To Hold or Not to Hold

[Mike Daus]

Am new owner of a 1982 Hunter 36 purchased from the orignial owner. Although it's my third sailboat, it's the first with holding tank, inboard diesel, wheel steering, etc. She's a great boat so far. I have a question regarding the wye valve that supposedly directs waste from the head to either the holding tank or overboard. The valve handle is located in starboard side of the vee-bearth adjacent to the area where the holding tank bladder is. The valve is frozen and can't be repositioned with moderate force. The handle is currently parallel to the deck pointing towards the bow. I would use more force but I don't know which direction to rotate it (clockwise, counterclockwise) or how far (180 deg, 90 or what). There are no markings on the valve or the panel through which the valve stem penetrates. The orginal owner says he never changed the position and it has always been aligned to dump overboard (which I can't do in enclosed waters).Anyone know how to reposition this valve?Thanks, Mike

 

[Peggie Hall/HeadMistress]

Handle should be aligned...

...in the direction of the hose that's open...iow, if the handle on your y-valve lines up in the direction of the thru-hull, it's most likely where the toilet discharge is gonna go. ("Most likely"...'cuz there are a few rare exceptions). If you have any doubt, put some red or yellow food coloring in the toilet and flush it...if it doesn't show up in the water next to your boat, the y-valve is aimed toward the tank (which, since the previous owner SAID he always went overboard, is highly unlikely). As for freeing it, if you're on "closed waters" where you can't use it, it's prob'ly illegal to have it. So I'd advise you to remove it and run a new section of hose from the toilet to the tank. However, if you expect to be able to use it soon (moving the boat), if it's bronze, it's worth saving...and I'd take it off the boat to work on it. But if it's pvc, I'd scrap it and buy a new one when/if you can legally use one. Y-valves that aren't used, freeze. Forcing them breaks handles. So if you have them, at least once a month. work them--even if you can't use the "other" position. When they start to bind, lubricate them.