Plumbing question for off shore trip

[krafty81]

Heading to Catalina Island from SD. I have not been offshore with this boat before. Once outside 3NM, I know I can drain the waste tank. Right now, I put the valve under the bathroom sink to vertical when I am using the toilet, then close it. How to I line up the valves to discharge overboard when underway? Do I need to run the macerator to drain the tank? I have a MKII. Thanks.

[waughoo]

Unless your boat was set up for direct overboard from the head (not done from the factory on our boats, but a few have ben set up by previous owners with a wye valve for direct overboard), you use your head the same as you would any other time.  To discharge overboard, you would go to the holding tank and look for the mascerator pump.  Open the thru-hull from the discharge side of the pump and turn on the mascerator breaker on your panel.  The pump will turn on and begin evacuating the holding tank.  The pump will change pitch when the tank is empty at which time, you close the valve and then turn off the breaker.

That should be all there is to it.

[Noah]

Be careful you understand how your toilet discharge works, especially if you are going to Catalina. As soon as you pickup a mooring the harbor police will come aboard and put a dye packet into your toilet and flush it to see if you are discharging overboard or into your holding tank. There is a BIG $ fine for overboard discharge!

[krafty81]

Thanks I did read about that dye packet. Want to be sure I do it right!

[scgunner]

Avalon Harbor Dept actually uses dye tablets, they're pink and when the hit water they turn neon green. Then they'll ask you to pump the head and they'll look for leaks in the water, if you've never seen it it's impressive when someone pumps their holding tank overboard into the harbor. I'm not sure what the fine is now but when they started tabbing holding tanks about 30+ years ago it was $500, in addition to the fine you'll be banished from the harbor for a year (they don't fool around) but should that happen you can still get a mooring in Desconso or Hamilton Cove. The moral of the story is make sure your holding system is up to snuff.

I'm a bit fuzzy on the subject so I could be wrong but as I recall my '86 C34 came with a Wye Valve allowing you to pump to the holding tank or over the side but I've never used it (which is why I may be a bit foggy) since I don't why you wouldn't just pump to the tank and dump when convenient.

Krafty,

I just got back this afternoon after spending a week in Avalon, this week is supposed to be awesome high 80s and water temp is 75, have fun make sure your holding tank valve is closed!

[Noah]

My boat is a 1990 MK 1.5, so it may be different but I don't have a Y-valve. The toilet only pumps into the holding tank. To empty my holding tank, I either suck it out through the on deck fitting, or open the through-hull and turn on macerator and pump to discharge overboard. Very simple.
BTW- I am heading North to Catalina, single-handing, on Sept. 4th. for my annual 2-week cruise. Being an old guy (with nothing but time) I am harbor hopping, with stops in Oceanside, Dana Point and Newport, then over to Catalina (Cherry Cove and then Avalon). Maybe see you there?

[scgunner]

Noah,

OK, now you've peaked my interest I'll be down at the boat today for the usually post trip cleanup, replenish, and fixes so I'll take a look at my arrangement. My boat is older so if it's setup that way it may be a hold over from when you just pumped over the side wherever you were at. My previous boat a Catalina 27 had no holding tank it all went over the side.

Just a note, keep an eye open there's a lot of kelp out there this year. On the way home yesterday I was making good time motoring along at around 6.8 knots when mid channel I hit or ran over something. The boat shuddered impressively and developed a vibration then the temp gauge started to rise. When I started working the problem I found the seawater intake filter was loaded with crap and not moving water. After cleaning it out and gunning the motor a couple of times the temp returned to normal also I cycled the prop reverse and forward to try to shake loose anything that may have been wrapped. The vibration lessened so I decided to proceed but at the same RPM I could only make 6 knots so something is definitely going on underneath. I'm going to get my mask and take a look today.

[waughoo]

Kevin,

Quick side question... what rpm, speed, and indicated engine temp do you usually cruise at?  6.5kts is about flat out with my current prop and at that speed, the engine temp does not stay stable.

[scgunner]

Alex,

I use 2400 RPM for cruise I've found that to be about optimal, I can run it at higher RPM but there's little to be gained in hull speed. The temp gauge reads about 140. The 6.8 knots was unusual due I'd say to favorable conditions, flat seas, no wind, and I was probably getting help from a friendly current normally I see around 6.1 to 6.3.

[krafty81]

Thanks for all the info! Heading up there 15-20 Sep. You have scared me so I think I will not try overboard discharge until the way back to SD from Catalina!

One more question - how often and for how long do you run the engine to charge the battery while sitting at anchor? Is there a minimum charge level you see on the meter that gets concerning on the batteries?

[waughoo]

Kevin,

Thanks for the data points.  That lines up with my set up.  I put a campbell sailor prop on and was ratjer obsessed with getting max rpms in gear when I spec'd out the prop pitch and diameter.  I believe I managed to undershoot it slightly so my current set up at 2400 is 6 to 6.2.  Higher rpm might get me to 6.5, but mostly I think the prop just cavitates.

Alex

[Noah]

Battery charging depends on your power usage, the kind/type/size and health of your battery bank, the size of your alternator and the accuracy of your metering method(s). So, this is an almost impossible question to answer for your boat. If lead acid batteries, never let them get below 50% SOC. Lithium can go "almost" flat. If I were you, I would test my system at the dock before going anywhere. Unplug shore power, turn on desired devices simulating at anchor power draw, and see how long you get until you get to 60% SOC. Then turn on engine and see how long it takes to recharge.  Also, do you have a separate engine star battery and/or solar or wind generator? If not, I caution against getting house bank too low so you are still able to start engine.

[Ron Hill]

Noah/Alex : You forgot to mention an important item in the charging circuit - THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR and it's settings!!

A thought

[Noah]

Ron— that is assuming he has external regulation. If he does, it should have been set to proper battery specs.

[scgunner]

Noah,

While I was down at the boat today I looked in the locker between the head and the nav station and I do have a factory installed Wye valve which gives you the option to pump either to the tank or over the side.

As to my problem encountered on the way home, vibration with loss of boat speed, I went under the boat and found one prop blade had snapped clean off! What's amazing is I was still able to motor home more than 10 miles at 6 knots with one blade! It also explains why the stuffing box was running warmer than normal.