MacGregorSailors.com

Hi ,
Finally installing a pump out fitting to my new porta pottie and wondering where the best place is to install the deck fitting. I will be doing this on Saturday and want to get it right I was wondering if there was a place which facilitates the pump out process or what. I plan on using my dremmel to make the holes in the deck ...unless someone knows better.

I got the new 550 Thetford model and took the shelf out of the head to make it easier to sit on, as the new 550 has the larger tank and is consequently higher. I will mod the head door to make the head larger a little latter. I have a great ideal to share with you guys with the head door mod...if it works.

Here is my setup, works fine. Used a standard hole saw drill bit, can't remember the size.
Mark

I ran my "Hose" to the right of where you have your toilet and up through the deck to a flat area.. worked for me..

I fitted 2 deck fittings one on each side at the stern up thru the cockpit combing ...for our grey water...figured that was easiest...but probably unnecessary

Thanks guys, will proceed as recommended.


Q1

I used much the same set-up as Mark, but went out forward of the head divider to get a larger flat surface - used a hole saw on a drill to cut through. Works great except for the looks I get when it pumps empty so fast - dock hands expect a lot more than 5 gallons, apparently.

Jim ,
Did you drill from inside to outside or outside to inside. I think I will just drill up on the right hand side of the head where the pump out outlet is on the toilet. I think this will bring me out on the black stripe. Do I really need to put an extra curve (like Mark did) in the air outlet hose to reduce the possibility of flow-in or not ?

I bought a 2 3\8 hole saw blade (10 bucks for the blade and 20 bucks for the drill bit it attaches to. Dewalt) I will drill in tomorrow and hope to complete the job in a few hours.

How do you like my mirror on my hatch door. My wife laughed at me when she saw it. I think its cool.
Q1

Q1,

If I remember correctly (it's been several years), I started drilling on the outside to ensure placement - covered the glass with masking tape first to minimize chipping - Then when I had cut through the gelcoat and glass, I went inside and used the drill pilot hole to center and drill back up (again - tape). I was mostly concerned with a) getting it where I wanted it and b) not chipping when the cut came through. As I remember, it was a thick area, I doubt a Dremel would work.

I chose the place I did in order to have a flat, horizontal surface.
Don't know if that was really necessary. Can a pump-out work with a vertical connection?

I didn't put a loop in the vent.
It exits right beneath the rub rail and I don't sail aggressively enough to bury the rail all that often - plus I would imagine if I were going fast enough to put the fitting underwater, the venturi effect would create a suction, not force water into the hose.

The mirror is interesting, but I usually don't want to know what I look like after spending time on the water

Good luck; let us know how it goes.

Jim

Jim Bunnell wrote:Can a pump-out work with a vertical connection?

I don't see why not, but then you have to hold (push) the suction pipe against the deck fitting if it has the 'universal' rubber end, and that can get a bit heavy, at least when you're not so young. And your shoulders hurt. And a lot of other parts hurt, too.

It would be a lot harder to hold it onto the side of the boat instead of the top.