How snug should the hose be?

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GrecRI

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My boat has a keyswitch to activate the macerator. The new RI law requires a locking Y-valve, regardless of whether the macerator is activated by a keyswitch or not. So I'm in the process of installing a Y-valve.

After cutting the 1.5 inch sanitary hose to length, I noticed that it slides on and off the Y-valve VERY easily.

I'm concerned, because a couple of years ago, when I replaced the original system, most of the hoses fit very tightly on to the fittings. In fact, I had to heat up some of the hose lengths and lubricate them in order to force the fittings into them - and even after heating, it was a struggle. Once the fitting was on, hose clamps seemed like just an added precaution - the hose wasn't about to slip off even without the clamps.

The installation I'm about to perform however, would apparently rely entirely on the hose clamps to hold the hose on the Y-valve. Without them, you could remove the hose with the slightest effort.

I'm just curious if this is normal (it doesn't seem like it is), or if maybe the hose I bought was out of spec and slightly larger in diameter than it should be.
 
I thould be snug, if it's loose, you will get odors in the boat and perhaps some of the waste water. I would also double clamp it.
 
Bruce,

I only referred to the RI situation as background, (my main issue was related to the way the hose fit the fitting), so I oversimplfied the legal issue in my first post.

No discharge is nothing new in RI. The new law is actually related to inspections that must be performed. Notices were sent out to all registered boat owners, telling them that they must have their heads inspected and must display a sticker confirming the inspection.

If you read through the lastest version of the law, officially the key-switch is now OK.

My concern is that the inspectors and DEM agents that I spoke with, were not familiar with the keyswitch exclusion.

My three calls to DEM resulted in three different answers related to whether the key switch would be compliant with the law. "No, "yes", and "I wouldn't do it that way." (Typical government ineptness IMO)

Anyway, Given that I'd rather spend my days on the water, than risk being towed in by someone at DEM who didn't understand the law, I decided to install the Y-Valve while replacing my macerator and be done with it.

This is the notice that was sent out:
http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/benviron/water/shellfsh/pump/pdfs/pumpcomp.pdf

You can get all the details on this link and the links you find there:
http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/benviron/water/shellfsh/pump/index.htm
 
The link says "y" valve or seacock must be secured. Surely you already have a seacock at the discharge site. The second link gives several acceptable metnods of securing the seacock.
 
No seacock. My discharge fitting is above the water line. Makes for a pretty picture when discharging offshore. ;)

http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/benviron/water/shellfsh/pump/slides/pumpshow_files/frame.htm

If you go to slide 34 of this presentation on the RI DEM site though, it shows the key system and says the key should be in the owner's possession OR seacock or Y-Valve should be closed.

As I mentioned earlier though, I've already concluded that I'll install the Y-valve to prevent possible issues in the future. It's apparent that not everyone involved in this issue is aware of this part of the regulation.

I could be legally right, and still get dragged off the water by some agent who doesn't understand the regulations he's supposed to enforce.

My real concern was the fit of the hose. I'm not sure if the hose or the Y-valve is out of spec, but it sure seems too loose to trust.

(edited for clarification)
 
Keep a copy of the regs onboard.
In answer to your question hoses that I am familiar with are a snug fit on the proper fitting.
 
I'm thinking that after you clamp it down securely, the hose will "set" and conform to the fitting. I can't count the ones I've had to CUT off at a later date.
 
I tried it again today to see just how loose it was. (It was last Fall when I bought it.) Basically, it slides on and off without any great effort and without having to stop half way on. That is, I don't have to put it part of the way on, stop, then push hard. It just slides all the way on and off.

If I clamp it, it stays in place and can't be pulled off. As I mentioned above though. Last time I did this, I had to heat up the hose and lubricate it to get it on.
 
quote:
Originally posted by GrecRI

I tried it again today to see just how loose it was. (It was last Fall when I bought it.) Basically, it slides on and off without any great effort and without having to stop half way on. That is, I don't have to put it part of the way on, stop, then push hard. It just slides all the way on and off.

