26 Sundancer Gray water discharge

[K-DUB]

I just got back from vacation and was travelling with a friend who has a 26 Sundancer. 2009 I believe. When he told me the sinks and shower both drain into the holding tank I was floored. Sure enough, they drain into the sump in the floor, then get get pumped into the holding tank. Is it the norm on these boats??
Thanks.

 

[JimG]

My gray water drains directly overboard. I have heard/seen somewhere that some waters don't allow gray water discharge... but don't remember where. Its probably and option on the newer Sea Rays.

 

[KP49]

My '07 260 the shower drains to a sump and is pumped overboard, all the sinks drain overboard as well. I have a macarator/overboard discharge for the blackwater also, very illegal to use on any inland lake but since this boat was originally purchased in Florida its a common thing there. Tennessee Wildlife Resources made me disconnect the wiring to the pump, wire shut the seacock and remove the hose to the thru-hull to make sure it never gets used.

I'm sure certain options are available to boats destined for certain areas..

 

[Lazy Daze]

It's far from the norm, but a grey water system is indeed an option. I can't think of the last time I ordered a boat that way, but the way you described it is exactly the way it works. The only place, that I know of around me, that doesn't allow overboard discharge of ANYTHING is Lake George in upstate NY.

 

[mainstream]

All inland lakes do now allow gray water discharge into the lakes do to the soap which promotes exotic milfoil and other alge to bloom in fresh water something to do with fosfates I think but not sure. We can not even use car wash soap here it all has to be approved for Marine use.

 

[JimFromMD]

It's far from the norm, but a grey water system is indeed an option. I can't think of the last time I ordered a boat that way, but the way you described it is exactly the way it works. The only place, that I know of around me, that doesn't allow overboard discharge of ANYTHING is Lake George in upstate NY.

I have a boat that was purchased and operated on lake george... I do have that system... Or I should say did have that system. When I bought the boat, I had a new through hull added back by the holding tank and the grey water is now pumped from the shower box through the factory line to the stern and over the side. It's not ideal, but it was impossible (without LOTS of rework and cost) to have all the sinks/shower sump reconfigured like a non-lake boat. This was the easiest solution since I dont have the grey water dumping restriction. It really has not been an issue since, except on occasion when the pump in the shower sump catches an air bubble while bouncing under way and then runs constantly until I hear it when shutting the engines off. It has happened less frequently since I adjusted the seating of the pump in the box.

James.


PS... I learned about it the hard way... the boat had been sitting for a few months and I tried to drain the fresh water tank full of old nasty smelling water out. That over stuffed the holding tank... and I found out because I had blue water get backpressured into the shower sump with toilet paper pulp in it. Lukily the water was blue but CLEAR... not brown! That experience also cost me a new vent filter!

 

[bahamabreisus]

We just helped a friend, who moved from lake winni, change all his sinks and shower back to overboard. They too, were sent to the holding tank. Fairly easy to change.

 

[K-DUB]

Great info, I'll let him know. I think he's looking to up-size anyway.
Otherwise it looks like we will be putting in some thru hulls during layup.
Thanks all!

 

[bahamabreisus]

Chances are, the thru hulls fittings are already there. They were on our friends boat, they had just filled them with silicon and rerouted the original hoses to the sump, which then pumped to the holding tank. We cleaned out the silicone, replace or rerouted hoses as needed.

 

[K-DUB]

Chances are, the thru hulls fittings are already there. They were on our friends boat, they had just filled them with silicon and rerouted the original hoses to the sump, which then pumped to the holding tank. We cleaned out the silicone, replace or rerouted hoses as needed.

That's even better!

 

[JimFromMD]

Chances are, the thru hulls fittings are already there. They were on our friends boat, they had just filled them with silicon and rerouted the original hoses to the sump, which then pumped to the holding tank. We cleaned out the silicone, replace or rerouted hoses as needed.

Correct... I had all the original through hulls even though none of them were hooked up. I guess we chose the easiest solution which was adding one more back by the stern where the sump box pumps out all of the water it consolidates from the AC/sinks (head cockpit galley), and shower.