PLUMBING AND VENTILATION
PLUMBING
Basics
Plumbing systems cater for freshwater storage and distribution, river water for washdown, bilge pumping, fire fighting and tank rinsing, foul water collection, storage and discharge. In the engine room there are two manifolds to povide suction from and discharge to several locations. On the suction side, river water can be drawn in, as can fresh water from the tanks, and bilge suctions from aft cabin, engine room and saloon. On the discharge side, the black and grey tanks can be rinsed or filled, the upper deck washdown can be supplied or a discharge overboard. These manifolds are serviced by a 240v ITT Marlow general service pump, which is controlled by a pressure switch and accumulator tank.
Freshwater
Fresh water storage consists of 4 rubber bag tanks under the saloon floor. They are interconnected fore and aft to provide independent port and starboard tanks. Total capacity is just under 6000 litres. Water is supplied through 38mm pipes to the freshwater pump which can be either 24v or 240v via a water meter to monitor consumption. Cold water then supplies the calorifiers in the engine room and forward bathroom. The engine room calorifer supplies the aft cabin shower, washing machine and galley.
Black Water
The heads can either discharge directly overboard or into the black water tank, capacity approx 2800 litres. The aft head was selected on both the KISS and bargain principles. It is a Blakes Lavac Zenith manual pumped head purchased for the grand sum of €10 at a Dutch boat jumble. As a refinement to its normal mode of operation, it draws its water from a standard 6 litre domestic water closet rather than using river/canal water. This provides freshwater for flushing automatically without having to manually open valves or worry about anti syphon loops. The forward head is an Exalto 24v Mariner 45 electric turbine/macerator unit. The black water tank is emptied by a 240v industrial trash pump. Due to the size of the tank, I did not both to attempt a suction pump out facilty. The tank can also be used as a ballast tank. Black water tanks will be treated with Toi-blet - a Dutch product designed to break down waste. I understand that the EA in UK will shortly allow the residue from tanks treated with Toi-Blet to be discharged into the rivers and canals.
Grey Water
Again, showers, bath, basins and sink etc can either be discharged directly overboard or into the grey water tank, capacity also approx 2800 litres. The grey water tank is also emptied by the 240v trash pump. The tank can also be used as a ballast tank. Sump tanks are used in the aft shower and bathroom. These tanks were made using good sized storage containers and the inlest are compatible with domestic 32 and 40mm plumbing. Tanks are emptied by Whale Gulper pumps, operated by Jabsco air pressure switches - which I anticipate will be more reliable than the conventional semi submerged bilge pump switches found in most sump tanks. The kitchen sink will be a gravity discharge.
Hull Openings
Hull discharges below the waterline are protected by stainless steel ball valves, those above the waterline either by PVC or chrome plated brass ball valves.
Lockers
Cable lockers and hatches are fitted with their own drains overboard
VENTILATION
The forepeak and steering gear compartment have fixed vents through the deck. The bilges under the main saloon and cabins are ventilated with trunking from the roof. Two solar fans continually exhaust air from the spaces and 3 vents allow air to be drawn in. In addition there are 3 solar fans fixed in the Gebo hatches which are also set to exhaust from the living accomodation. The house battery box has an exhaust fan to remove gasses during charging. An engine room intake duct supplies air through a Vetus grille.
