Elbows on 1 1/2

[Sean Engle]

Ok - here's a problem I'm having.

As many of you know, I'm ripping out and replacing my sanitation system. This is all being documented on this website in the owner's section - and you can see photos there of what I'm talking about. This message will also be posted on the Ericson Mail List.

Here's the problem: The existing thru hull set up (for sanitation) on my E35-3 has elbows on the seacocks (see the photos on the site above).

I'm getting ready to install a totally new system in the boat - and want to fix ALL the problems. In discussions with the manufacturers of the hose I've purchased - http://www.tridentmarine.com - they've said that nice sloping turns are preferred - that elbows are trouble. This makes sense, given the solids that will be transiting the hose - and thus, the source of my concern:

Do any of you have elbows on the 1 1/2" discharge thru hulls? If so, has this caused problems? I know there are elbows at the discharge ports on the holding tank itself - but have any of you actually removed or avoided using elbows elsewhere in the system?

Am I being overly concerned about this?

Thanks for your help -

[Bob Ells]

Sean, In my experience elbows on thru-hull fittings are not a problem if the discharge is through a macerator pump which is the set-up that I have on my boat. When I got the boat there was some blockage in the elbow at the discharge point on the tank thate is routed to the macerator (it's an 1.5" elbow) I back-flushed it and managed to get it clear and it has been ever since. I also flush the holding tank with clear water every other discharge. The thru-hull from the macerator is actually only .75 to 1.0" I'm not sure which. Hope this helps. Bob Ells

[Sean Engle]

So your's is set up with a macerator coming off the discharge on the tank instead of a manual diaphram pump?

I was thinking about that (replacing the pump with a macerator) - that still leaves the elbow at the holding tank (which I guess you cannot avoid). You've not had any more issues with the elbow attached to the tank?

Thanks,

[Bob Ells]

None - except as noted in my original reply. Bob