Pump out Conversion

[ArtificialReef]

I recently purchased a Colvin Designed boat. It was built in 68 and I suppose there was no plan to pump out. It is set up with a holding tank and a macerator, but the previous owner tells me "It is not set up for pump out." Is this a matter of just installing a Y-valve and a deck fitting? What is required for converting it to being able to be pumped out? Thanks for the help,
ArtificialReef

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Depends on the configuration of the tank - must have either of two things:
1. a pickup tube which extends to the bottom of the tank, or
2. access for you to install a bottom connection to suck out the waste.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

If the tank is already plumbed to be dumped at sea...

That means it already has a discharge fitting. So all that's needed is a y-valve, a deck pumpout fitting and enough 1.5" hose to connect 'em.

I'd recommend also replacing the impeller in the macerator.

 

[Ron20324]

One of the recent sailing magazines- and I couldn't locate the right one- had an article on re-plumbing the waste line. I recall they installed either a shutoff to the deck fitting or it was a y-valve to direct the waste. This way they could be covered if "the man" put dye in the head. In addition to the normal deck fitting for pumpout, they added a deck water hose inlet connection, hose, a shutoff valve and tee'd it into the waste line before the macerator. This they did after looking back at the log book and finding almost every head problem was due to the macerator blades jamming due to the hardening of the waste. With water input, they flushed the macerator after every use. And no, you would NOT plumb this line to the fresh water system.

 

[ArtificialReef]

Thank you all so much. I really appreciate it.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

A good idea...Almost...

It apparently hasn't occurred to 'em that not only does a macerator need to be rinsed out, but it's even more important to keep a holding tamk rinsed out.

What they SHOULD have done is tee the water hose line into the tank discharge line to send the water into the tank to rinse iit out. Rinsing out the tank ges ride of sludge in it before it gets into the macerator to harden and cause problems--or worse yet, hardens into "concrete" in the tank--and also rinses out the macerator.

If you don't want to install anything, just stick a washdown pump nozzle into the deck pumpout fitting and run water through the tank while you run the macerator.

And don't forget to backflush the vent!!