I am the new owner of Grace, 1989 Hunter 37 (yea!). I am trying to figure out the head/holding tank connections and process for pumping out. The plumbing appears to be: 1. the hose from the head output goes up to the deck pump out fitting 2. a hose from the deck pump out fitting goes to the "input" side of the Y valve 3. one output of the Y valve goes to the holding tank input 4. the other output of the Y valve goes to the thru hull 5. another hose from the deck pump out fitting goes to the hand pump 6. the other side of the hand pump goes to the holding tank output 7. there is a holding tank vent, from the tank to a fitting on the side of the hull I assume the three hoses going to the deck pump out fitting are connected together by some sort of "manifold" I think the way the system is intended to work is that with the Y valve in one position, the head output is pumped into the holding tank, this would be the normal operating mode. With the Y valve in the other position, you can pump the holding tank through the thru hull fitting, or you can also pump out through the deck fitting. Questions: 1. Does this make sense to anyone, am I understanding correctly how the system is connected/operated? 2. I am thinking of modifying the connections, if I remove the circuit breaker panel, can I get access to the deck pump out fitting?
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
Either you don't quite have it yet, or...
Somebody has really cobbled up the plumbing. Here's how it HAS go, whether or not there are any y-valves that offer you additional choice...no manifolds, very straightforward: The 1/5" hose from the head output goes to the holding tank--to a fitting at or on the top of it. The hose coming out of the holding tank at the bottom of it goes to the deck pumpout fitting. Vent coming off the tank to a thru-hull. Now let's add in any y-valves: There may be a y-valve in the line from the head to the tank...However, unless the boat has done a lot a lot of cruising outside US waters, it's unlikely. But if it's there, the line from head goes into it, one side coming out of it goes to the tank, the other side coming out of it goes to a below-waterline thru-hull/seacock, allowing to the toilet to flush directly overboard. There's much more likely to be a y-valve in the line from the tank to the deck pumpout fitting...the line coming out of the tank at the bottom goes into it, one side coming out of it goes the deck pumpout fitting, the other side goes to either an electric macerator or a manual pump...out of the pump to a below-waterline thru-hull/seacock. It's possible for the toilet and the tank to share the same thru-hull/seacock. That's the ONLY possible way it can be plumbed and still work. However, there's one manual marine toilet--the Blake Lavac--that's unlike any other...it doesn't have an integral pump...but instead uses a Henderson manual pump (a bilge pump, actually) that's completely separate from the head, and the way it has to be plumbed can confuse you. What IS the toilet? And while I have your attention, I suggest you read the articles in the Head Mistress forum Reference Library (on the forum homepage)...lotta good information about system operation and maintenance in 'em.
Somebody has really cobbled up the plumbing. Here's how it HAS go, whether or not there are any y-valves that offer you additional choice...no manifolds, very straightforward: The 1/5" hose from the head output goes to the holding tank--to a fitting at or on the top of it. The hose coming out of the holding tank at the bottom of it goes to the deck pumpout fitting. Vent coming off the tank to a thru-hull. Now let's add in any y-valves: There may be a y-valve in the line from the head to the tank...However, unless the boat has done a lot a lot of cruising outside US waters, it's unlikely. But if it's there, the line from head goes into it, one side coming out of it goes to the tank, the other side coming out of it goes to a below-waterline thru-hull/seacock, allowing to the toilet to flush directly overboard. There's much more likely to be a y-valve in the line from the tank to the deck pumpout fitting...the line coming out of the tank at the bottom goes into it, one side coming out of it goes the deck pumpout fitting, the other side goes to either an electric macerator or a manual pump...out of the pump to a below-waterline thru-hull/seacock. It's possible for the toilet and the tank to share the same thru-hull/seacock. That's the ONLY possible way it can be plumbed and still work. However, there's one manual marine toilet--the Blake Lavac--that's unlike any other...it doesn't have an integral pump...but instead uses a Henderson manual pump (a bilge pump, actually) that's completely separate from the head, and the way it has to be plumbed can confuse you. What IS the toilet? And while I have your attention, I suggest you read the articles in the Head Mistress forum Reference Library (on the forum homepage)...lotta good information about system operation and maintenance in 'em.
