Hello Amelians,

This is actually an old topic, but I couldn't find any definitive answers.
For years we have been rinsing dishes and emptying coffee grounds in the cockpit to avoid fouling the grey water "tank", and I'm tired of that inconvenience.
Has anyone in the group installed a thru hull in a SM to drain the galley sink directly to the sea?
If so, where did you locate the thru hull, as it is almost impossible to have it on the centreline?
Did you have issues on stbd tack with water coming up through the drain?
Clearly any thru hull needs a valve to close it off, so that would solve that issue, but I also thought of having a 3 way valve so the drain could be diverted to the grey water tank when at sea.
Any advice/ ideas welcome.

Cheers
Alan
Elyse SM437

Hi Alan,

I was onboard Rascal SM-404 a few years ago. One of the previous owners had installed a grey water sump kit, (like an off the shelf marine shower / grey water sump kit), under the galley sink which then was plumbed into a Y installed prior to hull the exit point of the main through hull. It was a simple set up which seemed to work well and did not require adding another through hull. 

Paul
Aramis SM-444
Comox, BC, Canada

Thanks Nick,

Could you post some photos, I don;t quite understand how your system works.

Thanks
Alan
Elyse SM437  

Thanks Nick,
Now I get it...interesting idea...
Cheers
Alan
Elyse SM437

Thanks for the post, Alan.  Good to be able to think about potential improvements if we cannot sail or even realistically plan sailing soon.   I am considering installing something similar on my A55 but the pictures are not clear to me since I’m not familiar enough with the SM.  How is the exit hose from the tank run - which seacock does it use?   I think it would be preferable to have a macerator pump deal with what goes into the tank so there is no issue with the usual kitchen residue like coffee grounds and, indeed, pasta going down the drain.  

cheers Joerg

A55 #53 Kincsem
On the hard in Vigo, Spain

Hi Joerg,

It's not me, I haven't done it
If you track back the messages you'll see that It's Nick on RASCAL.
My guess is that his exit hose just goes where the standard galley sink drain goes into the grey water sump.
My idea was to go straight into the sea, but maybe a shower sump might be better and then pump out to the sea.
A macerator pump will just turn the waste into smaller pieces, it would still be in the grey water sump and that's what I'd like to avoid.
Anyway, good discussion, lots of ideas....keeps the mind working when I can't get near Elyse.

Cheers
Alan
Elyse SM437

Freudian error, Alan.  I meant to ask Nick this question.  I’m thinking to use a macerator pump as is installed in the electrical toilets.  Those pump the toilet waste up into the black water tank.  So the kitchen waste could be pumped up as well and exit above the waterline.   

Cheers. Joerg 

Hope this helps

Thanks much, Nick.  Joerg

Hi folks,

After all this discussion, my current idea is to use one of those shower sumps under the floor below the galley sink and plumb the outlet to a thru-bulkhead connector into the engine room, then run a hose from that to Tee into the bilge pump outlet hose near the thru hull.
That way we can pump the galley sink overboard without going into the grey water sump and also without putting in another thruhull.
If I ever get back to Elyse, that's what I'll do.....unless there's something I haven't considered which would make it a good reason not to....

Cheers
Alan
Elyse SM437
 

Further info on this topic.  I just learned that an A55 owner installed a direct drain to a new through hull for the galley sink.   Anyone on this forum?  That sounds like a great solution - furthering the idea that the boat has all the comforts of home.  And given that that the engine room is water tight I see the additional risk posed by the additional through hull as small.   So I’m considering doing the same.  Thoughts?  Do other Amels have more than one through hull below the water line?  

Joerg Esdorn
A55 #53 Kincsem 
wintering in La Rochelle 

Joerg,

I learned that the Amel 50 has a separate grey water tank.

"All tankage is housed under the cockpit sole, including a grey water tank set in the bilge sump, which collects waste from all sinks and showers, serviced by a float switch for automatic emptying. This system ensures a dry, clean bilge elsewhere".

Have you considered copying this setup? Or does anyone has images / drawings of the grey water system on an Amel 50?





Have considered copying that solution?

See below the gray water tank of an Amel50 just in front of the stairs. I just wonder why Amel changed the long-standing Amel design of it's gray water system.