Head Y-valve Question

[grluecke]

So, we have only used the head sparingly--have not had nearly enough opportunities for cruising and overnights--but in one small Maine cove, my kids yelled: "Stop! Stop! That is going overboard!"

Argh, look at this JABSCO Y-valve that we have:

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/jabsco--d ... Aue68P8HAQ

And look at how it works (I have not found the definitive documentation "This position goes that way...")

In the photos, THIS IS THE WAY IT WORKS EXPERIMENTALLY. I think it is backwards, but someone let me know.

What do you think? Does anyone have one of these valves? I'm wondering how I will convince the Coast Guard that the position I have locked my valve into is correct...

[Rollergirl]

The last illustration in the instructions (http://www.xylemflowcontrol.com/files/4 ... 761-GB.pdf) show arrows that appear to indicate the flow direction.
Is the tank full, and possibly overflowing when you pump the head?

[Steve Laume]

It seems like you are valve short of a working system. If you position the valve for direct discharge, what keeps it from feeding back into the holding tank? Like wise, if the tank is full, it will just overflow out of the through hull. The check valve in the overboard discharge pump might keep the effluent from going into the holding tank but it will definitely not keep the tank from overflowing into the harbor. Unless there is another valve that is not in view this system is kind of a mess, in every sense of the word, Steve.

[Neil Gordon]

A closed sea cock is all that's needed to prevent overboard discharge. Lock the handle in the closed position and the Coast Guard should be happy with it.