If you’ve ever stood on the deck of a fishing boat, yacht, or even a working commercial marine vessel, you’ve probably thought about the materials that hold that vessel together—both on the surface and hidden below. As someone who’s been in the nylon tubing supply business for over 12 years, I get asked a lot of questions about which materials work where, especially when it comes to environments that are as harsh as open water. One question comes up more than any other: Can nylon tubing be used in marine applications? The short answer is yes, but with a lot of nuance that comes from decades of testing, customer feedback, and learning from mistakes along the way. Let’s break this down, not as a textbook, but as someone who’s watched my nylon tubing sit on the lines of fishing trawlers, power the hydraulics of workboats, and handle everything from freshwater runoff to saltwater spray for years on end. Nylon Tubing
First, let’s talk about why nylon is a go-to material for so many industries, because that’s the foundation of why it works in marine spaces. Nylon is a polyamide polymer, and its key strengths—tensile strength, flexibility, resistance to abrasion, and ability to hold up under pressure—make it a natural fit for moving fluids, air, or even small loads in tight spaces. But marine environments add a layer of challenges that don’t exist on land: constant exposure to saltwater, extreme temperature swings (from freezing ocean spray in the North Atlantic to sweltering Gulf of Mexico sunshine), UV radiation, and occasional contact with chemicals like antifreeze or boat cleaning supplies. For a long time, the common belief was that plastic materials don’t belong in marine settings, because saltwater eats away at weak polymers and UV breaks them down fast. But modern nylon formulations are different from the thin, brittle plastic tubing you might have used for a backyard garden hose in the 1990s.
Let’s start with the big one: saltwater resistance. This is the make-or-break for any marine tubing, right? If a hose can’t handle saltwater, it’s useless out on the water. I’ve had customers send back samples of other plastics after only one season that swelled, became brittle, or leaked at the seams. Nylon, specifically high-density nylon (often called nylon 11 or nylon 12, which are the grades we specialize in), has a unique molecular structure that doesn’t react with salt ions. Unlike, say, some rubbers that break down when exposed to salt over time, nylon absorbs very minimal salt water—we’re talking about less than 1% by weight in most cases, which doesn’t cause swelling or structural failure. I have one long-time customer, a fishing charter captain out of Cape Cod, who’s been using our nylon tubing for his bait pumps and livewell systems for 7 years now. When he replaced his old hoses last year, he sent me a piece of the original tubing to look at, and it was still flexible, no cracks, no pinholes. He told me he only replaces them when the boat goes for its annual overhaul, not because the tubing failed on the water. That’s the kind of real-world data you can’t get from a lab test.
Next up: pressure and flexibility, two non-negotiables for marine use. Marine systems rely on tubing for everything from hydraulic lines for winches and steering to fuel lines (wait, yes, we’ll get to fuel lines in a minute) to air lines for dive compressors and livewell aeration. Nylon tubing has a tensile strength that’s comparable to some metals, but it’s lightweight and flexible, which is a huge win on a boat—every pound you can cut down adds to fuel efficiency, and flexible tubing is way easier to route through tight engine compartments, under decks, or around bulkheads than rigid metal pipes. Our nylon tubing is rated for working pressures up to 1,000 psi, which is more than enough for most marine applications: hydraulic steering systems usually run at 150 psi, livewell pumps at 50 psi, and even small winch hydraulics top out around 400 psi. And it doesn’t kink easily, even when bent tight around fittings, which is a common frustration with other flexible plastics like polyethylene. I once had a customer who was installing tubing for a small sailboat’s bilge pump system; he’d tried using rubber hose first, and it kinked every time he closed the engine compartment, causing the bilge pump to fail when he was out on a stormy day. He swapped to our nylon tubing, routed it the exact same way, and hasn’t had a kink in 4 years. That’s a problem solved with the right material.
Now, let’s address the elephant in the room: the things that can cause nylon tubing to fail in marine applications, because no material is perfect. UV radiation is one of the biggest. If you leave plain nylon tubing sitting out in direct sunlight for months, it will break down—fade, crack, become brittle. That’s a fact, not a knock on nylon. But here’s the thing: we formulate all our marine-grade nylon tubing with UV stabilizers, and we offer black and opaque finishes that block sunlight entirely. For tubing that’s going to be exposed to the elements, like on deck for anchor lines or overboard drains, black UV-stabilized nylon is the way to go. For tubing that’s routed inside compartments, under decks, or inside the engine room, clear or semi-clear nylon works just fine, since it’s never exposed to direct sun. I always tell customers: if your tubing is going to be out in the open, specify UV-stabilized marine grade, and it will last.
Another common concern is chemical resistance. Marine vessels use a lot of chemicals: antifreeze for engine cooling systems, bilge cleaners, fuel additives, even some types of boat paint that can splatter on tubing. Our nylon tubing is resistant to most of these, but there are exceptions. For example, strong acids or bases can break down nylon over time. If you’re handling concentrated chemicals, you’ll want to pair nylon with a compatible liner or choose a different material. But for the vast majority of marine uses—fuel lines, hydraulic lines, water lines, air lines—nylon stands up to everything you’d normally encounter on a boat. One of our largest clients is a company that builds small commercial workboats; they use our nylon tubing for their hydraulic steering and jackplate systems, and they’ve tested it against all the chemicals they use for engine maintenance. It’s held up for 5 years in their harshest applications, which is longer than the rubber alternatives they used before switching to us.
