Thruhull tailpiece

[Roy10289]

I need to disconnect my head from the overboard pumpout thruhull to comply with local no discharge laws. After disconnecting the hose (valve closed of course) i see a tailpiece is connected with white thread sealant. I wanted to install a screw on cap for safety should th valve leak or be opened in error. How does one remove the tailpiece? It seems to have no flats on it to get a grip with a wrench. The sides of the tailpiece where the hose slides over are smooth also. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Jadedcrew]

Try Water Pump Pliers

You know, the adjustable type with long handles. It is ok to bung up the tail piece, as you are not going to reuse it.

 

[Warren Milberg]

I don't know what your

local no discharge laws require, but I sail a boat in a NDZ, have a head with a holding tank connected to a "Y" valve so that I can pump waste into the holding tank or directly overboard. I believe I am in compliance with local and federal laws about no discharge by removing the handle on the discharge seacock from the head. My only point here is that there are a number of ways to comply with these laws short of removing the connections to the discharge thru-hull. Here is but one excerpt: "secure your toilets or the overboard discharge valve. The acceptable methods include padlocking overboard discharge valves in the closed position, using non-releasable wire to hold overboard discharge valves in the closed position, closing overboard discharge valves and removing the handle, or by locking the door with a padlock or key to the space enclosing the toilet."I would take the easiest route to comply and await Peggy Hall's input on this subject.

 

[Maine Sail]

The seacock..

The seacock and hose barb may be one contiguous unit and you may not be able to remove the tail piece. In that case use a short piece of hose with a hose barb in the other end that you install a cap on.. If your valve is the type that allows you to remove the handle once closed that may be a good idea too.Some seacocks were sold with integral hose barbs that can not be removed and are part of the seacock assembly..

 

[Brian L.20665]

What I would do

I have a suggestion, but don't know if it will meet the particular law you are trying to satisfy for your sailing area. If possible, I would leave that thru-hull intact and make the system easy to reconnect for potential legal use in the future, in other waters, i.e., if you move or sell the boat to another area.Your profile shows you own a 1995 37.5. On my (now sold) 1995 37.5 and probably the same on yours, there was a hose going from the macerator, located well above the waterline, to the thru-hull in the stern locker. Assuming your system is still per the original, I would disconnect the hose from the macerator end only and leave it still attached to the thru-hull. Cap that hose at the macerator end using a suitable fitting and double hose clamps, secure it well so the capped end stays above the waterline. Wire the thru-hull handle closed. For further peace of mind, you could put in a piece of new hose.Edited: Maine Sail beat me to that answer while I was writing. Thanks MS!

 

[sailaway78]

Make a Home Depot/Lowes run

and get yourself the correct size plumbers plug. The kind you pump up. Stick it in the hose barb, and pump it up. These are made to hold quite a bit of pressure as they are a test plug. Heavy wall thickness. Should never leak a drop.

 

[Harlan]

tail piece wrench

tail piece has 'nubs' on the inside - insert a flat bar of the correct width inside the tailpiece - don't grab from the outside.

 

[Maine Sail]

Roy...

I just re-read your post this time more carefully! If that hose barb is installed with white teflon tape, and has threads showing, a standard pipe wrench on the "barb" part will remove it easily! Pipe wrenches are meant, and designed to, self tighten on smooth pipe.. A picture would really help!!

 

[Roy10289]

Thanks Maine Sail

I am not near the boat at this time,but I will send a picture next time I'm down there. What you now advise is exactly the situation I have. The valve is screwed into the thruhull,then from the top of the valve,a threaded straight tailpiece is screwed in using what appears to be teflon thread tape. The topof the tailpiece is smooth and this is where the hose going to the y valve is attached. If I get the tailpiece out using a pipe wrench on its smooth surface, can I replace it with a plastic screw in cap from a plumbing store? Are the threads compatable for this?Thank you for your continued help.

 

[Maine Sail]

Yes...

you can replace with a threaded plug. I would however try to source a bronze plug of possible as opposed to plastic if at all possible. The threads should be NPT which is standard tapered pipe thread.. Use pipe dope and or teflon tape when installing the plug..