Nonesuch 36 Intuition IX in Bahamas. There is a deck mounted discharge cap/fitting for pumpout to land. I do not see one going to the hull
The pumpout line at the base of the waste tank goes up , then towards the hull, then apparently turns left towards the head and the same or a similar line descends vertically from the waste cap on deck, so it seems – assuming the vertical line is the same. as the one coming from the waste tank – there is no way to discharge overboard. Is that correct? Richard Westin
There are two waste lines to consider. One goes from the head to the tank. My boat has a Y-valve so you can choose to pump from the toilet into the waste tank or overboard. I think this is conventional. The Y-valve is usually near the toilet. On my boat it is beneath the sink, yours might be different.
The other line goes from the waste tank up to the deck fitting. This is probably a one-piece hose because the dock pumpout uses suction to clear out the tank and any air leaks in the line means suction will be reduced or lost.
It is possible that a PO has installed an overboard pumpout for the waste tank, but it seems unlikely in a coastal cruiser like ours. You aren’t allowed to discharge waste overboard until you are well out to sea, though some people cheat. If your boat has such a system, it might tee off of the pumpout line or it might have its own tank fitting and line. I really don’t know, but it seems like you have not described any such lines, so you probably don’t have it. If your waste tank is full you must go to a dock pumpout station to empty it. If you have a legitimate need to pump the waste overboard, then you probably have to do it when you flush the toilet, not later.
My N30U has an alternate thru hull in place and it shows it in the manual. Mine consists of a thru hull valve with a stub of pipe coming into the hull. It is connected to nothing. If I chose to discharge over board I would have two options.
1) Install a Y-valve in the toilet discharge line.
Take one of the choices to the holding tank as it is now,
Take the other and connect it to the alternate thru hull.
2) Install a T in the present pump out line.
I don't think you need a valve at the T.
Run a line from the T to a self priming pump
(could be a macerator).
Than from that pump to the alternate thu hull.
I have checked your manual and it shows an optional thru hull also. If, as I do, you already have that thru hull and valve in place either of these two choices would work. Having been stuck in St Thomas with a full tank and no way to pump it out my choice has always been , Toilet to tank. Then have a Pump out either with the deck fitting or open the thru hull and use the new pump and pump overboard.
The potty police have been aboard my Cal 34 and my Tartan 40 and both passed inspection.
Rich,
the manual for the 36 (starting at page 66 of the PDF version in the INA website) shows three options. One with deck pump out only, one with overboard discharge only and one with both options. Sounds like you might have option one. Mark
Here is an image that shows a system where you can either pump your sewage overboard or suck it out through the deck fitting at a dock pumpout station. This is just about emptying the waste tank. It does not include the toilet plumbing, which often has the alternative of either pumping overboard or into the waste tank. (The “dockside pumpout” looks like a tee, but that’s just showing the deck fitting and a little piece of the deck.)
Unless you have that though-hull already installed and plugged like Captain Fran, you’ll need to haul out to build this system. You can get manual or electric waste pumps from any online supplier (Defender, West Marine, etc.)
But you’re still going to need to get to a dock pumpout to empty the tank so you can install the system. Or maybe you can find one of those boats that tours the marinas doing pumpouts? We’ve got them all over the place in San Diego. You can generally flag them down for a one-time fee or schedule a regular pumpout for a lower price.
Note for the run from the toilet to the holding tank inlet:
Brian’s picture makes things very simple if you just directly connect the head to that inlet. Doing so would mean that all waste passes through the holding tank, and which way you pump out is very straightforward. You will need to monitor your holding tank carefully to avoid overfill, but you will have a simple set-up that will pass muster anywhere in the U.S. (and probably elsewhere).
Our Ericson 35/3 developed a permanent holding tank odour. It seems the tank itself was the culprit. The plastic tank stunk and even cutting a hole in it and cleaning it several times (not fun, not even a little bit) didn’t solve the problem. So, after replacing all the hoses and pretty much everything else in the system, I ripped it all out and put in an air head. Everything they say is true. No smell, ever, and easy. Sure, you have to deal with emptying it but the… contents …looks like soil and smells like it too. Way better than even a pump out experience.
I just received our new unit for allegro. Other benefits are that you gain a bunch of space, simplify the boat and it’s just easier.
My impression of the composting toilet vs holding tank tradeoffs are that it depends on how you use your boat and what regulations apply in your area.
Although workarounds can be done, off-the-shelf composting units seem to come with small capacity for collecting urine while able to store large quantities of solid waste odor-free.
If you’re cruising in grounds where urine can be disposed of overboard, that works great. If you’re living aboard in a marina, toting your urine tank onshore for disposal every few days may or may not feel inconvenient, depending on your personal style.
However, at least in my marina, getting caught disposing of it on their premises (even if just pouring it into their restroom toilets) will get you evicted. A lot of marinas are like that.
On the other hand, if you use your boat a lot, and can get to overboard discharge or pumpout facilities every so often, you can get a well-maintained holding tank emptied often enough to avoid stink. And, you have the advantage of longer intervals between times when you’ve gotta take care of it now or else.
If you’re an infrequent sailor, the benefits might flip back to composting. Accumulated stink from neglect is a smaller risk. Again, though, only as long as you dispose of the urine before any absences.
