Macerator set up

[Divecaptchris]

ok so my new boats macerator pump is not hooked up. The pump is located near the line that goes up to the pump out fitting. My question is can it put a "tee" in that line to feed the macerator, or do in need a valve in there? It has a keyed switch in the power to comply with CG regs!

 

[rwidman]

Re: Macerator set up

ok so my new boats macerator pump is not hooked up. The pump is located near the line that goes up to the pump out fitting. My question is can it put a "tee" in that line to feed the macerator, or do in need a valve in there? It has a keyed switch in the power to comply with CG regs!

It is hooked up or it is not hooked up? Why would you have to change anything on a new boat?

Before you start installing "T"s in your boat's plumbing, make sure you know how the system is supposed to work.

If it is a new boat, the manufacturer should have hooked everything up. If that is not the case, ask the dealer to do it.

 

[sasto]

Re: Macerator set up

Hmmm....Are we talking about a head macerator. If so the pump would normally be mounted between the holding tank or overboard discharge. The holding tank would be plumbed to the deck fitting. Somebody will probably have a drawing for you. What system do you have?

 

[Divecaptchris]

Re: Macerator set up

so "new" was a bad choice of words! its New to me! but it is a 1983 carver.

From the factory the boat did not have a macerator pump, Somewhere along the line someone put one in, or tried anyway. The tank has a hose running from the bottom up to the fitting u would use to pump it out. in between there someone has mounted a macerator pump and hooked up the output hose to a thru hull fitting, however the input side is not connected.

my question is can i put a "tee" in that line and have it suck from the tank, or will i loose the suction out the pumpout fitting? or do i need to have a valve there that switches between pump out or macerator pump out?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Macerator set up

afaik you are required by law to have a locked Y valve and the keyed switch is not relevant to that.... Unless you are going way offshore you can not legally use the macerator anyway. The "crap" many folks do of pumping overboard at night is just that... In many places you can get pumped for free anyhow

 

[sasto]

Re: Macerator set up

my question is can i put a "tee" in that line and have it suck from the tank, or will i loose the suction out the pumpout fitting? or do i need to have a valve there that switches between pump out or macerator pump out?

Yes, you can install a "y" valve which would allow you to empty holding tank thru the maserator to the overboard discharge...or.... allow the tank to be emptied thru the deck fitting. Always follow federal regulations. Good luck.

 

[Pirate_40]

Re: Macerator set up

The only reason for a Y valve to divert the waste from the pump out deck fitting to an overboard discharge fitting. Unless your traveling more than 25 miles offshore you can not legally dump your dunage in the water. For more information on this law, look up MARPOL. I believe annex IV covers sewage.

 

[sasto]

Re: Macerator set up

I believe that would be 3 miles for your private vessel.

 

[shrew]

Re: Macerator set up

Your holding tank should have 2 places for fittings at the bottom of the tank. One can be used to go from the tank to the through deck pump out fitting. Another would go to the macerator, which would then go through a through hull fitting. Mine came from the factory as described above. I don't have a Y or T valve. Instead, I have a double-switch for the macerator at the helm. I have to hit both switches at the same time and hold them to discharge through the macerator and overboard through the through hull fitting.

BTW- It's 3 miles offshore to discharge unless marked on the charts otherwise, not 25 miles.

You could take the line going from the holding tank to the through deck pump out and put in a valved Y valve. From the Y valve, one line would go to the through deck pump out fitting and one would go to the macerator. You'd leave it on the through deck setting for 99.9% of the time and simply pumpout.

I would recommend you pumpout the holding tank, then fill it with water and pump it out again, then repeat several times before beginning such a project. Also, since the holding tank has been used, I would go for option #2. Option #1 that I listed (No Y valve) is going to be a messy proposition at this point. By cutting some of the sanitation hose going to the throughdeck pump out fitting, you will stand a much better chance of avoiding unwanted spills. Plus, I've always wondering how LEO's would view my setup if I went inland. I suspect it is fine, though I've heard of some states insisting that the Y valve be zip tied or otherwise locked in the pumpout position. I have no way of doing that on my boat.

 

[shrew]

Re: Macerator set up

I believe that would be 3 miles for your private vessel.

You beat me to it!!

 

[rwidman]

Re: Macerator set up

The only reason for a Y valve to divert the waste from the pump out deck fitting to an overboard discharge fitting. Unless your traveling more than 25 miles offshore you can not legally dump your dunage in the water. For more information on this law, look up MARPOL. I believe annex IV covers sewage.

