Holding Tank Plumbing

[Vic Suben]

 :cry4`I was about to start replalcing the hose leading from the holding tank to the "Y" valve, the hose  from the "Y" valve to the through-hull fitting and also to the deck fitting.  Although I had seen the plumbing many times during the years I have owned Surprise, I never really LOOKED at it until I was ready to start this project.  I found the plumbing arrangement in Surprise is counter-intuitive.  The head discharge goes into the bottom of the tank.  A hose from a point near the top of the tank goes to the "Y" valve, and from the valve other hoses connect to the macerator, the through hull and the deck pump out fitting.

I am curious to know if anyone else has seen this sort of arrangement in their boat.  Please let me know.

Vic

[Craig Illman]

It sounds upside down to me too. I would expect the head discharge would come in the top, the bottom port to a Y valve leading to either the macerator or pump out or individual bottom ports going to the macerator and pump out. Otherwise, how would you ever get the holding tank close to empty? Pictures are always helpful.

Craig

[Vic Suben]

Thanks,

Here's a picture.

[Stu Jackson]

Vic, when in doubt, start with the manual.  The Mark I manual, in the C34 Tech wiki, does not show the overboard discharge thru hull in the piping diagram on page 37, does not show the BIG thru hull on page 34 (only the smaller macerator), but does show the tank inlet to be in the upper left of your picture, with the macerator coming from the right (lower) side and a separate deck pump out hose connected to the bottom of the tank.  The picture you posted has the big white hose in the way, so I can't see beyond it.

On our boat, the head outlet goes to the upper left in your picture.  The macerator picks up from the bottom of the tank and goes to the smaller of the two thru hulls under there.