H26/260 MSD Deck Pump Out

[Doug J]

I removed the rear aft bulkhead and now have a difinitive answer, as I was able to do a thorough inspection. On my 94' H26 there are no holes leading under the berth liner, no PVC. Since 94' was the first year for this model, perhaps at some point in later years up to 97' Hunter may have started to add that access. There is a factory installed single battery platform, which the PO added an additional section to accomodate a second battery. I really don't like the workmanship of that so I'll be re-doing it. There is also a mess with the wiring, but that's another project I'll be tackling.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Doug,

Cleaning up the wires and noting them what for is a good project to do. I use to have to go in many times and rip out old wiring and reinstalling with correct wiring Can you believe there were morons out there using 20 guage wire for shore power? I have seen a lot in my heyday. The key on your 26 is to build the platform on the stbd. side behind that wall and you could relocate that second battery platform to the center. You are correct about the improvements along the way as I was there seeing that. However the general interior plan of your boat is basically the same as the 260. keep us informed and if I can help let me know. Right now I am modeling my 1 year old basement finishing the framing, now installing electrical, Heat and air going in this coming week. After that finish off the bathroom and so on.

 

[Doug J]

Thanks CD! To be honest, for me doing projects on my boat is much of my enjoyment of owning it. My intention is to make this boat better in some ways than when I got it. At least the messy mods will be cleaned up, and some upgrades will be added.

Regarding installing deck pumpout for the MSD pottie, I have a solid plan now. I will run the waste and vent hoses through the back of the hanging locker, up high. Then through the cockpit coaming, all the way back to the aft compartment. This is somewhat in line with TWalkers suggestion, except this way the hoses will be completely hidden. Also, the hoses will be inside PVC that I will install in the coaming. This is where it gets tricky. The coaming is filled with foam, so I'll need to find a way to bore through it. I plan to use a piece of PVC as a giant drill bit, cutting sharp teeth into the end, it should be possible to turn the PVC by hand like a drill bit cutting through about 4 feet of foam. That so called drill bit will become the conduit. The waste hose being inside the PVC which is inside all that foam inside the coaming up high should really help with not getting any odor.

Somewhere along the line I need to do a bathroom remodel in my house too. Good luck with your basement project CD!

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

I do not suggest going thru the coaming as it is too high and not worth digging out the foam. That foam sir is there to prevent the boat from sinking and turtling. Actually you will be pumping more uphill than following the original design for the 260. I know you have the 26 and when installing the head, follow the route of the 260. I installed the very first on the 26 and helped with 260 at the factory

 

[Doug J]

I don't intend to dig out the foam, just bore a hole through it to insert a PVC pipe. The amount of foam removed will be minimal having very litte effect. There will be no pumping to a holding tank in the aft compartment, only suction from a deck pump out station, which is very strong and can/does suck uphill. Remember, my goal is to have deck pump out for a MSD pottie. I'm not installing a marine head with a 20 gallon holding tank.

 

[Doug J]

I finished installing my MSD Pottie with pump out. Even though my boat came with a new/never used Dometic 976, I bought a new Dometic SeaLand 5.0 Gallon SaniPottie 965MSD. I had these before and know they are almost indestructible and last many years. I read several reviews about the Dometic 976 that the tanks cracked or the plastic flush handle shaft broke, I decided I didn't want to take a chance on it. The shaft on the SaniPottie 965 is stainless steel, it's design is simple and replacement parts are readily available.

My 94' H26 does not have conduit from the factory running under the aft berth to the stern compartment. Installing conduit is very difficult as the space below has foam and access is difficult. I know this because I did run a 3/4" conduit from the aft compartment to the galley and it was a very difficult job, even with the smaller conduit. To install a waste hose through there would be next to impossible. For those with a 260, you're really lucky to already have the conduit in place. I wish Hunter would have thought about that with the early H26s. Hunter did run one electrical conduit through the starboard coaming for the DC electrical panel, but there is no more room to install additional wires. I had no success running another 3/4" conduit through the starboard coaming, so I had to go under the aft berth to the galley.

I ended up running the pottie waste and vent hose through a 3" conduit I installed in the port coaming, which is completely hidden from view in the aft berth. I was also able to run a 3/4" water line for a transom shower through the 3" conduit, and still have room left over if I need to run any wires.

In order to install the 3" conduit, I first cut a 3-1/2" hole in the aft end of the hanging locker.



Due to the foam flotation, it was somewhat difficult, but I was able to insert the 3" conduit all the way back to the aft compartment without removing any foam.



I made a trim ring cut out from a cutting board.



This is the 5 gallon tank with hoses connected. The nice thing about this MSD, is that if there are no pump out stations available, the caps that came with the unit can simply be screwed on enabling removing the tank for manual dumping.



Here you can see the deck fittings connections inside the aft compartment.



I decided to install the deck fittings on the stern. There is no wood to be concerned with there, and being a vertical surface reduces the chance of a leak.



I intend to install a cover/shelf over the compartment, to further hide the hoses.

 

[rgranger]

Thanks for the pics too....