Repairing split fresh water line

[idratherbeboating]

On my 2009 Ranger Tug R25 Classic, I had a rotten discovery yesterday... I discovered a ~1" split in the flexible pressure cold water line leading aft, just under the head.

The split is perfectly aligned to spray 'up' thru the round hole used by the piping for the Jabsco toilet. Other access is near-impossible, as the head floor is one piece and the split is too far forward to reach from the shower sump under the lav sink.

So here's my questions:

-has anyone else had a water line split out of the blue like this? I'm trying to figure out how this could possibly happen in the middle of the summer.

-any ideas for good patch/repair solutions for a flex line? even with the head/waste pipes all removed, my access is incredibly limited.. basically I can get a finger or two down the round hole to touch the hose, but even wrapping something around it is going to be incredibly challenging.

-any tips if I want to try to replace the entire pipe? I found one end under the lav sink, but the other end seems impossible to reach, presumably coming off a 'T' behind all the cabinetry... and I don't know if it is restrained/supported along the way.

Ugh. Open to any thoughts/tips!

I can't use any pressure water until this is solved, so really cuts into the ability to use the boat. 🙁

Thanks,
Austin

 

[stwendl]

You should have access to the other end under the kitchen. Disconnect there and attach some pull string either there or under the head. Under the lavatory sink should be a panel that gives access to some of the pipes (on my r27). You can have then take the section out and using the draw string you can pull in a new piece. You may need to remove fridge to reach behind to route new pipes if drawstring does not work.

My guess would be that the pipe was exposed to frost if you got that in your area or was defective and developed a crack due to stress.

Personally I don’t like pex pipes in a boat. Too rigid and vibrations may knock connections loose. I was told that they were invented to reduce the use of gas flames for sweating pipes together. Apparently after such application the site has to be watched for embers for a while which is expensive according to some contractor I talked to