H35.5 L macerator

K

Kgatesma

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Jul 30, 2017
36
Hunter 35.5 Chicago
I was under the impression the macerator was specifically for grinding up waste as you flush into the marine environment. Of course we don’t do this on Lake Michigan.

Another sailor indicated even if you pump out, you can use the macerator to grind up what’s in the tank before pumping out.

Is my friend accurate? This seems like it would be handy for keeping the tank from developing a floor of goo.

Thanks for the lessons do far!
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,078
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Kgatesma said:
for grinding up waste
Click to expand
Kgatesma said:
to grind up
Click to expand
That's a recurring misunderstanding. In reality, the "material" in the holding tank is mostly liquid, even the brown stuff after a short period of time. The "hardest" stuff is the paper, and if the correct choice of paper is made, it, too, dissolves rapidly. Think of the macerator as a water pump that can chew up some harder bits that a regular pump simply wouldn't, just in case.
Buy Peggie Hall's book, explains it all.
 
K

Kgatesma

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Jul 30, 2017
36
Hunter 35.5 Chicago
So is the macerator specifically for pumping into the sea? Does it add value if you exclusively pump out at the dock?
 
quadrille38

quadrille38

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Apr 11, 2010
978
Hunter 38 Whitehall MI
Kgatesma said:
So is the macerator specifically for pumping into the sea? Does it add value if you exclusively pump out at the dock?
Click to expand

There is no way the macerator could be used to grind the waste in the tank unless the discharge from the macerator recirculated back to tank. If the plumbing goes from tank to macerator to overboard discharge then it can't recirculate.

I wonder though if you might be thinking of a macerating toilet. The electric head macerates as it empties the bowl and shoots the material to the holding tank.
 
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Peggie Hall HeadMistress

Peggie Hall HeadMistress

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Dec 2, 1997
8,966
- - LIttle Rock
Stu Jackson said:
Yes. It is not used to pump out at the dock. Pump out stations SUCK out the goop. Buy Peggie Hall's book, explains it all.
https://shop.sailboatowners.com/prod.php?53615/The+New+Get+Rid+of+Boat+Odors
Click to expand
I'm Peggie Hall and I approve this message. :pimp: The title is a little misleading...it's actually a comprehensive "marine toilets and holding tanks 101" manual that will help you learn how to prevent 99% of problems instead of having to cure 'em. And I'm always glad to answer any questions it doesn't.

Any macerator pump in the TANK discharge line is there for only one reason: to dump the tank at sea. A macerator in the line to deck pumpout fitting would be an obstacle that prevents the pumpout from pumping out the tank.
However, there are also macerating electric toilets...they chew up bowl contents as they send 'em TO the tank or treatment device or overboard...so be careful not to confuse 'em.
Peggie
"If you can't explain it to a six year old, you don't completely understand it yourself." --Albert Einstein
 
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