series) or heavy coolant/exhaust hose (#110 & #200 series) may also be used.

Drainage-For cockpit, sinks, showers, etc. drains; use a flexible hose that will not kink or abrade in its routing. Again the heavy wall rubber marine intake hose (#100 & #250 series) is the best, and is recommended for cockpit drains that must handle heavy rainfall even when you’re not on board. Any of our other water hoses may also be used, depending on the application and installation.

Potable Water-These hoses must be made of FDA approved compounds for drinking water. For pressurized systems they must be reinforced to withstand dockside and/or water pump pressure, (20 to 60 PSI). The exceptions are the water tank fill and vent hoses where we recommend the white XHD sanitation/water hose (#148 & #147 series), and hot water lines (140° F+) where we recommend a reinforced rubber hose.

Bilge Pump-These hoses connect the bilge pump to an over board fitting. Corrugated (inside and out) polyethylene hose with molded cuffs (#120 & #121 series) is commonly used due to its excellent flexibility, price and bilge resistance. However, it is vulnerable to abrasion and the internal corrugations reduce water discharge flow. You may choose to use a hose with a smooth interior, abrasion resistant cover and good (anti kink) flexibility. Our rubber or vinyl hoses (with helix) are excellent alternations. We recommend our #100, 250, 144, 147, or 148 series.

Sanitation-This hose must handle sewage from the toilet to holding tank; pump out and vent deck fittings and discharge thru hull fitting (where legal). It’s failure or odor permeation is very unpleasant, so choose and install your hose carefully. It should be labeled "Sanitation"; and be made of smooth (inside and out), heavy wall, flexible, and odor resistant construction and formulation. Our rubber and vinyl sanitation hoses are the best available, but certain common sense limitations apply to each for odor free performance. Good installations are short and self-draining (no kinks, loops or dips), with tight connections.
NOTE: overtight fittings & clamping can do damage to hose ends, causing leaks and odors. Sewage allowed to set in the hose develops acids and gas that shorten its odor free life. This is especially the case with our most popular white (vinyl) XHD Sanitation Hose (#148 series), where petroleum based lubricants, excessive heat softening, and fluids containing alcohol, petrochemicals or solvents can damage this hose and shorten its "odor free" life. This is a good and cost effective sanitation hose, but for maximum "odor free" performance, and long &/or non self-draining installations, we recommend our Premium Sanitation Hose (#101 series). It’s heavy wall, 2 ply with wire helix construction is more forgiving, flexible, installation friendly and odor resistant.

Ventilation-Combustible and noxious gases must be vented, especially from engine spaces. Flexible vinyl ducting (#400 & #402 series) connects an internal blower to an outside vent fitting. Be careful not to damage or collapse this ducting. Heavier wall ducting (#460 & #470 series), also used for heat and air conditioning, is also available.

Trident offers a wide variety of the best quality marine hose available. They must be installed correctly and securely. Use good and correctly sized (for the hose ID) fittings; crimped on ferrules, or 100% stainless steel clamps (double if possible, but not over lapping or beyond barb ends); and proper thread sealant on NPT threads. Hose must be protected from damage (crushing, puncture, abrasion, kinking, and excess heat) by careful routing, support, and abrasion shielding (straight thru fittings, grommets and/or conduit sleeving). Finally, you should periodically inspect your hoses for leaks, damage and age deterioration.