replumb to fresh water

[mac1840]

Peggy,

We just purchased a B-43 with twin "quiet flush" heads. I have twin fresh water tanks and would like to replumb the heads to one of the fresh water tanks. Since it would be a dedicated and isolated source, I'm not concerned about contamination of my drinking water. I was looking at running the water straight off the tank outlet so the heads would be on a non-pressurized line. Any warnings or suggestions? It seems simple enough which I what concerns me.

Rick

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

You can do that...

However, you should remove any valves that connect that tank to the potable water supply and also install a separate fill.

My concern is, you think that the other tank alone supplies enough fresh water...but you just bought this boat and 43' boats have a lot more ways to use water than 33' boats, including room for more guests aboard. You CAN re-convert the tank into your fresh water system, but it's major PITA to recommission it. You didn't say how much the tank holds...but I suspect it's at least 100 gallons on a boat that size...and fresh water can get just as funky and stinky as sea water if it sits in the head plumbing long enough in hot weather... That can be dealt with too, by keeping very little water in the tank, but it's another PITA to deal with.

So I'm thinking that it would be a lot simpler and just as effective to connect your head intake lines to the head sink drain lines...something that's been posted here and discussed a zillion times.

 

[sailingdog]

Peggie's point about how much water you can use on your boat is a good one. Also, if you're planning on doing any longer cruises, having two separate water tanks is a very good idea, since you might take on water in a location with bad water...and having a second tank would be a good think.

 

[Ron20324]

I was looking at running the water straight off the tank outlet so the heads would be on a non-pressurized line. Any warnings or suggestions? It seems simple enough which I what concerns me. Rick

And how would you flush if the head water tank was empty???

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

And how would you flush if the head water tank was empty???

Sea water in a bucket.

The same question could be asked about any toilet designed to use onboard pressurized flush water, btw.

 

[mac1840]

All good points, thanks. The big push for the fresh water, and these are "new" heads, was the incredable rotten egg smell every time we used it. Even after cycling sea water through the system it was like something died in the intake line. I had the lines replaced with the Triton hose that has been highly recommended. Anyone ever try the "treatment system" that plumb in line that are supposed to keep the lines clean? WM has one by Earth Safe. Does it work?

Rick

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Messy, not very effective, and expensive

All you need to solve your problem is a means of rinsing the sea water out of the ENTIRE system--intake line, channel in the rim of the bowl and head discharge line--before the boat will st....and that can be accomplished easily and very inexpensively by rerouting your head intake line to tee into the head sink drain line. Several boat builders plumb the heads and sinks to share the same thru-hull 'cuz it eliminates a hole in the boat. To rinse out the system, close the seacock, fill the sink with clean fresh water...flush the the toilet. Add some white vinegar to the water in the sink to prevent sea water mineral buildup in the lines and also do even more to prevent odor.

It works! And it conserves your fresh water.