NORDHAVN 47 RANGER SEPTIC SYSTEMS

Several years ago we made our black and grey water tank situations bullet proof. Acting on a great recommendation, we replaced the prior owners heads with MasterFlush macerating heads. I had not been a fan of of macerator heads until doing so. They are really not macerators. They are wood chippers!! Even though we ordered a complete set of every part, in nine years with an occasional single duck bill valve replacement (easy to get to) we have used no spare parts. These heads are rock solid.  

Downstream from the heads we also made some improvements. There was a direct overboard septic line from the master stateroom head that we never used. We always set the diversion valve directly to the black water tank. We could empty the tank overboard where legal using a very reliable Sealand 'T' pump, or pump the tank out directly from a deck fitting. With this arrangement, there were places for problems. The waste matter from the head to the overboard thru-hull traveled through a diversion valve (a very large ‘Y’ valve and through a anti siphon loop. Great places to get the flow stopped up and added a lot of septic hose. We re-plumbed directly to the black water tank pulling out over 50 feet of hose replacing it with about 9 feet of hose direct from the head to the tank hose.  Now there is nothing but hose!!! Have not have any issues since. We can still pump out off shore and in a marina use the deck fitting.

Another repaired nuisance was the black and grey water senders. They are screw fittings holding the float-legs but were but connected. When it came time to clean them (about once every two years) the wires had to be cut and re-crimp connected. I installed terminal strips. Now, you disconnect the wires from the terminal strips, unscrew the plastic plate, lift the sender up a few inches and blast away into the tanks with a water hose. Fast and clean.

If you can make septic systems a non-issue you will be one happy cruiser!