I have a new boat with a holding tank that was never hooked up. The tank is mounted above the water line with the overboard discharge coming out of the bottom of the tank. My questions are 1. will the tank successfully gravity drain without a pump or macerator pump to help it? Secongd question is if I should run all waste thru the tank(even offshore) or install a y-valve to enable me to use the holding tank when coastal ,but go directly overboard offshrore? Thanks
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...if I should run all waste thru the tank(even offshore) or install a y-valve to enable me to use the holding tank when coastal ,but go directly overboard offshrore?
That's a choice you have to make, either way will work. I prefer the second option, why run the crap through the tank if you don't have to?
That's a choice you have to make, either way will work. I prefer the second option, why run the crap through the tank if you don't have to?
Gravity drain does work...
I'm not crazy about it, though. And I agree with Stu...why put everything into the tank if you don't have to?
See my reply to your earlier question about the Raritan Elegance for what, IMO is the best solution.
If you're gonna keep hanging out here and asking questions, you really oughta register. We promise not to forward any of it to fishyemails.gov.
I'm not crazy about it, though. And I agree with Stu...why put everything into the tank if you don't have to?
See my reply to your earlier question about the Raritan Elegance for what, IMO is the best solution.
If you're gonna keep hanging out here and asking questions, you really oughta register. We promise not to forward any of it to fishyemails.gov.
I'd think a valve plus the increased number of clamps/connections would be more weak points in the system. I'm assuming the head is BELOW the waterline and the thruhull is also? You wouldn't be filling the tank, it would be more of a pass-thru. I'd go with simplicity, myself.
Ron, a gravity drain holding tank IS considered to be simplicity...
Because no macerator or y-valve is needed...it IS as you described it: a "passthrough" when at sea beyond the 3 miles limit.
But there are downsides: The tank has be several inches above the waterline, which also puts it way above the toilet...which--because too few people have learned to use the dry mode to do more than push the last couple of ounces of water out of the bowl--leaves a LOT of waste/water in the line to run back into the bowl and, unless religiously rinsed out, sit in the hose to permeate it.
Most boats spend far more time INSIDE the "3 mile limit" where the thru-hull must be kept closed than outside it where it can be left open (also not the best idea IMO)...which means that unless the tank is religiously rinsed out, sludge won't just accumulate on the bottom of the tank, it'll pack overboard discharge line to the thru-hull. 3. Even if it doesn't become packed with sludge, the overboard discharge line is always full of waste to permeate the hose. A y-valve that's kept open to the deck pumpout fitting can solve that problem...but the whole idea is supposed to be to eliminate valves and pumps.
And finally, this whole is moot if you're on any inland waters or coastal waters that don't provide immediate access to open ocean at least 3 miles from nearest point on the whole US coastline...'cuz it's illegal to dump a tank or flush directly overboard inside that "3 mile limit." So if you're on the Chesapeake Bay, SF Bay...LIS, any RI waters, most of New England or the FL Keys, the Great Lakes or ANY inland lake or river, there'll be no point in plumbing the tank to dump it overboard because you can't legally do that in your waters. In fact, it's illegal in some states even to have any connected overboard discharge plumbing.
Because no macerator or y-valve is needed...it IS as you described it: a "passthrough" when at sea beyond the 3 miles limit.
But there are downsides: The tank has be several inches above the waterline, which also puts it way above the toilet...which--because too few people have learned to use the dry mode to do more than push the last couple of ounces of water out of the bowl--leaves a LOT of waste/water in the line to run back into the bowl and, unless religiously rinsed out, sit in the hose to permeate it.
Most boats spend far more time INSIDE the "3 mile limit" where the thru-hull must be kept closed than outside it where it can be left open (also not the best idea IMO)...which means that unless the tank is religiously rinsed out, sludge won't just accumulate on the bottom of the tank, it'll pack overboard discharge line to the thru-hull. 3. Even if it doesn't become packed with sludge, the overboard discharge line is always full of waste to permeate the hose. A y-valve that's kept open to the deck pumpout fitting can solve that problem...but the whole idea is supposed to be to eliminate valves and pumps.
And finally, this whole is moot if you're on any inland waters or coastal waters that don't provide immediate access to open ocean at least 3 miles from nearest point on the whole US coastline...'cuz it's illegal to dump a tank or flush directly overboard inside that "3 mile limit." So if you're on the Chesapeake Bay, SF Bay...LIS, any RI waters, most of New England or the FL Keys, the Great Lakes or ANY inland lake or river, there'll be no point in plumbing the tank to dump it overboard because you can't legally do that in your waters. In fact, it's illegal in some states even to have any connected overboard discharge plumbing.
PEGGY, I said the tank is simplicity...
We do not know his tank is ABOVE the toilet since he has not yet responded. He is not registered, so we can't speculate where he cruises or can dump overboard. The answer to his number 1 question, is, if gravity still works, yes the tank should drain. Question number 2, it reads like he wants to use the tank for storage only, then dump it offshore- not use a shoreside pumpout. Peggy, you don't need to lecture me on it's practicality- he needs to respond to figure it all out.
