head plumbing

[Robert]

I need some help deciding how to upgrade my head plumbing. As part of preparions for some Gulf of Mexico and Western Caribbean cruising, I'm installing a Lavac head on my '79 CD 28. The existing plumbing consists of a 1 1/2" outlet hose from the head going forward to a holding tank under the vee berth with a 1" outlet going from the holding tank through an electric macerator pump to a 1" through-hull. This 1" through-hull is forward of the 3/4" head inlet through-hull, but this is not a problem now because nothing is being pumped in when the macerator is pumping out.

I want to add the option of pumping directly overboard without depending soley on the electric macerator. I see two ways to do this but am having second, third, fourth, etc. thoughts about which way to go. The first option is to use diverter valves to add a direct route from the head outlet to the 1" through-hull. But this would involve going from a 1 1'2" hose (which is also the size on the Lavac outlet) to a 1" hose. I have the fitings for this and, visually, this is a substantial reduction in size/volume capacity. I'm worried that w/o the macerator, this could increase clogging problems. Plus the outlet is still forward of the inlet, which now is more of a problem because sea water is being pumped in by the Lavac pump at the same time the head discharge is being pumped out.

The other option is to add a 1 1/2" through-hull aft of the inlet. Then with one diverter valve I could pump directly overboard or go forward to the existing holding tank arrangement. This seems the best solution but the big question here is: Is it worth making another hole in the hull? Any thoughts or suggestion would be greatly appreciated to help me with this dilemma.

Thanks, Robert
s/v Zephyr, CD 28 #230



rbtfsh@utb1.utb.edu