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Del Wiese
thanks for feedback
The head is Raritan. I agree with your suggested plumbing, the challenge now is how to get at the area where the existing hoses connect to the deck pump out fitting. thanks!
The head is Raritan. I agree with your suggested plumbing, the challenge now is how to get at the area where the existing hoses connect to the deck pump out fitting. thanks!
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
In that case (Raritan toilet)...
there's no other way to plumb the system but the way I described it. I have a hard time believing that anyone would be dumb enough to plumb the head discharge to the deck pumpout fitting Otoh, maybe that was somebody's screwball idea of how to flush directly overboard without getting caught--just leave the cap off the pumpout fitting and only use the head when the rails are in the water on that tack...I've seen some things that were almost that nutty! Have you tried flushing the toilet to see where it goes? If the head actually does go to the deck pumpout fitting, it should overflow on the deck if you take the cap off.
there's no other way to plumb the system but the way I described it. I have a hard time believing that anyone would be dumb enough to plumb the head discharge to the deck pumpout fitting Otoh, maybe that was somebody's screwball idea of how to flush directly overboard without getting caught--just leave the cap off the pumpout fitting and only use the head when the rails are in the water on that tack...I've seen some things that were almost that nutty! Have you tried flushing the toilet to see where it goes? If the head actually does go to the deck pumpout fitting, it should overflow on the deck if you take the cap off.
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Debra Blatnik
Good diagram in BoatUS or WestMarine Cat
One or the other has good diagrams for how these things get put together.
One or the other has good diagrams for how these things get put together.
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Del Wiese
figured some things out
1. I found out that removing the circuit breaker panel on the right gives me access to the deck pump out and vent thru hull fittings. 2. Two of the hoses that I thought went to the deck pump out fitting go to an anti siphon valve. 3. Based on these discoveries, the existing plumbing makes more sense and is: a. the output of the head goes through the anti siphon valve to the Y valve. b. one side of the Y valve goes to the thru hull c. the other side goes to the holding tank d. the output of the holding tank goes through a pump to the deck pump out fitting I am thinking of plumbing it much per your suggestion (and per the West Marine diagram). I plan to run the output of the head to the holding tank. The output of the holding tank will go to both the deck pump out fitting and to the thru hull. Do I really need the anti siphon valve? Seems like the holding tank vent will prevent any siphoning.
1. I found out that removing the circuit breaker panel on the right gives me access to the deck pump out and vent thru hull fittings. 2. Two of the hoses that I thought went to the deck pump out fitting go to an anti siphon valve. 3. Based on these discoveries, the existing plumbing makes more sense and is: a. the output of the head goes through the anti siphon valve to the Y valve. b. one side of the Y valve goes to the thru hull c. the other side goes to the holding tank d. the output of the holding tank goes through a pump to the deck pump out fitting I am thinking of plumbing it much per your suggestion (and per the West Marine diagram). I plan to run the output of the head to the holding tank. The output of the holding tank will go to both the deck pump out fitting and to the thru hull. Do I really need the anti siphon valve? Seems like the holding tank vent will prevent any siphoning.
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
Tank vent is not an anti-siphon valve
And it won't stop water from filling the tank--in fact it'll help, because it'll let air displaced by incoming water escape--if you should ever leave the seacock open. You don't need a VENTED loop in the line between the head and the tank, but you do need a loop in the hose that's at least a foot above the waterline at any angle of heel. Even a half full tank can spill out the inlet fitting and head back toward the toilet to overflow it when you're heeled the right direction...the loop creates a "hill" in the hose it can't climb over. Otherwise, it sounds like you're on the right track now.
And it won't stop water from filling the tank--in fact it'll help, because it'll let air displaced by incoming water escape--if you should ever leave the seacock open. You don't need a VENTED loop in the line between the head and the tank, but you do need a loop in the hose that's at least a foot above the waterline at any angle of heel. Even a half full tank can spill out the inlet fitting and head back toward the toilet to overflow it when you're heeled the right direction...the loop creates a "hill" in the hose it can't climb over. Otherwise, it sounds like you're on the right track now.
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