The Cape Dory Board

I like the simplicity of the Y-fitting over the Y-Value. My concern with using the Y-fitting lies not so much in its legality as in the interpretation of its legality. It seems to me that one day the Coast Guard might say it's OK and the next they give you a ticket. Down here in the Keys there is a ...

I'm guessing here but... I think the reason that vertical orientation is bad and horizontal orientation is good has to do with the dynamics of gas (air) distribution. If the vent is vertical the air will raise, settle or be stagnant purely on its density. The air will rise up the vent only if it is ...

The information concerning the horizontal orientation of the vent line came from Peggy Hall at: http://www.boatbuilding.com/article.php/MarineSanitationFactvsFolklore I have seen her name around the web and she seems to have a lot of useful information on head installation. Here is the relevant text...

It may be helpful if you have a long run, but if it's less than 5' or so, methinks you worry too much!

The time to worry about these things is BEFORE you implement them :^)

I'm preparing the space for the holding tank now. As I get more up-close and personal to the designated tank location I have developed a concern. If the vent line "should" be horizontal and, if not possible, have no more than a 45 degree rise I am seeing a problem. My plan is to put the ve...

Stan, Thank you so much for your input. I was particularly happy to see your pickup tube. I was having some problems visualizing how a completed tube would look. The basic construction of your "draw tube" and my "pickup tube" are very similar. I hadn't thought about the need to m...

I've been drawing different configurations, playing what if, to see if I can install a simple system that can easily be expanded. After laying out several configurations all including pump-out, with and without an overboard option it occurred to me that I really didn't need separate input and output...

Just saw a Shields Sanitation Hose Video (linked from the Jamestown Distribution web site) showing the smooth fittings. The video said they are specifically for the stiff plastic hoses and that you "may" want to use PVC cement on them.

I can see how the smooth fittings would make it easier to get the hose on but wouldn't also make it easier to come off?

If both are for hose what are the pros/cons for each type?

I've been researching the forum for the last day or two in preparation for installing a holding tank in my CD28. The boat has never had a tank installed but the boat actually came with a nice, clean, never been used tank that "just" needs to be installed. How hard could that possibly be :^...

A reference was made to turning off the key or changing batteries while the engine was running. In the process of my rewire project I had occasion to do some testing of my master power switch. It turns out that when you switch between BAT1, BAT2 and BOTH there is a momentary cutout of power delivere...

>> I would drill a hole in the aft end of the base, and machine a groove athwart ships where the hole meets the bottom of the base This would be the best solution but will have to wait until the mast is unstepped, which is not going to be happening any time soon. >> Why is there a need to drill any ...

On inspection, there is no weep hole on my mast. I would like to drill a weep hole but have a couple of questions first. The mast extrusion appears to have a cast aluminum "plug" at the bottom of the mast which sits on the deck. Any hole that is drilled needs to be drilled above the plug w...

When I first started sailing I didn't know anyone with a boat and found it difficult to find sailing opportunities. For daily sailing, racing provided the solution. Offshore opportunities never seemed to materialize. I searched the local yacht clubs and the internet without much success until I foun...

I had an interesting experience this morning. While cleaning up all the 5200 that had been applied to the base of the mast to get access to the electrical wiring, water started coming out the hole where the wires entered the mast. This didn't really get my attention until several MINUTES later when ...