Click to expand...


that sounds too loose to me, especially if it does that in the cold weather. The hose will shrink faster than the fitting, so if anything, it should be even tighter now. One of them is the wrong size.
 
Yeah, and it was about 20 degrees when I was out there today.

I think it must just be out of spec. The Jabsco y-valve is a pretty standard item, and the hose says 1 1/2 inch right on it. I don't think they make this stuff in increments of 1/16 or 1/8 inch, but it seems like it should be about that much tighter.
 
consider taking it to a boat store and checking other fittings for fit.
 
Thanks for the links Ralph, lots of good information there. It amazes me when I see manufacturers place the discharge above the water line! Looks like anybody with a yellow decal should expect frequent inspections. I didn't like the part staing that the inspector may inspect without the owner being present.
 
Ralph,
I am in Maine/New Hampshire and in the process of installing an overboard discharge system on a fresh water boat I purchased for use on the ocean. My past boats all had discharges above the waterline and I will do the same on this boat (See my post dated 31 December 2006). I scanned your laws but did not see where a key switch is a means to satisfy the law. Anyways, what do you have for a key switch? Do you have to hold the switch in the "ON" position while pumping? Regarding the "Y" valve, if you compare it to another and it is the correct one, try using some adhesive on the "Y" fitting and using double clamps.
 
Bruce, I think that's the issue. The key-switch option shows up in the instructional slide show I linked to, but it isn't specifically referred to in the regulations. I believe the key-switch satisfies the Federal regulations, and should also satisfy RI regs, but I'm not willing to risk losing time on the water or having to fight it out in court.

Part of the problem is the legislature here. They are more concerned about politics than about doing their jobs, and pretty incompetent as a whole. For example, two weeks ago a bill was introduced to make it illegal for teens to buy cellophane, or anything wrapped in cellophane. Now take a minute to think about everything that is wrapped in cellophane.

When questioned by a local talk-show host as the bill was being submitted for a vote, the sponsor of the legislation explained she was trying to ban rolling papers. The talk show host explained that rolling papers were not made of cellophane, but that thousands of products, from produce to dessert cakes were wrapped in it. The bill was pulled from submission shortly after. Take a look at lines 3 and 4 of the bill on the link below if you have any doubts.

http://www.630wpro.com/gallery/dan/saran_wrap_bill

Hard to believe, huh?

As far as DEM is concerned, I have to deal with them almost daily in my work. They seem to hire fresh college grads, who never completely understand the regulations they are supposed to enforce. On more than one occassion, they have instructed our customers to perform "upgrades" to equipment that clearly put them in violation of Federal Air Pollution regulations.

Sorry for the rant, and I didn't intend to go so far off topic, but it relates to the subject because, that is the crew creating and enforcing the regulations here in RI.

Regarding the keyswitch, mine is a normal ignition switch. You have to hold it in the "Start" position for the macerator to operate. This is the only boat I've owned with this system, so I don't know if that is the normal configuration or not. But I have a Thetford porta-potti with only a 6 gallon holding tank, so holding the keyswitch until it empties isn't a problem. It would be easy enough to wire it to run when in the "On" positions if you wanted to.
 
As already mentioned the hose is the wrong size for the valve. I have a stupid question. The Y valve is going between the pump out deck fitting and the discharge thru hull? I ask because I have seen a couple of boats lately when trying to discharge via the macerator pump it took a long time and I found the deck fitting leaking air which slowed the pumping process. Replacing the T with a Y valve is a good idea. Of course I put a new O-ring on the deck fitting too!
 
The Y-valve connects to the discharge of the waste tank and depending on the way it is turned, it directs the flow to either the macerator or the waste fitting.

Whenever you are inside the 3-mile limit (further in some areas) you are supposed to keep it locked in the position directing the waste toward the waste fitting.
 
because my boat had no way to lock the seacock I added a $5 key switch from HD to the overboard pump circuit. It is SPST not momentary.
CG boarding last summer made no comment.

Your comment about legislators is accurate everywhere. Most people could not write instruction to successfully make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
 
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