Shower Drain

[Silvio]

I found an old thread on this site that discussed this somewhat but I am still not 100% on how to pump the shower gray water overboard.

Anyone have a suggestion? I have a "Y" valve under the head sink. It seems like the shower sump drains with this valve in either position (with the head seacock open) but I don't know if it goes overboard or into the holding tank. I prefer to have it discharge overboard.

If I were able to fit inside the cabinet under the sink, the valve would turn clockwise or counter-clockwise when facing forward relative to the boat (how's that for a mental image )

I am assuming that this valve is directing the shower sump to either the holding tank or overboard? My last ditch idea for figuring this out is going to be to dump the contents of a chem light stick into the shower sump and see in which position I light up the water around the boat

 

[paulj]

A picture and a sketch.........




paulj :troll:

 

[Silvio]

Thanks Paul,
Excellent help! My set up looks just like that except I have a manual head.

So do I understand this correctly that the joker valve is what keeps the shower and/or icebox drain from emptying into the toilet and makes the through hull the only escape as it were?

 

[Witzend]

Not how mine is done, I have a seperate thru hull for the shower/ice box drain, fed by the same "Y" valve.
Hull #83

 

[rpwillia]

Simple

Your results based on hull # may vary, but I suspect most are set up this way. The ice box and the show each have a drain line. They go through they "Y" valve, then a screen filter, then the pump, then a vent loop and then into the through hull and overboard.

 

[Silvio]

Thanks everybody, the sketches were priceless. Saved me from dumping the chem light in the shower.

 

[Silvio]

More shower drain issues

So, for the latest shower drain question. I have a new jabsco twist 'n lock head, had the same issue with the old head before I replaced it. When i first run the shower drain pump the head fills with shower water. The through hull is open and this only happens when the shower pump is first turned on. I can pump the head dry and it does not fill again on subsequent pumping of the shower drain.

***edit*** I removed a comment here about the joker valve after I reviewed the excellent sketch from paulj, I am thinking that the line that form the vented loop nearest the head must be dry when I first pump the shower and is therefore not providing any resistance to the flow of water as it is directed to the through hull. Into the head would be the path of least resistance until the line fills and going out the through hull requires less energy than going up the vented loop to the head? It's a thought, going to have to try pumping the head before turning on the shower sump and see if filling the line solves the issue.
I am starting to think that I am "the crazy shower guy" on this web site

Appreciate any thoughts.

 

[rpwillia]

Huh?

The shower drain is totally separate from the head. I believe on most of the 310's the head gets pumped to the holding tank in the aft port locker in the cockpit, and it gets drained from the holding tank to its separate dedicated thru hull via the macerator pump.

The shower drain and ice box drains are connected but nothing else to that drain/thru hull.

 

[Silvio]

Re: Huh?

Hey rpwillia,
My set up appears to be just like the sketch from paulj. The shower and icebox drains join together and discharge through the 'inlet' through hull for the head. It seems like it would make more sense to drain them through the sink through hull, but the sink is the only thing connected to its through hull.

 

[rpwillia]

Well usually if PaulJ sez it, I agree, but

I am scratching my head on this one.

Hey rpwillia,
My set up appears to be just like the sketch from paulj. The shower and icebox drains join together and discharge through the 'inlet' through hull for the head. It seems like it would make more sense to drain them through the sink through hull, but the sink is the only thing connected to its through hull.

On my 310 #185 the "inlet" through hull and the drain for the holding tank are located just aft of the head accessible via that little hatch in the bottom of the shower. Those two as well as the head sink drain (also separate) seem to be higher than the drains for the galley drain as well as the icebox/shower drain. I have a total of 6 thru hulls if you count my engine inlet thru hull.

I just re-read your post and your problem makes sense, but that configuration doesn't really make sense. If that is the way it is, could you put some kind of check valve in the line to stop it from running into the head?

 

[gpd955]

Not how mine is done, I have a seperate thru hull for the shower/ice box drain, fed by the same "Y" valve.
Hull #83

Mine is the same way. The Y valve for the shower sump is in the galley and is used for shower and fridge drain. I have a Y valve under the head sink but it is set up for draining sink water from the head sink to discharge or I can set it to take fresh water from the head sink and send it to the toilet for fresh water flush. I believe that was a PO modification though. (it really works well!)

 

[Witzend]

I just use the shower nozzle to dump fresh water into the head for flush, less stinky.

 

[Silvio]

embarassing admission

So, I figured out where the shawer water is entering the head...

It is coming in from the top as I shower, not through any of the plumbing. I must admit that I feel rather foolish but thought I should post an update in case my musings confuse anyone else.
So, mea culpa...

I guess not every issue is an hydraulic engineering problem

 

[mfarinas]

Shower sump

Silvio, on my 310 (hull # 215), the Y-valve is under the galley sink. This valve is used to drain the shower sump or the ice box. It always empties overboard, all you do is decide if you want to drain the shower or the ice box by using the Y-valve. Looking over the manufacturer's drawings, that is exactly what they intend. Maybe in another series the Y-valve is in the head, but probably both empty overboard.
Hope this helps.

 

[Witzend]

BTW, check where the frig drain hose connects to the bottom of the frig, mine was loose and leaking. Would have been nice to have a drain in the ice box as well.