Head Pump Out Fitting

Our 8.3 has the holding tank, pump out fitting located in the lower panel of the bow anchor well. This location may or may not be typical of all the 8.3's that have been built. This location, most likely, was chosen for its proximity to the original holding tank that was mounted below the forward V-berth. When we relocated the holding tank to a space below the port cabin settee, we chose to maintain the old location for the pump out fitting.

Holding Tank Pump-out Connection

This location results in a rather annoying process for completing a pump out.

First; The attendant has to remove the cap from the fitting, find the correct adapter and screw it into the fitting.
Second: He has to make the connection to the adapter. This is difficult, due to bulk of the pump out hardware and the depth and limited size of the anchor well.

We experienced the difficulty with this process when we berthed at Harbor Club North when we could use the pump out system that was provided at no extra cost. Sometimes the adapter would be mislaid. When is was available, we still had to contend with bulkiness of the pump fitting and finding the correct position for it deep in the anchor well.

After considerable thought, we decided to create an extended fitting to fit into the pump out fitting that was tall enough to keep the pump fitting and hoses above the level of the deck.

This is a photo of the assembled adapter, along with a plastic cap that we keep on when we store the unit in the anchor well.

Pump-out Adapter and Storage Cap

 The adapter assembly consists of a short length of threaded plastic pipe, sized to fit the boat pump-out fitting. The top part is a standard adapter to mate with pump-out hardware. A PVC coupling makes the connection between the pipe and the fitting.

This photo shows the adapter installed in the anchor well, ready to make the connection with the pump-out hardware.

Pump-out Adapter Installed

Finally, the photo with the adapter connected to the pump-out hardware, ready for action.

This project took a little thought and, a few pieces of plastic and a few dollars. It saves frustration of not having the proper equipment and the struggle to get the hardware connected in a confined space. It makes the set up easy and quick.

Lessons Learned:

1. It pays to have proper equipment for the job. especially when it is a distasteful  one.

2. Solutions to problems don't have to be complex or costly.

3. Often, standard parts are readily available.

Toilet Replacement

This spring, during fitting out, after the boat was launched, we discovered a new and large toilet leak. The blue, treated water was appearing on the mounting surface for the toilet. We checked all of the hose fittings, the pump and valve body and found no leaks. Yet, treated water kept appearing. Further investigation, with a mirror and flashlight. revealed that rear surface of the toilet bowl was wet with treated water and seepage from what appeared to cracks in the bowl itself.

This toilet is the original Wilcox-Crittendon "Headmate" toilet that is now about 36 years old. We obtained a Jabsco compact toilet as a replacement. This Jabsco toilet has comparable dimensions to the W-C and should fit in the same space. It also has all of the same-sized hose fittings that are in same locations as the old toilet.

We then proceeded to remove the old toilet. After removal, we could the get a good view of failed surface of the toilet bowl. This picture shows the evidence of multiple cracks in the rear part of the bowl.

The root cause of these cracks has not been determined. A Google search did not yield any clues as to the cause of these cracks. They appear be related to some form of water-related freezing. It seems to as if the water penetrated the glazed surface of the bowl and then froze, causing the cracking. We are continuing to investigate the probable cause of these cracks.

The new Jabsco toilet fit easily in about the same position as the old one. Installation did involve plugging of the old mounting holes and the drilling of new ones to fit the new base. All of the old hose connections were re-used for the new toilet.

This picture shows the new toilet in position, with a picture of the old toilet on the seat cover.

Mirror in Head (April 1993)

Originally, the boat had an  framed, plexiglass mirror on the aft bulkhead in the head compartment. We made a new teak frame that included a hand carved dragon on the upper part of the frame. Carving a dragon-topped teak frame is a good winter time project. The pictures, below, show the complete mirror and a detail of the dragon.

Head Compartment Redesign (June 1988)

The original head compartment, shown to the left below, consisted of the head and small, fold-down sink (picture is from a sister ship). This picture shows the toilet located more forward than the one in our boat (see the “after” picture). We had an idea that the compartment was large enough to fit the sink in the space between the toilet and the forward bulkhead and to provide a storage compartment outboard and above the sink. On the right, below, is the concept sketch.

We removed the old cabinet and sink. (left-hand picture, below, looking directly outboard) The project involved many measurements, mockups, detail design and hours of fabrication before it was complete. The right-hand picture, below, shows the installation of the sink counter. The center lower picture,  below, shows the installation of the storage compartment.

This is the picture the completed installation.

The tan vinyl wall covering was replaced with thinner, vertical grade, white Formica in 1994.

The sink plumbing includes a ball valve in the inlet to the hand pump. This valve is normally closed to prevent fresh water from the tank from pouring out the hand pump when the boat is heavily heeled to port. There is also a ball valve in the sink drain line to maintain suction for the inlet side of the toilet flush pump. This is because the sink drain and the the toilet pump inlet share the same thru hull connection.

{Lessons learned:

1. You should take the effort to use all available space in a small boat
2. It helps to have a good knowledge of plumbing for boats.}