Another sanitation question

[Ken Cross]

Our boat came with a "Y" fitting that connected to the tank pump out fitting, maserator, and hose to the pump out fitting. There was no "Y" valve. The only shutoff was at the throughhull.

I'm wondering about the wisdom of this setup???

At present the failed maserator and "Y". Are removed, but I'm thinking about restoring it for Canadian adventures.

Yes I know it needs to be disabled in Washington waters.

Ken

 

[jssailem]

Mine also came disconnected. From what I have learned about the lack of Canadian working pump outs that sounds like a good idea before adventuring into those northern waters.

 

[Terry Cox]

Hi Ken, sounds similar to our setup. No wye valve here, just a wye fitting that allows the user to either select the macerator pump to discharge the tank contents overboard, or through the deck pump out fitting. Pretty simple, but it works. We've spent much time in BC waters where they have no pump out stations up north. I always discharge overboard in deep flowing water, never in a bay or anchorage. Our original system has never been disabled, but the handle can easily be removed from the macerator pump through hull valve.

 

[Gunni]

I would put a valve where that Y is located, otherwise you are storing waste in that section of hose down to your through-hull. Keep it valved-off and empty.

 

[Ken Cross]

I would put a valve where that Y is located, otherwise you are storing waste in that section of hose down to your through-hull. Keep it valved-off and empty.

I was thinking the same, but how does that allow us to empty the line?

Ken

 

[Terry Cox]

otherwise you are storing waste in that section of hose down to your through-hull.

Only between pump outs. During my end of cruise pump out, after the tank is flushed clean, I fill the tank with clean water, open the macerator through hull and flush fresh water through the over board discharge to clean the line and macerator pump of any remaining waste, then pump out the tank empty.

 

[jibes138]

Your through hull is downstream of your macerator pump. The Y fitting is upstream of the pump. There will be waste in the hose up to the level of the tank but not downstream of the pump. Not sure your set up is a problem from your description. The deck cap acts as a shut off for the pump out path of the Y and if you are pumping out at the deck you will be pulling negative pressure through the macerator pump to the through hull but I don't know it that is a problem in terms of damaging the pump.

 

[Gunni]

Only between pump outs. During my end of cruise pump out, after the tank is flushed clean, I fill the tank with clean water, open the macerator through hull and flush fresh water through the over board discharge to clean the line and macerator pump of any remaining waste, then pump out the tank empty.

Might want to keep that practice on the down-low.

 

[Gunni]

I was thinking the same, but how does that allow us to empty the line?

Ken

Your pump out tank shouldn’t need a macerator, you can use it to discharge over board

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Your pump out tank shouldn’t need a macerator, you can use it to discharge over board

??????? No one is suggesting that the macerator pump be in the pumpout line...Not only is not needed, it would be a blockage in the pumpout line that would making pumpout difficult if not impossible. Macerator pumps are installed AFTER the wye or tee --or better yet, y-valve-- between it and the thru-hull.

Your through hull is downstream of your macerator pump. The Y fitting is upstream of the pump. There will be waste in the hose up to the level of the tank but not downstream of the pump.

I'd put the y-valve as close to the tank discharge fitting as possible...for two reasons: it keeps waste out of the overboard discharge side and it also provides a means of cutting off the flow of tank contents to the line going to the macerator pump when you have to do any work on it...and we all know that macerators never let us know they need work when a tank is empty!
--Peggie
"If you can't explain it to a six year old, you don't completely understand it yourself." --Albert Einstein

 

[jibes138]

provides a means of cutting off the flow of tank contents to the line going to the macerator pump when you have to do any work on it..

Not a problem if your waste smells like roses like some of the people around here :>)

 

[Gunni]

??????? No one is suggesting that the macerator pump be in the pumpout line...Not only is not needed, it would be a blockage in the pumpout line that would making pumpout difficult if not impossible. Macerator pumps are installed AFTER the wye or tee --or better yet, y-valve-- between it and the thru-hull.

Peggy, you are arguing with yourself here.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Your pump out tank shouldn’t need a macerator, you can use it to discharge over board

Then what DID you mean by that?

 

[Gunni]

Then what DID you mean by that?

What you said, use the macerator if you need it to pump the tank overboard.

 

[Ken Cross]

Thanks. I figured on restoring the system, I was just trying to justify the cost and effort of the valve. Answers make sense.

Ken

 

[LeslieTroyer]

Personally I like the wale diaphragm pumps for sewage. I don’t see a need to chop anything up before I overboard the stuff. I think they last longer.

Les

 

[Ken Cross]

Personally I like the wale diaphragm pumps for sewage. I don’t see a need to chop anything up before I overboard the stuff. I think they last longer.

Les

Thanks Les
I'll have to look in my garage because I think I have one.

Ken

 

[Tipsynippertoo]

The Hunter 356 I have has a Y valve so the waste from the loo either goes straight overboard via a thru' hull valve/fitting, or to the holding tank. The holding tank then has a macerator type pump to pump out the tank via another thru' hull valve/fitting. The holding tank has a pump out deck fitting. We follow the good neighbour protocol regarding dumping overboard or collecting in the holding tank.
I have found that the Y valve quickly becomes calcified, so try to remember to switch it over and back to keep it working whenever I close the thru' hull when we leave the boat.
I followed Peggies advice given elsewhere on this forum to install a T in the loo water inlet pump to permit use of the heads sink outlet so we can fresh water flush the loo when we leave the boat, or if the water we are floating in is foul/ or we are sat on a muddy bottom. Possibly the second best mod' I have done other than fit an autohelm/bow thruster/freezer/LED lighting/dual fuel filters/deck light/grab handles either side of the hatch/additional foot bars either side of the cockpit table/additional small cockpit table/deck wash pump/wind gen'/solar panels!
I don't think the simple Y instead of a Y valve would work in our case due to back pressure in the waste outlet pipe due to its outlet being below water line, the waste would tend to be driven to the holding tank I think.
Not sure if that makes any sense!!
Neil

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

I don't think the simple Y instead of a Y valve would work in our case due to back pressure in the waste outlet pipe due to its outlet being below water line, the waste would tend to be driven to the holding tank I think.

That should only happen if when the boat is underway 'cuz the overboard discharge pump will exert more pressure than the water outside the boat while you're dumping the tank. But if a y-valve is open to the thru-hull, it's the same as if it were just a wye...Which is why--regardless of whether it's a tee or a wye--the seacock should always be kept closed except when dumping the tank.
--Peggie

 

[Tipsynippertoo]

......I thought my description would be difficult to follow:
If you have a wye which is connected to the thru hull and the holding tank, when the loo is pumped out the waste will take the path of least resistance, and, since the thru hull is below the water line will have more resistance than the holding tank inlet (assuming the holding tank is not full), therefore the waste will tend to flow to the holding tank, and not overboard.
Neil