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Jonathan Cuff
Navigator

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Cayman Island
173 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/25/2003 : 16:39:54

I've just bought a late 80's Cat 25 and am very pleased with the boat and this amazing web site. I was just wondering if anyone would be able to give me assistance with regard to the plumbing of the head.

At present there is a Jabsco manual head which then goes to a macerator and then into a 1" overboard discharge valve just forward of the holding tank on the port side. I'm assuming this isn't a standard installation. The holding tank isn't connected up at all and looks like it never has been.

The boat will only be sailing in offshore waters (I live in Grand Cayman) so there aren't any legal issues with regard to overboard discharge. I have looked at the plumbing diagrams on this web site but mine seems to be different.

Can anyone advise the best method for making it more of a standard system.

Many thanks

Edited by - on

John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2003 : 18:53:40

I think the output from the head goes to a Y-valve. One leg of that goes into the holding tank, the other to the macerator/overboard discharge valve. From the holding tank a line goes to the deck pumpout fitting. A smaller line to the holding tank vent near the deck pumpout fitting.

I guess if you come into US waters and the Coast Guard happens to check things, they'll want to see the Y-valve wired with a seal such that the output goes into the holding tank. Or maybe they'll wire it with a seal.

John Mason
<img src="http://www.users.qwest.net/~jamason/ali.jpg" border=0>
pronounced "Ali Paroosa"
1982 - FK/SR #3290

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2003 : 20:26:59

Jonathan,

If you've got a holding tank installed, I'd suggest you go for some variation of West Marine's "[url="http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/WestAdvisorDisplayView?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&advisor=436.htm"]Our Favorite Method[/url]", which looks something like this:

<img src="http://www.westmarine.com/Images/wa/436.e.adart.gif" border=0>

Where the numbered items are<ul><li>1.) Flush water intake.</li>
<li>2.) Head, a.k.a. 'throne'.</li>
<li>3.) Head discharge hose (head pump not shown).</li>
<li>4.) Holding tank.</li>
<li>5.) Tank vent hose.</li>
<li>6.) Vent thru-hull.</li>
<li>7.) Pump-out deck fitting.</li>
<li>8.) T-fitting (or Y-valve).</li>
<li>9.) Offshore discharge thru-hull with seacock.</li>
<li>10.) Offshore discharge pump (macerator or sewage-rated diaphram pump).</li>
</ul>

Or as they describe it,<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>All of the waste is pumped into the holding tank, yet you have the option of pumping it overboard when legal and logical to do so. Otherwise, you can enlist a sewage-sucking sanitation sentinel to whisk away waste.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>That's more or less the system I have. If you have a macerator pump, you can plumb it after the holding tank to pump it overboard when circumstances permit.

By the way, Raritan sells a holding tank additive called "K.O." which I think consists of aerobic bacteria that break down and deodorize waste in the tank. Be sure to read and follow the directions carefully. Along with that idea, be sure your tank is rigid type with a really large vent. Mine has two vents to assure a constant oxygen supply to the good bacteria.

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 06/26/2003 : 02:41:41

Mine is plumbed a little different than Leon's, but seems to work well. "Out" from the head goes to "in" on holding tank. One "out" on the holding tank goes to deck pumpout (plus the deck vent). Another "out" from the holding tank goes to one of the "in's" of a Y-valve (lever mounted on the bulkhead in the quarterberth just behind the stairs; plumbing parts in the area beneath the sink). The other "in" of the Y-valve comes from the bilge. The "out" from the Y-valve goes to the cockpit operated bilge pump, then out through the transom about 1' above the water level. This arrangement allows one to use the bilge pump to pump out the holding tank when 3+ miles offshore (as far as I know, the bilge pump has only been used in this service).

RichardG 81 C25 SR/FK "Sanity"

Edited by - on

RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 06/26/2003 : 02:42:16

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 06/26/2003 : 08:19:34

Jonathon -

Leon's diagram pretty much says it all...

However, if you are going to remain in the Cayman's, your current set up should suffice.

dw

D. Wolff - "The Flying Wasp" #401 sr/sk
Chief Measurer C-25/250 National Assn.
<img src="http://www.flags.com/dreamimages/Flags/measurer.jpg" border=0>

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.