Stainless Steel Tubing for Through Hull Drain

[CapeDave]

[Have the] military specification quality stainless steel tubes sold by McMaster ever [been installed as through hull drains on a Boston Whaler boat]?

Stainless steel tubes are [more costly than brass tubes, but by using stainless steel tubing there is an expectation that] the drain would not need to be replaced [again].

[Phil T]

Stainless steel is not a preferred material for drain tubes on a Boston Whaler. It is more brittle than brass and I doubt one could flare the tube without it splitting. Brass was chosen for this reason [i.e., it is ductile].

[RichS]

In a prior discussion I remarked I was able to form 1.25-inch OD x 0.035-inch 304 stainless steel tubing into a replacement drain tube for the transom of my 1988 Outrage 18. I used a homemade flaring tool which looks very similar to those available commercially.

I ordered some 1-inch OD x 0.035-inch 316 stainless tubing from McMaster-Carr for the two smaller drain tubes. As of now, I haven't made the flaring tool for the 1-inch OD 316 stainless steel, so I cannot say if [tubing of that diameter and that alloy] will form easily.

I hope to finish the job before the summer. When the job is finished, I will post the results. There is more information and five illustrations in the thread:

Stainless Steel Through Hull Drains
http://continuouswave.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3101

[CapeDave]

Rich--[the prior discussion on Stainless Steel Through Hull Drains] is just [the information] I wanted. Thanks.