We do not know his tank is ABOVE the toilet since he has not yet responded. He is not registered, so we can't speculate where he cruises or can dump overboard. The answer to his number 1 question, is, if gravity still works, yes the tank should drain. Question number 2, it reads like he wants to use the tank for storage only, then dump it offshore- not use a shoreside pumpout. Peggy, you don't need to lecture me on it's practicality- he needs to respond to figure it all out.
You're right, we don't know...
Because he posted here, I assumed his boat is a sailboat...but after re-reading his one and only post, I now see that he didn't say what type of boat it is.
If it IS a sailboat, though, the tank almost has be above the toilet...'Cuz the bottom of the tank has to be at least a few inches above above the waterline to drain via gravity...and on 99% of sailboats, at least 90% of it is below the waterline....putting any gravity drain tank above the toilet.
I doubt if he'll be back, 'cuz I think he got the answers he was looking for.
Because he posted here, I assumed his boat is a sailboat...but after re-reading his one and only post, I now see that he didn't say what type of boat it is.
If it IS a sailboat, though, the tank almost has be above the toilet...'Cuz the bottom of the tank has to be at least a few inches above above the waterline to drain via gravity...and on 99% of sailboats, at least 90% of it is below the waterline....putting any gravity drain tank above the toilet.
I doubt if he'll be back, 'cuz I think he got the answers he was looking for.
I'm still learning
Thanks for the help. More info-my boat is a 41 foot passport with the head forward in the boat. Because the head is forward the hull sides limit space for lectr scan units. The holding tank is above the waterline and has the discharge connection on the bottom of the 25 gal. holding tank. We are in Kemah texas. We will probably keep the boat in Brakish Kemah 6 mths. a year and 6 months cruise Florida,Bahamas, carribean and East coast. I am now leaning on changing the head to the Elegance fresh water(I found another 20 gal. freshwater capacity)) and figure if I'm in a pinch I can flush with a gallon of raw water if needed,may also add water maker later. Elegance because of the small amount of water it uses to flush and thes strong sulpher oder of Kemah water in summer. No room for bigger tank on the boat without major construction. I am thinking of y valve before the tank and another on the discharge line. This should give me full flexibility. Vented loop between the head and tank, none on the discharge as the top of the holding tank is only 2 inches below deck level. Sorry for the delay I have been reading the 100 plus threads on your site. ED
Thanks for the help. More info-my boat is a 41 foot passport with the head forward in the boat. Because the head is forward the hull sides limit space for lectr scan units. The holding tank is above the waterline and has the discharge connection on the bottom of the 25 gal. holding tank. We are in Kemah texas. We will probably keep the boat in Brakish Kemah 6 mths. a year and 6 months cruise Florida,Bahamas, carribean and East coast. I am now leaning on changing the head to the Elegance fresh water(I found another 20 gal. freshwater capacity)) and figure if I'm in a pinch I can flush with a gallon of raw water if needed,may also add water maker later. Elegance because of the small amount of water it uses to flush and thes strong sulpher oder of Kemah water in summer. No room for bigger tank on the boat without major construction. I am thinking of y valve before the tank and another on the discharge line. This should give me full flexibility. Vented loop between the head and tank, none on the discharge as the top of the holding tank is only 2 inches below deck level. Sorry for the delay I have been reading the 100 plus threads on your site. ED
GM Delaney...you joined our merry little band! Welcome aboard!
Elegance is a good choice for the toilet....We can find a place for an Electro Scan...you have more space that'll work than you think you do! And based on how you plan to use the boat and the size of the tank, I think we need to find a place for one, 'cuz I'm not crazy about your current plan or how you plan to plumb it..
And I think we need to discuss it more detail than is practical in a general discussion forum...and I'd much rather talk for 30 minutes or so than spend the time typing 20 emails apiece. So if you'd like to send me a PM or email--which you can do from this site...just click on my profile next to this post and then the little "contact info" button in it--I'll reply with contact info.
Elegance is a good choice for the toilet....We can find a place for an Electro Scan...you have more space that'll work than you think you do! And based on how you plan to use the boat and the size of the tank, I think we need to find a place for one, 'cuz I'm not crazy about your current plan or how you plan to plumb it..
And I think we need to discuss it more detail than is practical in a general discussion forum...and I'd much rather talk for 30 minutes or so than spend the time typing 20 emails apiece. So if you'd like to send me a PM or email--which you can do from this site...just click on my profile next to this post and then the little "contact info" button in it--I'll reply with contact info.
contact information
Thanks Peggy,
I would very much appreciate your help. My e-mail address is delaney1142@yahoo.com. Thanks again,Ed
Thanks Peggy,
I would very much appreciate your help. My e-mail address is delaney1142@yahoo.com. Thanks again,Ed
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