Has anyone on the forum retrofit a gray water holding tank system into a 28.5? Overboard discharge of sink or shower water is prohibited here, and I've grown tired of using jerry cans to collect sink discharge and then carry ashore for disposal. My plan is to install one central gray water holding tank in the starbord locker area and pump galley and head sink discharge to it. This added holding tank could then be pumped out at the same time as the regular waste tank, either though a separate deck plate or a Y-valve arrangement. I'd appreciate any suggestions on appropriate pumps to be fitted, good access routes for the discharge hose lines, and the like. Plumbing the head sink is trivial, but routing hose and DC power for a sump installed under the galley sink looks like it could be difficult. Under the cabin sole? Under the aft bunks? Thanks for any available advice.
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You would live in one of only two places in the US
where gray water discharge is prohibited--Lake Winnipesaukee NH...the only other is Lake George NY. You need to be aware that a gray water tank requires the same maintenance to break down and emulsify the grease, body oils, hair, scum etc that goes down the drains AND to prevent odor as a waste holding tank...it's just another tank that holds organic matter. So the location and venting have to take the same considerations into account. And the sump has to be maintained as well, or it will stink and get clogged up. You can prob'ly safely route your head sink drain into your head discharge hose...the volume of water down it shouldn't impact your waste holding tank that much. You will need a shutoff valve in the sink drain, that must always be closed except when the sink is in use. Don't flush the head with it open. Depending upon the location of your waste holding tank, you may be able to install a tank directly below the galley sink (plumb it as you would a garbage disposal at home) that would eliminate the need for a sump and--using an internal pickup tube to a dicharge fitting on the top of it, run the pumpout hose to connect to your waste tank pumpout hose with a y-valve. You're not likely to find an off-the-shelf tank that'll fit...but you should be able to among the more than 400 shapes and sizes in the Ronco Plastics catalog...and you also get to spec your own fittings sizes and locations to be installed by Ronco when they make the tank, which solves a LOT of plumbing problems. Their catalog is online at http://www.ronco-plastics.com If you don't like any of these ideas, take a look at other sailboats on your lake that have gray water systems installed--including the local Hunter dealer if there is one. Or, you could move the boat to VT, MA or ME...??
where gray water discharge is prohibited--Lake Winnipesaukee NH...the only other is Lake George NY. You need to be aware that a gray water tank requires the same maintenance to break down and emulsify the grease, body oils, hair, scum etc that goes down the drains AND to prevent odor as a waste holding tank...it's just another tank that holds organic matter. So the location and venting have to take the same considerations into account. And the sump has to be maintained as well, or it will stink and get clogged up. You can prob'ly safely route your head sink drain into your head discharge hose...the volume of water down it shouldn't impact your waste holding tank that much. You will need a shutoff valve in the sink drain, that must always be closed except when the sink is in use. Don't flush the head with it open. Depending upon the location of your waste holding tank, you may be able to install a tank directly below the galley sink (plumb it as you would a garbage disposal at home) that would eliminate the need for a sump and--using an internal pickup tube to a dicharge fitting on the top of it, run the pumpout hose to connect to your waste tank pumpout hose with a y-valve. You're not likely to find an off-the-shelf tank that'll fit...but you should be able to among the more than 400 shapes and sizes in the Ronco Plastics catalog...and you also get to spec your own fittings sizes and locations to be installed by Ronco when they make the tank, which solves a LOT of plumbing problems. Their catalog is online at http://www.ronco-plastics.com If you don't like any of these ideas, take a look at other sailboats on your lake that have gray water systems installed--including the local Hunter dealer if there is one. Or, you could move the boat to VT, MA or ME...??
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