89 25.5 Sailfish need understanding how to operate the old school head n holding tank

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Searay54

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Hi,
Just bought this old girl. She has a MSD portta potty connected to a y valve to a manual hand pump which I believe is connected to the holding tank? How does the potty get emptied into the holding tank? The manual hand pump? Is there an overboard ?
Every boat I've owned has had a masarator thanks for your help and input.
 
I think the holding tank may be part of the main toilet itself.
Does it look something like this:

SaniPottie Portable Toilets - Dometic | Fisheries Supply

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Yes, it came with a MDS Porta potty, which is piped to y valve and to a hand pump.
So..I'm thinking the way it works or goes, pee in the potty, then hand pump it up into the holding tank?
The only question is, can the hand pump also pump it overboard too?
Here are some pictures of the head plumbing
 

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I haven't seen that arrangement before so all I can do is guess. Where in the plumbing is the Y valve located? f it is between the dual output sides of the Y valve, I suspect it is there tu pump overboard when one side of the valve is selected and when the other side is selected, the holding tank is piped to the deck pump out. If so, there will be a pumpout fitting probably on a gunnel.

The 'fresh' water is held also in the MSD and is manually added as needed I think

If I am right about the Y valve selecting the deck fitting or the overboard feature, the hose on the pump that goes into the deck through a hole most likely connects to a seacock and underwater thru hull'
Then again, I have been wrong in the past:)
 
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You can see the Y valve, and its orientation, to the right of the MSD in the first picture. In the second picture, the top of the Y valve connects to an elbow going straight up, so that is probably a deck pump out. The bottom of the Y valve goes through the Whale pump, and down through the deck, so my guess is to a through hull discharge, not to a holding tank. The holding tank is the bottom of the MSD itself. The Whale pump only works the overboard discharge, and the deck pump out works on suction from the pump out station.
That’s just my guess from the pictures. I would replace the hand pump with a macerator pump.
 
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Anyone have a 1989ish Sailfish with a manual head set up like this?
Trying to understand how to empty the MSD potty either dock side or overboard. Thanks
 
Searay54 said:
Anyone have a 1989ish Sailfish with a manual head set up like this?
Trying to understand how to empty the MSD potty either dock side or overboard. Thanks
Click to expand...
Hi,
I can’t really help with your plumbing issues, but I do have a question about your head enclosure.
It’s hard to find people with an 80s 255 sailfish. I have a 1984 Sailfish 255. ( my head is a room with a door, but it’s got a removable, self-contained toilet system. It’s just a plastic cube that straps onto the little pedestal in the room. See photo.

does your head have a shower and does it all drain into the floor?

does the and faucet/taps work in your galley sink and is it gravity feed from your freshwater tank?

what horse powers are you running?

Im curious how different the entire boat is, 1989 vs. 84. Hopefully you can entertain a couple questions.

Thanks,
Marcus
 

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My 89 head is enclosed just like your also has ports potty but with a msd pump out attachment. It has a y value which can be switched to hand pump to pump it out overboard or sucked out via plate on the walk around. I don't have a shower or sink in the head. I have seen sailfish with a sink and removable shower handle in the head on the little shelve. There is a drain hole in the head floor that empties into the bilge under the stairs. Also I have a fresh water tank with pump that supplies a galley sink.
 

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Searay54 said:
My 89 head is enclosed just like your also has ports potty but with a msd pump out attachment. It has a y value which can be switched to hand pump to pump it out overboard or sucked out via plate on the walk around. I don't have a shower or sink in the head. I have seen sailfish with a sink and removable shower handle in the head on the little shelve. There is a drain hole in the head floor that empties into the bilge under the stairs. Also I have a fresh water tank with pump that supplies a galley sink.
Click to expand...
Hi,
I have a fresh water tank for the galley sink as well but it doesn’t work. I can’t get water to flow from tank to sink.
I had an old, dead pump in the bilge Stb of the water tank. I assumed that it was for the shower so I removed it. (The shower head had been torn out by the previous owner)
Do you know if Grady ever had a gravity fed fresh water system, from tank to sink?

Thanks
 
My '89 25.5 sailfish has a electric flow water pump for the galley sink.
Also, it doesn't have a sink or shower in the head.
I'm having a problem with pumping out the MDS potty from the deck hole. I tried 2 times at 2 different pumps to up and out the waist but no go. Something must be blocked. The Y valve was in the correct position as well. I beleive the Y valve is functional as I can use the newly replaced manual hand pump to empty overboard.
Anyone have any ideas what might be broken or clogged?
Harbor master said the heads breather hose??
Thanks SeaRay54
 
Does anyone know why my harbor master can't suck the waist out of the waist fitting on the? The y value is switched to correct position for the deck plate but all summer long I couldn't get it to pump up and out with the pump out boat.
Any input will greatly appreciated. By the way the manual hand pump works well but really rather get her pumped out at a marina...thanks Ed
 
Searay54 said:
Does anyone know why my harbor master can't suck the waist out of the waist fitting on the? The y value is switched to correct position for the deck plate but all summer long I couldn't get it to pump up and out with the pump out boat.
Any input will greatly appreciated. By the way the manual hand pump works well but really rather get her pumped out at a marina...thanks Ed
Click to expand...
What type of system/holding tank do you have? Just a porta-potti? An actual holding tank?

Regardless, first thing to check is the vent. If air can't go in, effluent can't go out.
 
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DennisG01 said:
What type of system/holding tank do you have? Just a porta-potti? An actual holding tank?

Regardless, first thing to check is the vent. If air can't go in, effluent can't go out.
Click to expand...
I have a MSD portta potty type head with a y valve. Y valve directs flow to either pump out or hand pump overboard. Overboard works but cant seem to get the marina pump out to work. I'll check the vent for air flow.
 
Searay54 said:
I have a MSD portta potty type head with a y valve. Y valve directs flow to either pump out or hand pump overboard. Overboard works but cant seem to get the marina pump out to work. I'll check the vent for air flow.
Click to expand...
Bear with me on this... have to ask... did you switch the Y-valve? :)

Assuming "yes", does the Y-valve handle actually "feel" like it's turning the valve inside? Maybe verify that.

Pump-out is making a good seal? Deck plate mating surface for the nozzle is good?
 
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