We are planning an offshore trip. It it possible to empty our (waste) holding tanks overboard (once sufficiently offshore)? Under the sink in the heads, There are valves with settings for holding tank or overboard. But that seems to apply to the handling of new waste being created, I.e. Where does a new flush of the toilet go. Is there a way to pump out what's already in the holding tank overboard too? It seems to me when I move the valve to open the overboard path, I'm closing the holding tank path, so I'm not sure how anything can get out of the tank.
Empty Holdibg Tanks on Beneteau 473
- Thread starter rbelau
- Start date
Do you have a macerator?
If not, it the elevation of the tank such hat you can gravity discharge?
If not, it the elevation of the tank such hat you can gravity discharge?
If it is like mine the valve is either open or closed. All the waste still runs through the holding tank.
The best thing you can do is study the installation of a marine head in the west advisory and look at all the possible ways to do that then you will have mental picture of what to look for on your boat This stuff gets to be like an Easter egg hunt at times. It boils down to good visual detective work at times
Most of the newer French boats I've been on use a small green 6 gal. (?) tank which is located behind the panel in back of the toilet. The tank is above the toilet and dumps by gravity, tank is connected by hose straight down to thru hull. Open valve, tank dumps, no pumps involved. Usually the intake valve is located beneath the sink.
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There are 4 hoses connected to that tank...The one coming out of the bottom is obviously the one that goes to the thru-hull (which had better be below waterline!)...one of hoses on the top has to be the inlet from the toilet, and smaller diameter hose has to be the tank vent...but what's the 3rd one do?
Btw....a Jabsco toilet can move bowl contents up to 4 vertical feet, but the inlet on the tank looks a good bit higher than that...which I suspect presents interesting challenges for owners who have to use the tank.
Btw....a Jabsco toilet can move bowl contents up to 4 vertical feet, but the inlet on the tank looks a good bit higher than that...which I suspect presents interesting challenges for owners who have to use the tank.
Our 2007 B473 has a macerator pump at each head to empty the tank while offshore. This is a separate valve than direct overboard flushing of the toilet. But it's fairly well marked from the factory. OP: Do your hoses and valves have labelled tags from the factory?
There is a Mascerator switch on the electrical panel. And in the head,there's a button that activates what sounds like a pump. I'm unclear though whether I have to move the valve to the overboard setting, or if that valve only applies to the destination of newly flushed waste. Does this Mascerator do it all without having to open a separate valve?
There is a Mascerator switch on the electrical panel. And in the head,there's a button that activates what sounds like a pump.
It may be labeled "macerator," but it could just as easily be a sump pump that a PO installed to use that circuit, but didn't bother to re-label. So you need to find it--and every other component in your sanitation system too. Trace the plumbing from the toilet TO the tank...and from the tank discharge fitting to the thru-hull. If you don't find it, check your shower sump.
I'm unclear though whether I have to move the valve to the overboard setting, or if that valve only applies to the destination of newly flushed waste.
One more time: If the valve is in the plumbing between the toilet and the tank, it provides the choice of flushing into the tank or flushing directly overboard. It has nothing to do with dumping the tank. It ONLY applies to the destination of new flushes from the toilet.
Does this Mascerator do it all without having to open a separate valve?
That depends on how the system is plumbed. If there's only a tee or wye in the tank discharge line, there's no valve to open. But if there's a y-valve in that line, it has to be turned to direct the tank contents to the macerator pump--which is JUST a pump with what amounts to a blender blade in it. It has no ability to open and close valves for you.
Again one more time: Get some local "eyes on/hands on" help from someone who's knowledgable enough to help you find all the components in your system and explain how they work!
It may be labeled "macerator," but it could just as easily be a sump pump that a PO installed to use that circuit, but didn't bother to re-label. So you need to find it--and every other component in your sanitation system too. Trace the plumbing from the toilet TO the tank...and from the tank discharge fitting to the thru-hull. If you don't find it, check your shower sump.
I'm unclear though whether I have to move the valve to the overboard setting, or if that valve only applies to the destination of newly flushed waste.
One more time: If the valve is in the plumbing between the toilet and the tank, it provides the choice of flushing into the tank or flushing directly overboard. It has nothing to do with dumping the tank. It ONLY applies to the destination of new flushes from the toilet.
Does this Mascerator do it all without having to open a separate valve?
That depends on how the system is plumbed. If there's only a tee or wye in the tank discharge line, there's no valve to open. But if there's a y-valve in that line, it has to be turned to direct the tank contents to the macerator pump--which is JUST a pump with what amounts to a blender blade in it. It has no ability to open and close valves for you.
Again one more time: Get some local "eyes on/hands on" help from someone who's knowledgable enough to help you find all the components in your system and explain how they work!