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I will try and keep this a general topic in oder to help others too.

I bought a 24ft Sea Camper through Pirate 3 years Ago. (Ed was great) I gutted everything out and it sat for 3 years because being busy and because I was worried about putting a stinky waste system in the boat. The boat had only a porta potty then. The floor was rotton and flotation foam under that was soaked ...So...No floor and no foam = alot of space down there. My hope was to get some weight out of the back of the boat so it would run better in the water. Anyway I have an area big enough for my new 50gal belly fuel tank, my 30gal black water tank and a 20gal grey water tank. I have a way to run hoses and have learned about Aussie hose (thanks Peg).I have a "run dry" maserator and a new manual pump head. I am really worried about designing my system myself and am 3 years behind in enjoying my boat. I even bought Peggie's book but still have cold feet. If this boat stinks like poop all the time, it will ruin the whole project and a LOT of restoration time will be lost. I have read about air to the system to keep oder down. But how much air gets through a 1/2" vent hose anyway? Do I put a valve in the system so I can pump grey water or Black water out serarate? I plan to keep access to the area but hope I wont need it anytime soon. Is there another site I should visit that gives this kind of info? I couldn't find any site that could give me an idea of what tank size I needed so I went with the biggest I could fit. This is a weekend Cruiser not a live aboard. I am hoping for 3 to five days on the water before pump out.

Another question is...what hose do I use for grey water? What size? Can't grey water be pumped overboard underway in some areas? How do ya do this, with a macerator and ball valve or Y valve. In smaller tank systems on short trips, should I use tank deoderant?

OK enough question for now...I will finish rebuilding the transom and wait for you replys Thanks very much for the advice... Bud

Why do you want a gray water (galley, bath and shower water)
tank? Gray water can legally discharged directly overboard in all
waters except for a very few places...all of which are at least several
hundred miles from you if you're close enough to Ed to buy a boat from
him. Plumb your sinks to drain directly overboard...and your
shower too, unless it drains below the waterline. If it does, you'll
need a sump and sump pump for the shower only.



"I have read about air to the system to keep oder down. But how much air gets through a 1/2" vent hose anyway? "



You've bought my book, but apparently you haven't read it yet if you
plan to use only 1/2" vent. You need at least 1" vent...1.5"
would be even better...an aeration system in the tank better yet.
Hopefully you haven't already bought the tanks... but if you have, it's
no big deal to install new vents.



"Do I put a valve in the system so I can pump grey water or Black water out serarate?"



No. If you're determined to have a gray water tank (which btw requires
even MORE maintenance than waste holding tanks to prevent odor and
clogs), it should be plumbed completely separately from the
holding tank tank...no common plumbing at all, not even the vent...to
prevent e-coli contamination of sinks and surrounding areas in the
event of a backup. Use the same Aussie hose for it that you'll
use for your sanitation system.



However, for your use, I'd forget the gray water tank and go with a 30 gal waste tank.



You haven't even mentioned a fresh water tank...I'm assuming you DO plan to have one.



You can't use the macerator at all....'cuz it's illegal to dump a tank
in all U.S. waters. You must be in open ocean at least 3 miles from the
nearest point on the whole US coastline to dump a tank legally.



Which manual toilet did you buy?



I'll be glad to walk you through the installation. But first, READ my
book...most of your questions are answered in it. Make notes,
questions...then we'll take it from there.



Btw...it has nothing to do with plumbing...but you DID buy a CG approved fuel tank?