Macerator?

[A&Etug]

How do I find where the macerator might be? I touch the switch and I hear a motor run but want to find so I can be educated and have no accidents! or at least when the CG aux asks I can tell them!

 

[scross]

Basic plumbing path. You typically empty the black water tank through the pump out port in the cockpit gunwale.
To empty out the lower hull it’s more complex. Depending on the design there are either one or two hoses coming out of the bottom of black water tank for draining the contents.

This diagram is for a single drain line out of the tank. There is a Y filling that allows for waste to be vacuum pumped out or, by using the macerator pump, be discharged over the side. There is a 90 degree valve between the waste macerator pump and the lower hull discharge port. This valve is required to be “locked closed” when not in use. For any fluid to be discharged this 90 degree valve needs to be moved to the open position. In both my C-28 and my R-25 Classic the valve was very close to the waste macerator pump. And the waste macerator pump was very close to the black water tank.
If you are running the macerator pump with that valve closed nothing will happen with the waste except you could burn up the macerator pump. Again, typically, the 90 degree valve is very close to the macerator pump and should be somewhere reachable.
The two hose drainage system is similar except that there is no Y connection.

 

[Bosn Mate]

I have a 2017 Ranger Tugs R29 so your Cutwater layout could be different but…my black water tank is under the bed in the forward cabin. The macerator and y-valve are right there.

Mike

 

[A&Etug]

Boat is inside for the winter which will give me time to look ! Much Thanksl

 

[Jfrano]

I have a 29’ and its under The bed as Indicated. Yes, there is shutoff valve there. Which is a violation if its in the open position.

Also, if you ever need to replace…do your self a favor and buy a run dry version. Fired my old one while winterizing.

 

[JeffreyAC77]

On our 2015 R31-Cb, the valve is located in the rear of the cave. It is behind the patch on the wall and easily accessed. This is to locate the valve, not the actual macerator.