Connecting Head Pickup and Vanity Drain Discharge near thru-hulls

[jveatch]

In order to eliminate smell in the toilet after no use for extended periods in the salt water environment, I understand the solution is to fill the Head Pickup line with fresh water. Other posts have used the Vanity Water Basin. I want to install a T in the Head Pickup line next to the thru-hull and another T adjacent to it in the Vanity Drain Discharge next to the thru-hull, and join the two T's with a valve gate. I'm hesitant to disassemble the factory lines until I am certain what parts to use. Has anyone ever tried this? The outside diameter of the Vanity Drain line (coiled) is 1.5 inches, while the outside diameter of the solid white Head Pickup line is 1 inch.

If I can make the installation successfully, then filling the Head Pickup line with fresh water will be easy ... close the hull-thru gate valves for each, then pour fresh water in to the Vanity sink, and then operate the toilet on "flush" in order to suck fresh water from the sink down thru the new valve and over to the Head Pickup line and up to the head.

Any thoughts?

 

[SeaLuff10621]

Head Pickup and Vanity Drain Discharge

My Hunter 380 is modified so that I can flush the salt water out of the head waste lines using the vanity sink drain. This is a beautiful system and works flawlessly. There is only one T in my setup. This T is located just interior to the head thru hull and the sink drain simply connects to that T. At the end of the day or weekend, I fill the sink with fresh water, open the thru hull momentarily to flush the line below the T, close the thru hull and pump the rest of the solution thru the head. You can also add chemicals to the waste tank by mixing them with the sink water and you chemically treat all the waste lines as well. This setup freed up the sink drain thru hull so that I can use it to access water for a future anchor wash down system. This system has not impeded the sink from draining in any way during normal use.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

You've done it backwards from the way most people do...

Most people tee the head intake line into the head sink drain line, freeing up the head intake thru-hull for other use. But unless the head intake thru-hull is a lot further from the head than the sink drain thru-hull, there's certainly nothing wrong with doing it backwards.

 

[jveatch]

So one one T is needed, leaving the other thru hull unused??

As I carefully read both of the replies, I understand that you are saying to tee into either other the lines (I've shown them both in my photo ... and they are spaced 4.5" apart) and use one of the thru hulls for both the head as well as the vanity drain. It didn't occur to me to do that. Can the tee be just common white PVC material?

 

[jveatch]

Son ONLY one tee is needed ... (sorry about that)

I'm typing challenged I guess ...

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Yep

By Jove I think you've got it!

And yes, a pvc fitting is just fine.

You will need to keep a plug in the sink when flushing the toilet...'cuz otherwise the toilet will suck air from the sink, preventing it from priming.

To rinse the sea water out of the system before the boat will sit: first close the drain seacock...pump the toilet enough times in the WET mode to pull all the water possible out the intake and pump. Fill the sink with fresh water...flush the toilet. Because the seacock is closed, the toilet will pull the water out of the sink, rinsing out the head intake line, the pump, channel in the rim of the bowl AND the discharge line. Follow the water with a cupful of undiluted distilled white vinegar (us ONLY distilled white vinegar, not cider or any other kind)...put it down the sink, and be sure to pump enough times to push the vinegar ALL the way through the system...all the way into the tank. Do NOT rinse behind it.

The vinegar does two things: suppresses odor and prevents sea water mineral buildup in the hoses and toilet.

Add any tank chemicals BEFORE you do any of the above by pouring 'em into the bowl and flushing 'em to the tank.

 

[Ivan]

Yet another setup

There are many ways. I have used a rotary valve that lets the head such water from the sea thoughhull in one position and through the vanity drain in the other. It has the advantage of closing off the inactive side so that there is no mixing or priming required. It works very well. You pays your money and you takes your choice.

 

[jveatch]

Details?

Can you give me details on what you installed, or take a photo of it?