Figuring Out and Installing Head Plumbing on a Small Sailboat

Episode #180 - New Head Plumbing and Manual Black Water Pump
Hello Friends, This is a throwback project video from the summer of 2020 when we started the massive project of redesigning and rebuilding our head.
On this episode I get into figuring out how to fit all of the plumbing into the small space in our tiny head. On AMAZING upgrade (a downgrade to most people) is I removed our working electronic macerator pump and replaced it with a Whale Pumps manual black water diaphragm pump. This allows us to pump out our holding tank at sea without using any electricity and removes the fear of the macerator pump failing when the tank is full (they tend to only last a few years with regular use)
This video is for anyone trying to figure out how its possible to fit all the fittings into a small spot. It takes some creative thinking and staring at the space for hours on end.
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James & Camille
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[@dentaltok]

Admire your attention to detail and problem solving....being proactive can save lives and money ... 😊

[@nikolaucznaum4312]

Great job, please can we see the finished job when completed 👍

[@PrivateUsername]

Love the music. Much better than what Those Other Sailing Channels does. Keep it up, dude!

[@johnenry]

Great info, one of the things I have to figure out on my boat, not a vented loop in sight.... Thanks!!!

[@SailorJames]

They are a pain in the ass but will keep your boat from sinking, we are plumbing ours to a vent with hoses on top of the vented loops

[@donnakawana]

Who knew shit was so damn complex!! ✌🏻💗😊❣️

[@SailorJames]

Hahaha

[@Neilhuny]

I was going to write "Maaaaan, toilets are SO complicated!" but you beat me by a day, at least

[@keeldragger]

On my last boat I also had a manual gusher pump to empty the holding tank. Back to a macerator on the V40. Guess what happened first trim I tried to pump overboard: pump seized and kept throwing the breaker. There is a lot to be said about the reliability of simple, manual gear.

[@clayfarnet970]

Ready, set...👍👍👍

[@SailingTaranto]

Hi James, nice work. I've had my own 30ft yacht since 2007 and it came with that style pump in the heads, an original Lavac brand and you may not believe this, but for me it has never given me issues. Its a fabulous system. In 2017 I connected a holding tank to it, and as it was only a 20ltr one I managed to place it above the waterline hidden in a locker so as to be gravity fed to sea. I bought a service kit at the same time thinking its bound to give me grief soon, it had diaphragm, valves and seals etc, and still not needed it, mind you I'm not currently a liveaboard and it only gets intense use for a few months of a year normally, and sadly not since covid. Before its left sitting I always flush with fresh water thoroughly with bucketfuls, sometimes adding a slurp of olive oil through it to lube up the rubber bits. So anyway, I consider it a great choice. Cheers James (there's some photos of the day I bought it here if you had internet: www.taranto.nz/details.html )

[@AXISMEDIATV]

Most amazing !

[@KevinWolff-r3e]

How does this mechanical waste device grind up the solids?

[@schoentje62]

Man, i like you!! Much appreciated!! Nice work by the way :-)

[@Carhawlin]

Do you think its wise to use the inside of the hull as the wall of the holding tank? Would it be better to install a complete tank separately?

[@SailorJames]

No, it’s common practice when done correctly, boats have been utilizing integral tanks for decades

[@Carhawlin]

@@SailorJames do you have an episode detailing the construction of your built in holding tank?

[@richhamel6810]

James nice job configuring and installing all of the plumbing, but I'm curious to know if you looked into a composting toilet? From looking at everything you used, multiple Y valves, manual pump, hoses clamps ect.. . . the cost of a composting toilet would be close to a wash and you could reclaim that internal BW tank area for other storage . Fair winds. .

[@SailorJames]

People ask me this question anytime I post about my head, I personally would NEVER own a composting head, just my preference, I helped install one on a boat years ago and my first issue is that I don’t want to have to carry a full container of urine through the boat to empty it overboard or ashore every time it gets full, also finding peat moss is harder than one would think in far flung places. And there is a small fan that runs 24/7 to keep bugs from getting down into the compost from the vent, one of the things I love about sailboats is the possibility of quiet and hearing a small fan always running would make me insane. I will stick with the tried and true head.

[@addiemae285]

Help I’m clueless on black water tank connectors/fittings where do you get yours? what’s proper

[@SailorJames]

You can get these - www.toddusa.com/products.aspx?id=33 - or basically any marine grade fitting just make sure it’s seal correctly with sikaflex or something similar.

[@Hindukushsailing]

👍

[@crazyirish__2171]

James there is a1973 Alberg 37 for sale in Canada for 28k. Beautiful sailboat.

[@SailorJames]

That’s awesome ! It’s gonna make a great boat for somebody !

[@sfitzers3706]

Been there done that watched Jean du sud in his alberg30 great vid have a look

[@sfitzers3706]

Haven't done all that but something similar

[@SailorJames]

Yes I have seen his film many years ago, he sent me his dimensions from his double spreader rig for our new mast

[@jakeoddmonic2956]

⛵️🤘🤘🤘

[@georgemacon8549]

how large of a holding tank did you install?

[@SailorJames]

28 gallons

[@greggwhiteforest779]

Thanks for all that you do in bringing your refreshing experiences to the world. I have a question about something less than refreshing. I am installing a holding tank and I am trying to decide to go manual or macerator pump. Have you had many issues with clogs while pumping the foul stuff overboard? Would like to go w a manual whale pump as I would only be doing that while far off shore and feel like it is a simpler solution given how often I would use it. I guess I am having a hard time with the fact that the manual pump does not "shred" the poop. Sorry for the gross question. Fair winds to you sir...

[@SailorJames]

Manual pumps almost never clog or fail, macerator pumps last about 2 years before they fail

[@mattdouglas5570]

Just one thing having the vented loop for salt water intake so high on ky manual jabsco I'm having trouble getting saltwater into the toilet any suggestions?

[@SailorJames]

I think I ended up capping off my loop for similar reasons, the height of it alone has prevented any siphoning, I have never had issues with it even when I attempted to make it siphon

[@mattdouglas5570]

@@SailorJames yes I have connected it straight to ball valve sea cock now works well no issues just have to remember to turn it off after use every time

[@WavedancerWesterlyfulmar]

Is your black water tank below the water line? We were told we could not get one fitted because the space we were planning on using was below the water lines. Honestly think guys just don’t want to do that job. We have a 32 foot boat so space is premium

[@SailorJames]

Most boats holding tanks are below the water line

[@thejourneyofmalu3495]

Two words for you...composting toilet 😉

[@SailorJames]

Never in a million years

[@thejourneyofmalu3495]

😂 I once said the same thing. But It is one of the best moves I’ve ever made on my boat. No holes in the boat, no black water tank, no clogs, no plumbing, no stink.

[@kristhompson8112]

Nothing worse than firing up a hell noisy macerator, on anchor ,in a crowded beautify still bay in the middle of the night cus you just got to go , The boats hull acts as a massive amplifying diaphragm, and everyone has to know cus sound travels across the water. Wither you have a holding tank or not you still guilty somehow LoL

[@rickycraig6387]

I know I'm late leaving this comment. But do you need any certificates or licenses to do what you do?

[@SailorJames]

Nope

[@ItamarDegani]

@sailingtriteia hope you're making time for NFT - learning how to mint your art so you can sail with gold in your keels.