Plumbing Head Intake to Fresh Water Tanks

[Hugh E. Aaron]

I have a new Catalina 36mkII on order. I want to plumb my JABSCO head to the boat's fresh water system so that I "flush" with fresh water. I emailed JABSCO and they say I need to install convert the head to an electric "Quite-Flush" in order make sure that no bacteria gets in my fresh water systems. The conversion involves major surgery (and is expensive). Meanwhile, Home Depot as a $15 spring load check value designed for well systems. Why can't I simply install the check valve in the fresh water intake line to prevent the germs from migrating? Thanks.Hugh AaronRichmond, VAsailing@hrai.com

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

There are a whole bunch of reasons

There's a reason why Home Depot isn't known as a marine equipment supplier. It's more complex than may be obvious. I'd explain in detail, but I happen to be away for the T'giving holiday outside bellsouth.net's local dial-up area and it's costing me $6/hr...so I'll just have to ask you to trust me...if it could be done the way you want to do it, every toilet mfr would have a kit available to make it possible.If you want to flush with with fresh water, you need a toilet designed to use fresh water flush. Meanwhile, there is a solution to salt water intake odor...check out the article called something like "intake odor cure" in the Head Mistress forum reference library.

 

[Buck Harrison]

Fresh Water Flush

Hugh,Go to Forum Archives, Look for article (& responses)titled Fresh Water Flush, dated 09/26/2000.May be of some help....

 

[Charles Gent]

Fresh water flush

As a plunber I see a guarateed potential for cross connection in what you want to do. Don't do it!You will have everone on board sick. Use a properdouble check valve.

 

[Bruce]

Try a valve on the sink drain

Hugh...I have a 36mkII and dicussed the same thing with our dealer. He suggested using a Y-valve from the sink drain to the head seawater intake line. There is no connection to your fresh water tanks - a good thing.When you wish to flush - flip the Y -valve over to the "head" position and run some water into the lavatory sink. Then pump the water through the head as normal and flip the valve back to "sink." Obviously the seacock should be closedHaven't actually done the modification yet because I haven't found a surface mount Y-valve for 3/4" hose (I believe that's the size). A nice installation would be for the handle of the Y valve to protrude through the fiberglass seat in the shower/head with all the hose connections behind it.Does anyone else have any other ideas? Bruce

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

You don't need a y-valve, Bruce

All you need is a tee or wye fitting that connects your sink drain to the head intake. As long as the seacock is closed and the sink is full of water, the toilet will pull the water out of the sink. And it's not necessary to flush every time with fresh water. For most folks, just rinsing the seawater out of the system before closing up the boat at the end of the weekend is enough to eliminate intake seawater odor. But even those who are in especially "ripe" seawater should only need to rinse the system out once a day or so. Remember...the simpler the system, the less there is that can go wrong iwth it.