I am a new owner of a 1983 34' Hunter and am confused by the head configuration. It appears to be the original, but I am not familiar with this huge lever -- I believe it is a manual pump out for the holding tank. Does this pump the waste out to sea or thru the deck? There isn't a Y valve, so how do I configure the waste to go out to sea when offshore?
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I need more information...maybe even photos
What make/model is the toilet? If no clue, a photo (of the whole toilet, especially the pump, not the bowl...all bowls look alike) will help. Where is the "huge lever"...On the side of the toilet, or somewhere else? If somewhere else, where? A detailed description or a sketch of all the plumbing from the toilet to the tank AND coming out of the tank would be useful. The more details the better.
What make/model is the toilet? If no clue, a photo (of the whole toilet, especially the pump, not the bowl...all bowls look alike) will help. Where is the "huge lever"...On the side of the toilet, or somewhere else? If somewhere else, where? A detailed description or a sketch of all the plumbing from the toilet to the tank AND coming out of the tank would be useful. The more details the better.
The lever is definitely a pump handle...
for a manual diaphragm pump. The question is, what does it pump, and to where? The toilet(which looks like it's definitely seen better days, btw) shouldn't need an external pump...and your mention of a "looped system" raises some questions. If you could provide just a rough sketch of the entire plumbing schematic that includes all the components AND thru-hulls, I should be able to tell you how the system works and what that pump does. It MAY be original, but that doesn't mean it was factory installed. Although federal marine sanitation laws went into effect in 1980, very few states were enforcing 'em till the late '80s, and any holding tanks that were factory installed were pretty basic installations--head to tank, tank to pumpout...that's it. A few, but mostly on smaller boats, were recirculators. What I can see of your system doesn't look the factory installations of the early '80s. So what you have may have been installed by a dealer or the original owner, or may have been installed later. Depending upon whether you're inland or in coastal waters, it may or may not be legal for your use. So while it would nice if someone else has the same system and can save you the effort of exploring the bowels of your boat for yourself, you're gonna have to do it to know what you have, what condition it's in, how to use it, and how to maintain/repair it. 'Cuz an emergency is NOT the time to START looking for hose connections, thru-hulls, valves, pumps and circuit breakers. No clue as to why the toilet won't flush--or worse yet, is overflowing all over the head and you don't know where it's coming from or how to stop it--when you have a boatload of guests can really spoil everyone's day too. So when you've figured out what goes where and can furnish all the information I need, I'll be glad to explain how everything works.
for a manual diaphragm pump. The question is, what does it pump, and to where? The toilet(which looks like it's definitely seen better days, btw) shouldn't need an external pump...and your mention of a "looped system" raises some questions. If you could provide just a rough sketch of the entire plumbing schematic that includes all the components AND thru-hulls, I should be able to tell you how the system works and what that pump does. It MAY be original, but that doesn't mean it was factory installed. Although federal marine sanitation laws went into effect in 1980, very few states were enforcing 'em till the late '80s, and any holding tanks that were factory installed were pretty basic installations--head to tank, tank to pumpout...that's it. A few, but mostly on smaller boats, were recirculators. What I can see of your system doesn't look the factory installations of the early '80s. So what you have may have been installed by a dealer or the original owner, or may have been installed later. Depending upon whether you're inland or in coastal waters, it may or may not be legal for your use. So while it would nice if someone else has the same system and can save you the effort of exploring the bowels of your boat for yourself, you're gonna have to do it to know what you have, what condition it's in, how to use it, and how to maintain/repair it. 'Cuz an emergency is NOT the time to START looking for hose connections, thru-hulls, valves, pumps and circuit breakers. No clue as to why the toilet won't flush--or worse yet, is overflowing all over the head and you don't know where it's coming from or how to stop it--when you have a boatload of guests can really spoil everyone's day too. So when you've figured out what goes where and can furnish all the information I need, I'll be glad to explain how everything works.
extra pump?
I have the same pump on my '83 H34. I havent found out what it is for either. I'm still able to pump out with out using this pump.
I have the same pump on my '83 H34. I havent found out what it is for either. I'm still able to pump out with out using this pump.
The Pump
I have the same system. It was factory original. There is even a pad molded into the fiberglass next to the head where the Whaler diaphram pump mounts. The purpose was for overboard discharge. The input of the pump is "Teed" into the deck pump out hose. The output of the pump is directed via big loop in the hose to the large through-hull under the settee, next to the small through-hull for water uptake into the head. So, no Y-valve was needed. The head discharged into the holding tank, then people could either pump it overboard (bad) or suck it out at the pump station (good). Like Peggy said, this was back when the rules weren't being enforced as rigidly, or when people weren't as concerned about the environmental effects. We tied the handles with wire on both the pump and the through-hull valve to lock them. I also keep a log of our visits to the pump out station. I haven't been boarded by the CG and had to show them that, so I don't know if it is considered compliant.
I have the same system. It was factory original. There is even a pad molded into the fiberglass next to the head where the Whaler diaphram pump mounts. The purpose was for overboard discharge. The input of the pump is "Teed" into the deck pump out hose. The output of the pump is directed via big loop in the hose to the large through-hull under the settee, next to the small through-hull for water uptake into the head. So, no Y-valve was needed. The head discharged into the holding tank, then people could either pump it overboard (bad) or suck it out at the pump station (good). Like Peggy said, this was back when the rules weren't being enforced as rigidly, or when people weren't as concerned about the environmental effects. We tied the handles with wire on both the pump and the through-hull valve to lock them. I also keep a log of our visits to the pump out station. I haven't been boarded by the CG and had to show them that, so I don't know if it is considered compliant.
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