Shields Hose Bilge/Livewell Hose

Shields Hose Bilge & Livewell Hose: Built for Life Below the Waterline

When it comes to managing water aboard a vessel — whether you're draining a bilge, running a livewell for fresh catch, or routing pump discharge lines — hose quality is not a place to cut corners. Shields Hose has earned a trusted place in the marine industry by producing hoses that meet the exacting demands of onboard plumbing in saltwater environments. Their bilge and livewell hose lineup reflects that same commitment to reliability and standards compliance.

Two Proven Series for Bilge & Livewell Applications

Shields Hose approaches bilge and livewell plumbing with purpose-built series, each designed for specific conditions and installation contexts.

• Series 149 Livewell Hose — The Series 149 features a black smooth cover with vinyl helix support, is rated for full vacuum, and resists mild chemicals and saltwater. It is well-suited for livewell intake and drain, bilge pump intake and discharge, and sanitation intake and vent lines. It is designed for below-the-waterline connections and is not intended for potable water use.
• Series 146 PVC Vac Extra Heavy Duty / Commercial Grade Bilge Hose — This hose features a smooth white FDA-grade PVC construction with vinyl helix reinforcement. It is rated for full vacuum and is resistant to mild chemicals, permeation, and saltwater. The commercial-grade designation signals a step up in wall strength, making it a go-to choice for high-demand bilge pump discharge runs and permanent below-deck installations.

What Sets Shields Apart in This Category

Shields Hose manufactures a wide variety of hoses for applications onboard pleasure craft, and each hose is designed for a specific application, meeting strict standards set by the USCG, ABYC, and other regulatory agencies. This is not a generic hose repurposed for marine use — every dimension and material choice is tuned for the chemical exposure, mechanical flex, and vacuum demands that bilge and livewell systems place on hose assemblies day after day.

Shields Marine offers one of the most comprehensive lines of marine-grade hoses available, and every hose is engineered to meet or exceed strict ABYC, NMMA, and USCG standards, providing the durability and flexibility required for complex onboard plumbing.

Shields warrants its products to be free of defects in workmanship and materials for the useful life of the product, and if a Shields product fails to comply with this warranty, Shields will repair or replace the defective product. That kind of backing matters on a vessel where a failed bilge hose connection can mean water intrusion below the waterline.

Choosing the Right Shields Bilge/Livewell Hose

Both the Series 149 and Series 146 are rated for full vacuum, which is essential for intake-side bilge pump plumbing where suction loads would collapse a lesser hose. These hoses are abrasion resistant, flexible, and resistant to mild chemicals and saltwater — primarily used for bilge pump discharge, potable water tank fill, and drains including sinks, showers, livewells, and scuppers. When selecting a hose, match the interior diameter to your pump's port size and verify that the hose you choose is rated for vacuum if it will be on the intake side of any pump.

Explore the full range of bilge and livewell hose options or browse the complete Shields Hose catalog to find the right series for every marine plumbing application aboard your vessel.