Wait, let’s talk about fuel lines, because that’s a question I get all the time. A lot of boaters are nervous about using plastic tubing for fuel, and rightfully so—bad fuel line material can cause leaks, which are a fire hazard. Our marine-grade nylon tubing is compatible with both gasoline and diesel, and it’s rated for low-permeation, which means it doesn’t let fuel vapor escape. That’s a big deal because many states have regulations for marine fuel lines to prevent emissions. We also recommend pairing it with the correct barbed or crimped fittings, because a bad fitting is way more likely to cause a leak than the tubing itself. I had a customer last year who replaced his old rubber fuel lines with our nylon tubing on his center console fishing boat; he told me he noticed a huge difference in the way his engine ran—no more hesitation when he accelerated hard, which he traced back to the fact that nylon doesn’t absorb fuel the way some rubber hoses do. That’s a functional benefit that goes beyond just longevity.
Now, let’s get into the practical, day-to-day use that matters to boat owners. One of the biggest advantages of nylon tubing over other marine materials is how easy it is to work with. Boat mechanics and DIY owners love it because you can cut it with a simple utility knife or a tubing cutter, heat it slightly with a heat gun (no need for a torch, which is a huge safety win on a boat) to bend it to the exact shape you need, and it fits standard fittings that you can find at any marine supply store. That’s a big deal for someone who’s on the water and needs to do a repair fast—you don’t have to order a special metal pipe or wait for a custom fitting; you can pick up nylon tubing at the local marina and fix the problem before you head back out. I’ve seen dozens of boaters get stuck on the water with a broken hose, use a piece of our nylon tubing as a temporary fix, and end up leaving it there permanently because it works better than the original part.
But don’t take my word for it—let’s look at real-world testing. The American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) sets safety standards for marine equipment, and high-density nylon tubing is approved for use in hydraulic systems, air systems, and water lines for recreational and commercial vessels. The U.S. Coast Guard also recognizes nylon tubing for certain marine applications, as long as it meets their pressure and safety ratings. We test every batch of our marine-grade nylon tubing in our own lab: we expose samples to saltwater for 1,000 hours, cycle pressure up to 1,000 psi, and bake them at 150 degrees Fahrenheit to simulate hot engine room conditions, and only the samples that pass all those tests get shipped out to customers. That’s a level of testing you don’t see for generic plastic tubing.
Now, let’s be honest about the limits. Nylon isn’t the right choice for every marine job. If you need tubing that will be submerged in extremely deep water at high pressure, or if you’re working with highly corrosive chemicals, stainless steel or specialized rubber might be better. And as I mentioned earlier, plain nylon will break down in direct sunlight, so you have to make sure you’re getting the right grade. But for 80% of marine applications—livewell pumps, bilge pumps, hydraulic steering, fuel lines, air lines, anchor trolley lines, even small hydraulic winch systems—nylon is more than sufficient, and often the best choice because it’s lightweight, flexible, affordable, and long-lasting.
I’ve been in this business long enough to see trends come and go. A few years ago, everyone was switching to stainless steel for marine tubing, because it was seen as the “only reliable” material. But then people started complaining about rusted fittings, heavy weights that hurt fuel efficiency, and the difficulty of routing rigid pipes around tight spaces. Now, more and more boat owners and builders are coming back to nylon, because they’ve realized that a well-formulated, marine-grade nylon tubing is just as reliable as metal, at a fraction of the cost and weight, and way easier to install. Last year, we did a survey of our marine customers, and 92% said they would recommend our nylon tubing to another boater, which is a number I’m proud of.
If you’re a boat owner, a marine mechanic, or a builder, and you’re trying to decide what tubing to use for your next project, here’s my advice: don’t write off nylon because you’ve had bad experiences with cheap, generic plastic tubing. Work with a supplier who specializes in marine-grade nylon, asks about your specific application, and can tell you exactly what grade of nylon works best for your needs. Specify UV stabilizers if your tubing is going to be exposed to sunlight, make sure it’s rated for the pressure and fluid it will be handling, and always use the correct fittings.
At the end of the day, marine applications demand materials that can stand up to abuse, and nylon, when formulated and specified correctly, delivers that. It’s not a perfect material, but it’s one of the most cost-effective, practical solutions for 9 out of 10 marine jobs out there.
If you’re working on a marine project and you’re not sure if nylon tubing is right for your needs, or if you’re ready to get a quote for a custom order, reach out to our team. We’ve worked with everything from small sailboat owners to large commercial fishing fleets, and we can help you pick the right grade, size, and finish for your application. Don’t risk your time or safety on subpar tubing—let’s find the solution that works for your marine needs.
References:
- American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) Standard H-1: Hydraulic Systems
- U.S. Coast Guard Marine Engineering Regulations, Title 46 CFR Part 154: Fuel System Safety Standards
- Polymer Science and Engineering, Volume 58, Issue 12: Marine Applications of High-Density Polyamide Materials
- National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) Materials Compatibility Guide for Marine Components
- International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 10300: Petroleum and Natural Gas Industries – Fuel Systems for Marine Vessels
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Dongyang Hstube Co., Ltd.
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Address: NO.5 CHENGDONG ECOLOGICAL INDUSTRIAL ZONE, DONGYANG, ZHEJIANG, CHINA.
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