Copper water lines

[angus99]

I’m away from the boat and need to buy some fittings for the ubiquitous copper water piping found in many Taiwan-built boats. Are these pipes metric or standard OD? Do they require special fittings or will shark bites or conventional sweat fittings work?

Thanks in advance.

 

[ScottC]

It's difficult to tell from the picture...but I must say it looks like it could be 1/2" o.d. refrigeration tubing. Why? Because the "nuts" connecting to the T look like refrigeration fittings. I think it would be best if you took some accurate o.d. measurements of the tubing before buying anything. Also, disconnect one of the "nuts" at the T and see if the copper tubing is flared underneath. If yes, then you will also need a flaring tool and a copper tubing cutter.

Example:
https://tramecsloan.com/products/fi...on-nut-long/forged-refrigeration-nut-long-12/

I'm not sure what your end objective is, but I don't think going with copper flared fittings is the optimal way forward if you're rebuilding anything.

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. SC. Indeed it does look like 1/2' refrigeration BUT it may have metric fittings. I ran into that situation with a 1979 Marine Trader.

 

[angus99]

It's difficult to tell from the picture...but I must say it looks like it could be 1/2" o.d. refrigeration tubing. Why? Because the "nuts" connecting to the T look like refrigeration fittings. I think it would be best if you took some accurate o.d. measurements of the tubing before buying anything. Also, disconnect one of the "nuts" at the T and see if the copper tubing is flared underneath. If yes, then you will also need a flaring tool and a copper tubing cutter.

Example:
https://tramecsloan.com/products/fi...on-nut-long/forged-refrigeration-nut-long-12/

I'm not sure what your end objective is, but I don't think going with copper flared fittings is the optimal way forward if you're rebuilding anything.

Endgame is to replace flare fittings on the ends of both tubes (not pictured) with standard sink supply valves. That mess in the photo is under the fwd head vanity.

Thanks for the quick replies.

 

[ScottC]

Endgame is to replace flare fittings on the ends of both tubes (not pictured) with standard sink supply valves. That mess in the photo is under the fwd head vanity.

Thanks for the quick replies.

If it were my project, I would go the Whale quick-connect route. If you search around on TF (maybe you already have) you'll see quite a bit of discussion on this topic. It seems to be right up there with anchor choice ;-)

 

[ancora]

On my Taiwan trawler, I replace the copper with 1/2" potable water hose...a lot easier and cheaper.

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

They look the same as mine. 3/8 or 1/2 inch.

I have replaced some of my cooper lines with PEX and Sharkbite fitting. The fittings fit nicely over the cooper pipe and the PEX is super easy to handle.

I need to clean this up a little, but on the pics I have 3/4 inch fitting over the cooper, then its 3/4 PEX to the HWH. In the middle Hot/cold 1/2 inch lines run to the washer dryer combo located in the aft cabin.

 

[angus99]

On my Taiwan trawler, I replace the copper with 1/2" potable water hose...a lot easier and cheaper.

Thanks, I’d prefer that, but replacing these pipes would require removing our Isolation transformer—basically a 230-lb basketball.

 

[angus99]

Thanks, ASD. I’m at the boat now and brought some Shark Bites with me to test out. Will post how things turn out.

 

[Max Simmons]

I was doing some work over the weekend on water piping. What looked like 1/2" was actually 15MM. Had to get fittings from Fisheries Supply instead of the big box stores

 

[angus99]

Thanks. I put a caliper on mine today and it they appear to be 1/2”. Definitely not 15 mm.

 

[Scottwb96]

I have the "same" boat as ASD. I found out while replacing some lines (fuel) that they were some weird size not used by ANYONE any longer. The fittings on some were "close" but just not right. Hydraulic shop ended up making me some custom fittings to work with what I needed. SURPRISINGLY, they didn't charge me for any of that. Just the actual fuel line fittings/crimps and all the connecting pieces...

GOOD LUCK!!! My advice, before you cut any of that copper, MAKE SURE you 100% have the right fittings/sizes...

 

[Scottwb96]

see attached pics...

 

[angus99]

see attached pics...

I’ll bet that was cheap! I’ll have a chance in the next day or two to test fit a Sharkbite on what appears to be a 1/2” tube. Anything other than 1/2” and it shouldn’t fit (I think).

 

[Scottwb96]

actually (aside from the cost of the fuel lines) all the fittings/crimpings were LESS than ~$300. I was VERY pleasantly surprised!
I basically had to replace all the "red" lines in this pic, all the way up to the fuel filters. I was putting in Maretron Fuel Flow Sensors...

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

actually (aside from the cost of the fuel lines) all the fittings/crimpings were LESS than ~$300. I was VERY pleasantly surprised!

I basically had to replace all the "red" lines in this pic, all the way up to the fuel filters. I was putting in Maretron Fuel Flow Sensors...

That system looks familiar! Lol

 

[Scottwb96]

Yessir! I know you "know" that weird manifold "system" in there!

 

[jleonard]

I think my copper lines were 1/2 inch and I used Home Depot's version of the shark bites and they held fine for the remaining 10 years I had the boat.

 

[sean9c]

Just flared stubs of your old copper to go to what looks like JIC. You could do the same with the little SAE flare kit. Pretty simple as long as your copper will flare and not crack. I'd be pretty careful about supporting that hose. Putting weight on that old stiff copper at some point it'll not be happy

see attached pics...

 

[Scottwb96]

it's all very well supported/secured w/ rubber protected wall mount clamps.