I'm sorry, but that's incorrect in most parts of the USA. It's three miles offshore for raw sewage with a few area that are more.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Macerator set up

so "new" was a bad choice of words! its New to me! but it is a 1983 carver.

From the factory the boat did not have a macerator pump, Somewhere along the line someone put one in, or tried anyway. The tank has a hose running from the bottom up to the fitting u would use to pump it out. in between there someone has mounted a macerator pump and hooked up the output hose to a thru hull fitting, however the input side is not connected.

my question is can i put a "tee" in that line and have it suck from the tank, or will i loose the suction out the pumpout fitting? or do i need to have a valve there that switches between pump out or macerator pump out?

You're going to get a lot of information on web forums, some correct, and some not correct. Also, while you have gotten some correct information, it applies only to one of the options that might apply to your boat.

If the previous owner didn't know how to install a macerator pump and you don't know how to install one, I suggest this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Get-Rid-Boat-...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1285080888&sr=8-1

Fot the plumbing details and regulations.

For the electrial portion and additional information on the plumbing, I suggest going to the macerator manufacturer's website and downloading the installation instructions.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is a vented loop. If your discharge thru hull is below the waterline (mine is not, but many are), you must have a properly installed vented loop to avoid the posibility of siphoning seawater into the boat (which could sink it).

BTW: Never use a "T" in a sewage system, use a "Y". Sewage will pass more easily if it doen't have to turn 90 degree corners.

 

[witenite0560]

Re: Macerator set up

This is the plumbing I worked up on my 1959 Crestliner Mandalay. I don't think I'll be able to completely empty the blackwater tank. But, since I've got an additional deck fitting just for adding freshwater to rinse during pumpout, it should work well.
The upper line coming out of the bulkhead is the exit from the Macerator pump. The lower line going into the bulkhead is plumbed to the input of the macerator pump and teed to the head output with a shutoff valve between the T and the head.
The valve to the left is the shutoff for the pumpout deck fitting. By opening 2 of the valves and closing the other two, it should pump through the macerator to the blackwater tank. The reverse should pump out of the blackwater tank and out the deck fitting.
There's also a small utility pump plumbed and valved in to fill the head bowl from the through hull fitting. The original through hull for outgoing affluent has been removed and the hole patched over.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Macerator set up

Your holding tank should have 2 places for fittings at the bottom of the tank. .............

Many tanks have only one discharge port. In this case, a "Y" is necessary. From the "Y", one hose can go to the pumpout deck fitting and the other to the macerator pump.

My boat came with a push button switch for the pump and no valve. I removed the push button switch and replaced it with a key switch. I don't leave the key in the switch so there's no accidental discharge.

On some boats, a "Y" valve might have been installed between the head and the tank to direct sewage directly overboard from the head, bypassing the tank altogether.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Macerator set up

........ The reverse should pump out of the blackwater tank and out the deck fitting.....

You're not supposed to "pump out" through the deck fitting. The pumpout station sucks the sewage out.

 

[shrew]

Re: Macerator set up

Many tanks have only one discharge port. In this case, a "Y" is necessary. From the "Y", one hose can go to the pumpout deck fitting and the other to the macerator pump.

You are correct, some have one, some have two. The one I pulled out had two, the one I replaced it with had two. If I used 'MAY' instead of 'SHOULD', maybe that would have allowed for more semantic leeway. That is really the reason I took the time to describe two possible options. My apologies for the confustion.

 

[witenite0560]

Re: Macerator set up

You're not supposed to "pump out" through the deck fitting. The pumpout station sucks the sewage out.

True! But, there are no "suck out" stations in my area. There's only 2 or 3 in the whole state that I've found and all are up north around the big lakes. So, I've got mine set up to pump out and use a standard RV dump station.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Macerator set up

True! But, there are no "suck out" stations in my area. There's only 2 or 3 in the whole state that I've found and all are up north around the big lakes. So, I've got mine set up to pump out and use a standard RV dump station.

Something like this:

would work for folks in your situation without modifying the boat. It's what I made for my previous boat so I could pump it out at home.

 

[sasto]

Re: Macerator set up

Clever......rwidman

 

[rwidman]

Re: Macerator set up

Clever......rwidman

Thanks.

I have posted this several times over the years. I made it six or more years ago and used it until I sold the boat. It's nothing more than a standard macerator pump, some wire, a cigarette lighter plug, a couple plumbing adapters and 1" hose.

I think a few people built them after seeing mine.