Holding tank Y valve

[Toolate]

Does anyone make one that has 1 1/2" threads on the inlet side rather than a barb? Would like to thread that right into my holding tank for space reasons and dont like to add fittings/short hose sections if possible.

Maybe more of a T shape would be good too. Thinking I may have to use some PVC fittings to neaten up the installation.

 

[South Shore Boatworks]

Y-valve

Raritan makes a nice Y-valve with 1 1/2" female threads. You can use a close nipple to make up to the tank.

 

[fortier256]

Pvc

Not sure how far you are into this however I used all PVC between the head, tank, and macerator pump. (I did use a couple of black rubber couplings to absorb any shock / movement.) this allowed me to by all of the fittings from much hated Home Depot.
Then the white flexeble head hose from the pump to the vented loop and to the sea cock.

Great results so far. No odor.

 

[fortier256]

Y valve

I meant to add that I used a PVC Y valve from HD.

 

[Toolate]

Thank you South Shore and fortier. Just in the process of filling my engine room with as many parts and pieces/wires as I can before installing the engine and trying to minimize the piping while making sure I can maintain it.

The more I think about it the less I see a need for an actual Y valve. Attached is a picture of the plumbing, just mocked up without glue, as I am currently thinking of installing it. The ball valve would be turned off when the tank is being pumped out through the deck fitting otherwise it would be open. Can you see any problem with this?

I have rubber fernco fittings as well to reduce the shock to the fittings and tank. They are double clamp/stainless jacket type because I had them but I am rethinking that because they are too rigid my opinion.

 

[starrfish]

what gets connected to the hose barb off the T? the deck fitting?

 

[Brooksie]

Toolate, just saying but you would not need a masarator pump (one of the most troublesome, disgusting things on any boat) it you just connect your tank line directly to an 1-1/2" thruhull and put an aft facing scoop over it.

 

[Toolate]

Yes the deck fitting goes to that hose barb. The hose is visible in the picture I think.

Is my second thought. Change to a more flexible fernco at the tank and provided for two valves. The black X is where the other valve will go.

Brooksie, my old boat had a manual whale gulper for pump and I'm just trying this electric macerator because everyone says they're nice but I suspect I will go back to the manual pump in time. I like the idea of just letting it drain but there are times when I want to make sure that is pumped out like when winterizing or something. The valves are not so easily accessed either and I will have a vented loop just inside the thru hull where the pipe exits. Would that still work?

 

[Brooksie]

Really no need for a pump of any kind but...

No it won't work in that case as the suction developed by the scoop will be negated by air entering the vented loop. By the way, vented loop for what? Isnt the head above the WL ?

 

[Toolate]

The head is above the WL but the hose and all the fittings along the way are not-- thats why the loop. Just paranoid about a hose coming loose- at least the loop limits my sinking options to that one hose length. Please

I am almost never in a place where its legal to pump overboard anyway.

Think I am going to go the 2 valve route. Dont want to suck my macerator backwards...

Just talking about it Gurry- not everyone knows everything around here. Like this (http://www.jamestowndistributors.co...gine=adwords!6456&keyword=product_ad&type=pla). A vacuum break to prevent siphoning if water were able to get out some way (hose slips off, breaks, etc.).

 

[chortle]

How about a simple schematic sketch of your entire system with some relative elevations and rough dimensions? The system in the photos looks too complicated to me. I would also suggest using Schedule 40 fittings and pipe instead of the DWV fittings that you are using for your mock-up.

I am a big proponent of keeping the head systems as simple as possible. My Sabre 38 sailboat had a system that rivaled the plumbing at Chernobyl, you could pump poop six ways to Sunday, the first thing I did was remove the entire system and replace it, 95% schedule 40 PVC pipe, all gravity drain capable, no discharge through the hull, no electrical pumps, dedicated fresh water flush to minimize smell and build up in the piping. I did the same thing on my previous boats and on my current Jarvis Newman 36. Zero head odor and zero problems for decades.

 

[Toolate]

I went ahead and piped it like the first picture today... didnt mean to turn this into a "how to pipe my head" thread but you know I am more than willing to talk about things...

Head water level is above the WL by about a foot. Tank inlet is above the head by about a foot because there is no where to fit a decent size holding tank that would work via gravity. Bow of the Sisu is very tight really.

Main reason I wanted that valve was because I want to be able to shot off the valve if the pump craps out (and the tank is full). Sounds like I will be ok having the tank pumped out with the valve open so I will just have to open and close the valve once a week and think it should be good until the macerator dies.

I am never really in a place where overboard discharge is legal either.

How can you live without any ability to discharge overboard? I never do it but want the option in case..

 

[chortle]

Engineering systems on a boat is quite a tickle isn't it? Usually just a series of compromises to get things as good as possible within the constraints of practicality.

You should get an award for going through your boat project like this and posting so many thoughts and questions about so many systems, a great learning and relearning experience for everyone.

Yes, I and everyone I know always pump out with the system open, in fact I always try to remember to pump some fresh water into the bowl so that it acts as a slug of fresh water to scour the system as it is being pumped. Also, after pumping out, I always try to remember to rinse the whole system by refilling my holding tank approximately halfway with fresh water and then pump it dry again. Some of the marinas in Annapolis now have dedicated hoses just to do this, they used to just hand you the same hose that they give to everyone to refill their fresh water tanks! A great opportunity for some "cross pollination."

I am about 160 miles from the nearest open ocean so overboard discharge is just not an option so why plumb for it? If there is an unexpected hiccup in the system then I do have a 5 gallon bucket that can get me thru until the next port of call, a pumpout vacuum system, rubber gloves and a big bucket of bleach. So yumm.

 

[Toolate]

Def. a compromise of some sort involved where ever you go. Mostly due to space concerns for me and my obsessive need to try to plan ahead for accesibility/maintenance/service of things I know will eventually break.

Award? I dont know. It keeps things interesting and I think makes people think twice about the things they have always done "just because". Also, this place is really the best online resource of how to type questions due to the membership IMO. I like to talk through questions top to bottom if people are willing because it helps me (and other lurkers) but also creates a record for all time really. Fun stuff.

Always have a bucket around....