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Herodotus

On Tue, 13 May 2008 12:29:00 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

Gregery:

My apologies to Peggie! Hope she mends well and soon.
I cannot imagine the strength required to "squeeze" or flex an 1 1/2"
hose on my boat. The lengths are much too short.

If there's a trick to it, please tell me or better yet come and
demonstrate.

Hi,
I did not read the original post as it was kill-filed.
If you are talking about cleaning out the deposit on the inner walls
of the hose, a hammer taken to the hose works wonders. If the deposit
is really thick each hose will have to be dismantled. A combination of
hammering and banging the hose on the dock will loosen all.

Acetic acid or store bought 5% white vinegar is only really useful as
a preventative applied weekly and left to stand. It is also great for
cleaning any discolouration of the enamel toilet bowl and for
disinfecting seat, surrounds etc. It also removes any of the brown
discolouration from stainless hose clamps and white paint as does
oxalic acid.

To really give the system a clean, every couple of months I mix a 10
to 20% solution of hydrochloric acid (sometimes sold in hardware
stores as Muratic Acid) and leave it for about 3 hours. I carry the
acid in concentrated form (100%) in a plastic bottle enshrouded inside
2 thick plastic bags. Be sure to wear gloves when mixing and using it;
keep your nose away from the bottle when you open it (in just removing
the cap it will start to visibly gas when mixing with the mositure in
the air); and be sure to add the water to the acid and not the other
way round. If you feel the need to smell it in order to identify it
remember school science training and waft the smell from the bottle to
your nose with your hand, not by bringing the bottle to your nose.
Simple stuff but we all can be idiots at times.

Hope this helps

regards
Peter