Raw water hose replacement

[John Langford]

Does anyone know if there is any problem with using high quality auto radiator hose to replace the various runs of 5/8" ID raw water hose on the Universal M35BC. The marine equivalent is twice the price and looks very similar including the internal fibre reinforcement required to stiffen it. I am coming up to my 15 year insurance survey and don't want to be told that I have to  the job a second time. I am only considering it at all because the original hose is showing signs of superficial exterior cracking.

[Ron Hill]

John : The raw water hose from the thru hull to the inlet of the raw water pump need to be a wire reinforced hose because it is on the suction side. 

So if the auto hose you are looking at is reinforced (so it cannot collapse) that should do the job!!  Hope this helps   

[John Langford]

Thanks Ron. That is very helpful. This hose has a reinforcement running through it but it is not wire so I better find the right stuff for the input side at least.

[Ken Juul]

No problem at all.  Walmart, NAPA, etc sure beat the marine prices for the same hose.

[Roc]

Just a thought....  Although the auto hose would "work" technically, it probably doesn't say "marine" on it.  The surveyor (or insurance co.), may not like that.

[Ron Hill]

Guys : We have posted this before:
When a hose is on the suction side of a pump or makes an acute turn you need a wire reinforced hose so it will not collapse or the bend restrict the hose diameter.

The Catalina factory made all of the hoses on my 1988 wire reinforced. 
That should have been OK, but it took me years to figure out why the nipple weld on the exhaust riser was always cracking!!  It was because that STIFFER wire reinforced hose was holding/transmitting all the engine vibration to that nipple. 
I replaced that hose and recommend that others replace that wire hose with the "softer" nylon reinforced hose - from the vented loop exhaust raw water to that nipple!!

A few thoughts