Plumbing setup just doesn't seem right

[jaschrumpf]

This might be a possibility: leave the freshwater fill as is. In the anchor well I could cut another hole next to the freshwater fill and drop a weighted line down where I can pick it up inside the v-berth access panel. The I could use a fish tape to reach over from there to where the holding bladder is.

Once I've done that I could attach a line to a piece of sanitary hose, pull it over to the access plate, attach it to a fitting, pull the fitting up through the hole with the line and then fasten the fitting in place from above.

Voila! A new deck fitting for the pumpout. If there's room I could even double up and pass a vent line up that way along with it.

Have to stick my head back down there this week and have a look-see about this.

[badsanta]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

Badsanta—Your comment would make sense if he had a direct overboard discharge for the head, but he doesn't.

Yeah, miss read the drawing. My Bad. Like they say advice worth what you paid for it

[sailingdog]

Really bad idea IMHO. You don't want the freshwater fill and the head pumpout any where near each other. Many pumpout fitting will spray a bit... and do you really want raw sewage anywhere near your fresh water deck fill????

If you have a leaky o-ring or forget to close it tightly, what do you think the chances of getting sewage into your potable water tank is if they're located next to each other???

Originally Posted by jaschrumpf

This might be a possibility: leave the freshwater fill as is. In the anchor well I could cut another hole next to the freshwater fill and drop a weighted line down where I can pick it up inside the v-berth access panel. The I could use a fish tape to reach over from there to where the holding bladder is.

Once I've done that I could attach a line to a piece of sanitary hose, pull it over to the access plate, attach it to a fitting, pull the fitting up through the hole with the line and then fasten the fitting in place from above.

Voila! A new deck fitting for the pumpout. If there's room I could even double up and pass a vent line up that way along with it.

Have to stick my head back down there this week and have a look-see about this.

[jaschrumpf]

I see your point, but the original drawings for the boat have both input and output in the anchor well. And it would be a simple matter to always cover up the freshwater fill with a plastic bag before starting the process, and wipe the area down afterward as well.

I appreciate all the feedback I've gotten on this thread. What I really need to do before anything else is get the existing bladder pumped out as soon as the weather permits. I really didn't start thinking about this until late last season when I pumped some water into the head and flushed it out to make sure everything still worked OK. After that it started cooking a bit, and that's when I noticed that some work needed to be done.

[sailingdog]

Jas—

Since you already have the other deck fitting location, why drill another hole, if it isn't necessary or safe.

[CaptainForce]

I've heard a few Y-valve comments posted, but I don't see a Y-valve in your diagram; although, I do see the effluent hose from the holding tank diverting to either the pump out or what I assume is a macerator pump at a through-hull discharge. A Y-valve could be placed at this effluent split, but it would have no function. During a pump-out the through-hull is closed and all suction would be applied to the tank. During the use of the macerator the deck plate is closed and all suction is still applied to the tank. I've been running with this pattern for years with a T-fitting without any concerns. Running the pump out to the deck is advisable, but unless the space is critical, there is no need to give up the water fill. What about a pump out down the port deck closer to the tank? Any chance during the refit to exchange the bladder for a firm tank would be advisable. 'take care and joy, Aythya crew

[jaschrumpf]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

Jas—

Since you already have the other deck fitting location, why drill another hole, if it isn't necessary or safe.

There is no other deck fitting location. There is a pumpout fitting now in the v-berth under the cushions and the freshwater fill in the anchor well. I figure I can either swap the usage of the fittings or drill a new hole so they can both be up in the anchor well.

[jaschrumpf]

Originally Posted by CaptainForce

I've heard a few Y-valve comments posted, but I don't see a Y-valve in your diagram; although, I do see the effluent hose from the holding tank diverting to either the pump out or what I assume is a macerator pump at a through-hull discharge. A Y-valve could be placed at this effluent split, but it would have no function. During a pump-out the through-hull is closed and all suction would be applied to the tank. During the use of the macerator the deck plate is closed and all suction is still applied to the tank. I've been running with this pattern for years with a T-fitting without any concerns. Running the pump out to the deck is advisable, but unless the space is critical, there is no need to give up the water fill. What about a pump out down the port deck closer to the tank? Any chance during the refit to exchange the bladder for a firm tank would be advisable. 'take care and joy, Aythya crew

There is a y-valve in my original drawing, right where the line comes out of the holding bladder. One line from the y goes to the pumpout fitting under the v-berth cushions and the other line goes to the throughhull.

[sailingdog]

Originally Posted by jaschrumpf

There is no other deck fitting location. There is a pumpout fitting now in the v-berth under the cushions and the freshwater fill in the anchor well. I figure I can either swap the usage of the fittings or drill a new hole so they can both be up in the anchor well.

Oh, I thought it was in the deck above the v-berth. My bad... I'd still want the two fittings further apart. If the pumpout guy gets confused as to which is which and accidentally attaches the pumpout to the water fill.. that would be bad. I've seen it happen, and it's not pretty.

I've seen accidents like that happen with water and fuel, fuel and pumpout, pumpout and water, etc... Keeping them physically separated by some distance is the cheapest insurance against mistakes. BTW, it takes forever to get rid of the taste of diesel once some gets in the water tank...

[KeelHaulin]

There are new fittings which require a winch handle to open the fitting; check to see if your locker will accomodate a winch handle. Then you have two different tools required for filling the water or pumping the head. Or if you went with plastic fittings you could have one colored green and one black or red for the pumpout.

Another concern for the fresh water fill up in the bow is failure of the seal on the deck fill. Since the anchor locker will get water splashing in in rough conditions; it's possible that it could be submerged in salt water now and then; allowing salt water to leak into the tank if the seal ever went bad.