Heater hose

[dnadave]

Any reason why I should go to Fisheries Supply and buy heater hose to hook up my heat exchanger versus going to the auto parts store?

I know I should use stainless clamps from Fisheries, but I'm thinking the hose should be fine from the auto parts store for less $$...

[pcford]

Maybe it'll work. Maybe not.

That's a fairly significant incident if something lets go. Could spoil your whole day.

[dnadave]

Precisely, which is why I'm asking. :D

[BETTY-B]

High end heater hose at FISCO is cheap anyways...

DAN

[Gary E]

Yeah...dontya know that if ya pay more for the same item it'l be better?
You dont have an Industrial Supply house in the area?

[mmd]

Marine hoses are reinforced with wire so that they (supposedly) can't collapse. Most automotive hoses are not. Your call...

[pcford]

Yeah...dontya know that if ya pay more for the same item it'l be better?
You dont have an Industrial Supply house in the area?

Why do presume the same thing will be more expensive from a marine supplier?

Oh, I get it..."Marine suppliers just put a boat on the label and double the price." Right?

[pcford]

Marine hoses are reinforced with wire so that they (supposedly) can't collapse. Most automotive hoses are not. Your call...

Certainly if the hose is on the suction side of a pump. Not sure if this would be the case in this situation. (?)

[BETTY-B]

Yeah...dontya know that if ya pay more for the same item it'l be better?

I recently just did both fuel hose and heater hose on the boat. Then I had to do the same on the truck. Seeing what was available at NAPA, sent me right back to FISCO for a superior product. And with my commercial account at FISCO, I paid about the same. Even without, we're talking small amounts of cash here. This isnt the place to skimp.

I gotta say Gary, you give some horrible advice sometimes. I'm not trying to be mean, just realistic. The differences of being on a road and being out to sea when problems arise are just so vastly different. These are things that are cheap to do correctly.

DAN

[Gary E]

You dont understand.. I've never sugested to buy "cheap"... just KNOW what your buying and it's real cost and value. Often the same item your buying at a "boat" store is available at an industrial supply house and at a much better price but way to many boat owners are seen comming by the store usually wearing their little yachtiee hat, and taken advantage of.

[BETTY-B]

Well, the best stuff they have at the auto parts store is cheap. I dont know what they have at an inustrial wharehouse, but I'd bet it would cost the same or more than FISCO. Yep, just checked.

[pcford]

The old line, "You can get it cheaper at the auto parts store..." is such a lame cliche...but it still serves to indicate someone who does not know what he is talking about.....in most cases.

[BETTY-B]

Zinc chromate is cheaper at the auto parts store. That's gotta be the same right? Hey, my McMurry windlass was designed by him and Doc Freeman to be able to buy all the parts at an auto parts store.

[peter radclyffe]

You dont understand.. I've never sugested to buy "cheap"... just KNOW what your buying and it's real cost and value. Often the same item your buying at a "boat" store is available at an industrial supply house and at a much better price but way to many boat owners are seen comming by the store usually wearing their little yachtiee hat, and taken advantage of.
your dead right, a lot of the gear is the same, but twice the price

[Lew Barrett]

your dead right, a lot of the gear is the same, but twice the price

There's no denying that with some products the only difference is in the packaging. Marine toliet paper is a perfectly good example of that.

In other cases, tinned marine grade wire, for instance, it isn't worth the bother to do other than check who is being reasonable in their pricing. There is a reason why Fisheries Supply is so successful, so frequently recommended and so highly regarded in this city.

Ask yourself: what does it cost to run around looking for a few feet of heater hose? You go to the place that carries the products you want and that you know they will have in stock and pay a reasonable price for the product you require. Fisheries sells Shields, the standard for this type of product, at a discount. For future reference, ask for an account...they usually give discount accounts for people who simply ask. If you go downstairs and develop a relationship with one of the sales guys, you will have a friend at the place that will guide you to the best deals in the warehouse. They are a hugely valuable resource to Washington builders and restorers.

I have found that it rarely even pays to bother shopping around for consumable items that Fisheries carries, although it is only smart to shop larger items, or stuff you buy frequently just to be sure. I find Fisheries is average on electronics, and really aggressive on cordage, paint and varnish, brushes, chemicals and many other products I have need of. A visit to them is often on out of towner's list of things to do. We get to shop there everyday!

Shields hose is the standard for this sort of application. Fisheries Supply is one of the best and most reasonable chandlers in the country. It's an outlet most of those who live elsewhere only wish they had walk-in access to. Not buying from them wouldn't even be in my mind for such a small item. And as I said; how much is your time worth?

[Todd D]

There is no reason at all not to use heater hose to connect your heat exchanger, particularly on the antifreeze side. You only need wire reinforced hose on the suction side of pumps like the hose from the thru-hull to the raw water strainer and from the strainer to the pump. Other than that there is no place on a diesel engine where a wire reinforced hose is called for. The heat exchanger is on the pressure side of the pump, so there is no risk of collapsing a hose.

A few years ago I replaced all the rubber on my Westerbeke with hoses from westerbeke - there was not a single wire reinforced hose in the kit. Every hose was plain old heater hose.

[dnadave]

Thanks for all the advice! Looks like I'll be at Fisheries in the morning.

Lew, I agree that it's best done right the first time. I've been slowly upgrading the components on Ivy one piece at a time. Looks like this is one of those upgrades...

Thanks!!

Dave H

[Lew Barrett]

I love Fisheries. I need to go this weekend to replenish some varnish and painting supplies. See you there! We should wear name tags when we go so we can recognize each other! Good hunting, Dave.

[pcford]

I love Fisheries. I need to go this weekend to replenish some varnish and painting supplies. See you there! We should wear name tags when we go so we can recognize each other! Good hunting, Dave.

Fisheries is great...don't know why people across the country don't use their website.

However, as great as Fisheries is..won't ever forget Doc's. RIP

[BrianM]

Steam hose is reinforced. Look for an industrial hose speciality supplier.

[dnadave]

$180 in wet exhaust hose and my heat exchanger is back in the boat. Nice to have that done and I feel better about cruising out in the Sound knowing that things are in good shape.

We should wear name tags at Fisheries! :)

[BETTY-B]

My name tag is black and white and goes from section to section doing all kinds of cheap tricks for bisquits.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/DANandULA/P9250008.jpg

DAN

[dnadave]

Hi Dan!

I have two of those :) A red merle that has a very small social circle and a blue merle that is now blind, but has never met a stranger. Both are Australian Cattle Dogs.

You see someone out on the Sound or the Lake with two heelers in life jackets, it's likely me. Feel free to hail me and raft up for chat and or a drink!