Y valve

[Ken Honeycutt]

Just bought an '85 31' Hunter and I'm required by Chicago Park District to have my overboard discharge capability disabled. I removed the overboard discharge hose and used the thru hull for mermaid A/C and capped off the hose for now (until I have time to permanently remove) - but there is also a requirement to remove or seal off the Y valve. Was this valve standard on 85 31' Hunters? I know where the maceator pump is located underneath the V berth, but I don't see any Y valve and the manual says nothing about it - I forgot to ask the PO about it (my screwup). Where is it typically located?Thanks!

 

[Pizzazz18268]

Y-Valve

My 84 didn't have a y-valve.It had a T connection.One end to the deck pump out and the other end to the Whale pump for overboard pump out. To me you just filled there requirment by capping off the overboard hose.Dennis

 

[Ken Honeycutt]

That's what the manual shows too

Thanks Dennis - the manual shows the same thing as what you describe but I've seen a lot of posts on here about Y valves and it had me concerned I was missing something.

 

[Jeff20979]

Y-Valves

Back B.E.D. (Before Earth Day,) boats were built with the infamous Y-Valve on the head discharge line. This was a Y shaped gate valve with a lever handle. It allowed you to send to either the holding tank or overboard, depending on local or state law. Many boats had the option of pumping the holding tank overboard in approved areas. This is still permissable beyond the coastal 3-mile limit. The Y-Valve was supposedly low resistance, but I have read articles saying they could clog very easily. When the law was changed to totally dis-allow dumping overboard inside the coastal 3-mile limit, it was permissable to leave the existing plumbing alone as long as the the Y-valve was sealed, closed to the overboard position, with a heavy nylon tie strap, etc.Nowadays, that is no longer allowable, at least in the Great Lakes.My boat, an '82 has never been out of the lakes. the sealed Y-Valve was removed last year by the former owner when he installed a new head. I'm told by the yard I'm in that they are required to install a pipe cap on the seacock before launching, so that it will take some doing to make it operative again.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

"Securing' y-valves and seacocks IS still legal

in all coastal waters. The regs are set forth in 33 CFR 159.7 If your toilet is connected to a holding tank, acceptable methods of securing the device include --(1) Closing each valve leading to an overboard discharge and removing the handle;(2) Padlocking each valve leading to an overboard discharge in the closed position; or(3) Using a non-releasable wire-tie to hold each valve leading to an overboard discharge in the closed position.Inland waters are another story. The Great Lakes and all non-navigable inland lakes are “no discharge” waters. They’re also a loooong way from the ocean. Since there's no possible way to legally use a y-valve or macerator to dump a tank, many states--but not all--have made it illegal for vessels operating on these waters even to have one or both installed. When in doubt, check with your local authorities.

 

[Shippy]

Peggy - Follow-up question

On my 1995 h29.5, my head is piped to the holding tank. But I do have a manual pump from the holding talk to discharge overboard. Although I've never used it, are you saying that this pump handle needs to be secured in the closed position? I'm on the chesapeake and I've noticed that the rubber bellow is dry rotting and needs to be replace. Sounds like I might just want to cap this line off.

 

[Ken Honeycutt]

Thanks Peggy and Jeff

Sounds like I'm in compliance - thanks for the quick replys.

 

[Robert of St. Louis, MO]

"Y" Valve

Ken, I have a 87 Hunter 31. We bought it in 2004. I had to replace all the hose for the head and holding tank. Boat smelled like an ole out house. I replaced it with Sealand hose, and also replaced the "Y" connector that is located just inside the door under the V berth lying on the hull. Mine has about a 15 inch piece attaching it to the macerator, and the other goes to the pump out fixture. I don't know if it came from the factory that way. I just replaced what was already there. I sail on the Mississippi River for now, but plan to do Lake Michigan in the next few years. So will have to make our Hunter legal so to speak when we go.Good Luck.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Robert I hate to break it to you but...

It's just as illegal to dump a tank in the Mississippi River as it is in the Great Lakes. The fine if you get caught doing it is $2k. Federal law prohibits the discharge of raw untreated sewage in ALL U.S. waters...you must be in open ocean at least 3 miles from the nearest point on the whole U.S. coastline to dump a tank legally or flush a toilet directly overboard.

 

[Ken Honeycutt]

Not sure what the CG looks for

Robert - not sure what the CG checks for - when I bought the boat there was no attempt to disable the overboard system (boat was based in Indiana) so you may be OK - or maybe the CG never checked the sanitary system.