Home Depot offers Sharkbite brand PEX products.
The plumber assistant advised using the pex clamps which he claims are SS but don't look like it and are put in place with a special $70 clampling tool. I'd be more comfortable with double SS marine clamps. Anyone have any reason to recommend against this strategy?
Thanks,
Mort
They will not work well on PEX as PEX needs tremendous pressure and the proper crimping tool to use crimp bands.
Personally, I don't like the Cash Acme Shark Bites as they tend to develop verdigris, the green oxidation brass gets, pretty quickly and make you new plumbing job look old. Other than that they work great.
There are a number of PEX connections methods and nearly every PEX maker offers their own version. There are expanders and crimp rings and expand and crimp and quick connect.
I use Watts Quick Connect fittings and they are the same as the SeaTech ones sold in chandleries only they often cost slightly less from a plumbing & heating wholesaler and you'll have a better selection. Watts bought the SeaTech company a number of years ago and dual labels them. I've installed hundreds of these plastic quick connect fittings (they are just like Shark Bites but don't corrode) and have never once had a leak. They are quick, easy, and allow you to re-align a fitting or twist it 360 degrees where crimped PEX fittings do not do that. They are far faster than crimping PEX.
Keep in mind that getting a specific PEX crimping tool into a tight space on a boat is not always possible and this is why the quick connects work sooooo well..
If re-plumbing I'd suggest using 3/8" PEX over 1/2" as it is far easier to work with on a boat. Also, buy the straight 10' PEX lengths as opposed to rolls. Many cities have a "Plastic Pipe" wholesaler. In our city we have Portland Plastic Pipe and they are a great resource. Also one benefit of PEX is that you can plumb hot water in red and cold in blue..