Just bought a new Thetford Aquamate to go into our O'Day 23 and the pitiful pamphlet that comes with it doesn't give a clue as to installing for deck pump-out. I have the tank fixture that has the attachment points for the pump-out hose and the vent hose. I just don't know how the plumbing gets routed. Does the vent hose go thru-hull or thru-deck? If thru-hull then how far above the waterline? The vent hose connection is significantly smaller diameter than the pump-out connection, will this cause suction problems during pump-out? Does your book cover how to plumb a porta-potti and all my other several hundred questions on this? This is very different than the black water system in my travel trailer. Will my travel trailer chemicals work for the boat system? I typically use odorless. I apologize if these questions have all been asked many times before but I'm new to all of this and would just as soon get it right the first time.
New system ?'s
- Thread starter Russ20666
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It's very simple...
I read the literature for it online...and you're right, it doesn't help much. My book does not include specific instructions for running plumbing, 'cuz every installation is unique...but it does answer at least 99 of your 100 questions about how to use and maintain portapotties and every other system. Installing a "pumpable" portapotty is simple. The discharge hose (1.5" ID) goes to a pumpout fitting on deck. The vent line--which SHOULD be no smaller than 5/8" ID--goes to a thru-hull on the hull that has to be high enough to keep it out of the water while heeled--which on your boat will prob'ly put it right below the toe rail. You might want to look at other comparable size boats (they don't have to be O'Days) that have permanently installed portapotties to see how they're plumbed. As long as the vent line or thru-hull doesn't ever become blocked, the vent is big enough to allow the tank to be pumped out without any problem. BUT (and it's a big "but")...the location of the vent fitting--on the pumpout assembly that goes to the bottom of the tank instead of a separate fitting on the top of the tank--may make odor-prevention difficult, if not impossible, because while that arrangement does prevent the tank from pressurizing when flushed and the pumpout from pulling a vacuum, that's ALL it does...it does not permit the tank to breathe, which is essential in preventing odor (a subject that is covered in detail in my book). So unless you want to install a new vent fitting on the top of the tank that will allow the tank to breathe, I'd take it back and exchange it for a SeaLand 965MSD. It has about the same size tank and will fit the same footprint, but has a separate vent fitting on the tank. Not only is it better designed to be permanently installed and plumbed for pumpout, but it's also a little less expensive.
I read the literature for it online...and you're right, it doesn't help much. My book does not include specific instructions for running plumbing, 'cuz every installation is unique...but it does answer at least 99 of your 100 questions about how to use and maintain portapotties and every other system. Installing a "pumpable" portapotty is simple. The discharge hose (1.5" ID) goes to a pumpout fitting on deck. The vent line--which SHOULD be no smaller than 5/8" ID--goes to a thru-hull on the hull that has to be high enough to keep it out of the water while heeled--which on your boat will prob'ly put it right below the toe rail. You might want to look at other comparable size boats (they don't have to be O'Days) that have permanently installed portapotties to see how they're plumbed. As long as the vent line or thru-hull doesn't ever become blocked, the vent is big enough to allow the tank to be pumped out without any problem. BUT (and it's a big "but")...the location of the vent fitting--on the pumpout assembly that goes to the bottom of the tank instead of a separate fitting on the top of the tank--may make odor-prevention difficult, if not impossible, because while that arrangement does prevent the tank from pressurizing when flushed and the pumpout from pulling a vacuum, that's ALL it does...it does not permit the tank to breathe, which is essential in preventing odor (a subject that is covered in detail in my book). So unless you want to install a new vent fitting on the top of the tank that will allow the tank to breathe, I'd take it back and exchange it for a SeaLand 965MSD. It has about the same size tank and will fit the same footprint, but has a separate vent fitting on the tank. Not only is it better designed to be permanently installed and plumbed for pumpout, but it's also a little less expensive.
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