Heads

[Hermit]

Has anyone got a clever idea about using an existing Heads inlet and outlet to drain the sink? I am trying to aviod another hole in the hull or using the toilet bowl as a drain with a loose pipe.
Cheers.

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[steve28]

im sure your going to get the same answer from everyone.

DO NOT DO IT !



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[Its_Only_Money]

Try asking your swmbo if she would EVER mind s**t being in the sink and be guided by her answer...../forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Rgds

Simon
Its Only Money
Fairline Sprint
Solent-based

 

[Rich_F]

I can't see a problem with draining the sink into the heads inlet (as long as it is plumbed in near the seacock, and definitely not between the pump and the heads).

Rich

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[HeadMistress]

Ok to combine head intake and sink drain

Using the same thru-hull for the head INTAKE and sink drain is fine...in fact, several quality sailboat builders do it that way to eliminate a thru-hull. Both drains are same size and it causes no problems. In fact, has the advantage of providing a means of flushing all the sea water out of the head intake, pump and channel in the rim of the bowl--just close the seacock, fill the sink with clean fresh water, flush the toilet. Because the seacock is closed the toilet will pull the water out of the sink. However, it is necessary to keep the sink drain plugged while flushing the toilet...if it's not, the toilet will pull air through the sink that will prevent the pump from priming.

Do NOT, however, even consider combining the toilet discharge with anything else. Not only can E-coli migrate into the other drain and into the sink, but also any odors from the head discharge line will escape through the sink. Depending on how the lines are routed, the flush could even "erupt" in the sink.

<hr width=100% size=1>Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987

 

[Capt_Scarlet]

Re: Ok to combine head intake and sink drain

I have done this on my boat (shared inlet, not outlet) and it works fine - as described you can flush the toilet with fresh water before leaving the boat, with no pong when you return.

I fitted a ball valve directly under the sink, in place of a plug, so shutting the valve ensures that the sink does not drain unexpectedly when washing (plug cord around your toothbrush) and allows full vacuum for bog when flushing (Lavac).

The only disadvantage I can see is that there are two valves (plus Blakes outlet) to play with, so crew need to be briefed in right operating sequence - sink valve must be closed to flush bog.

I used a ball valve on the inlet, to a tee-piece with one branch to bog, one to sink - all quite neat and unobtrusive.




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[Rich_F]

Re: Ok to combine head intake and sink drain

Does your sink plumb into the heads inlet below the water line? I'm curious as to whether you would need to block the sink if there is a head of water above the point where they are plumbed together.

Rich

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[HeadMistress]

Re: Ok to combine head intake and sink drain

You'd need to block the sink regardless, Rich...'cuz once the toilet pulls any head of water already in the line out, it would start to pull in air through the sink...the sink would become an anti-siphon device.

<hr width=100% size=1>Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987

 

[Capt_Scarlet]

Re: Ok to combine head intake and sink drain

The top of the sink is just below deck level, and the shared skin fitting is perhaps a foot below the water line. Attached to the skin fitting is a ball valve, then tee-piece, then one branch loops up to deck level, then back down to the toilet inlet, at the base of the bowl. The sink branch then travels backwards behind the toilet and upwards to the base of the sink, where the second ball valve is situated. The sink slides out on runners above the toilet, and the drain pipe flexes as the sink moves in and out, but remarkably, does not seem to get tangled or be in the way when adopting a sitting position.

The point of the branch is probably just below the height of the base of the bowl, and about 6-9" below the water line.

If the skin fitting is left open, then the base of the branch pipes would be full of odourous sea water, whereas if the fresh water flush is used after closing the inlet then any water left in the system is not salty.



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[Rich_F]

Re: Ok to combine head intake and sink drain

That's interesting - I would have expected that as the pump sucked it would pull water in from both the skin fitting and the sink drain. Then on the exhaust stroke, the water level in the sink pipe might recover, ready for the next stroke.

The idea of a valve under the sink sounds like the ideal solution, also solving the problem of the leaky or missing plug.

Rich

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[asj1]

Re: Ok to combine head intake and sink drain

I was thinking of arranging something similiar simply in order to be able to pump clean water through the heads when sailing has finished.

I am not sure why you need 2 ball valves plus the Blakes Seacock, wouldn't the system work with just the blakes seacock and one ball valve under the sink drain in lieu of a plug in the sink. Then the procedure would be to always leave the ball valve closed unless you want to drain the contents of the sink, in that way surely the heads will always work.
When sailing has finished close the blakes seacock , open the ball valve, fill sink flush loo and leave.

Andrew

<hr width=100% size=1>Andrew

 

[Guest]

Valve under sink ...

I don't have combined bog and sink - but the valve under sink is fitted because when boat rolls / heels - the plug pops out due to the change of pressure in the overboard pipe ..... so a vlave gives us a good close of the plug-hole to wash ones face and bits !


<hr width=100% size=1>Cheers Nigel http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/searider/

 

[Stemar]

Re: Ok to combine head intake and sink drain

My Snapdragon has a simple arrangement with a slide-out washbasin that drains into the inlet pipe between the bowl and the pump. There's a good height between toilet and basin, so we very rarely get anything blowing up - it's only sea water if we do, but leaving the plug in removes any risk.

I dunno - it works for us...

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[Capt_Scarlet]

Re: Ok to combine head intake and sink drain

I have one ball valve on the inlet skin fitting, one ball valve under the sink, and the Blakes is on the outlet.

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[Hermit]

Re: Ok to combine head intake and sink drain

Thank you all - it would seem that a ball valve under the sink is the best option.
Thanks again,
Rob

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