jsjones1945":5pviqhkv said:
I have looked at the holding tank and its connections but there is no discharge or valve on either side. One of the white hoses is in back of the holding tank and I can't see where it goes. The Ranger manual has a hand written note showing the discharge is out the second above water drain on the port side right behind the head sink drain. That hose is also hidden and goes behind the AC unit where I can't see. There is a covered switch on the DC panel saying holding tank discharge but I am afraid to turn it on in case there is a closed valve. That would be a disaster to blow out the holding tank or hose! Any other suggestions? Maybe a CT scan of the boat will show it!
If a macerator is installed there would (1) Y valve off the pump out hose for selection of pump out or macerator discharge. (2) a second port installed in/on the tank for the macerator to be connected to that would require a valve be installed between the macerator and the thru hull discharge. (3) there was not an optional macerator installed in your boat.
(1) There will be one 1 1/2" hose coming off the tank a Y valve will be installed with three hoses connected to it Tank -deck pump out- macerator the y valve is used as the shut off valve.
(2) If you can physically look at the tank there should be three 1 1/2 hoses and one 1/2" or 3/4" vent hose coming off the tank. 0ne, 1 1/2" hose is from the head discharge to the tank, One, 1 1/2" hose is from the tank to the deck pump out fitting, One 1 1/2 hose is from the tank to the macerator pump then to a valve installed at the discharge side of the pump ( this is normally a 3/4" valve and hose connection) the 3/4" hose goes to the thru hull discharge.
(3) There is only three hoses connected to the tank , Head discharge to tank, Tank discharge to deck fitting with no Y valve attached, 1/2" or 3/4" hose for vent line. No Y valve used. This would be a system without the optional macerator. You will still have the switch installed because the boat is a production boat. This is how my boat is. It was not ordered with a macerator from the factory.
The valve would not be installed in an area that is not accessible. If you have a macerator that was installed outside of the factory it may not have a valve . This installation would not be legal and should have been picked up when you had your survey when purchasing the boat. Are there notes in your survey about the operation of the macerator?
I would advise pumping the tank out at a pump out dock. I would do rinse the tank two or three times with fresh water to confirm the tank is clean of waste. Then start digging into this by turning the macerator switch on and see what happens. Go from there. It should not be that hard to find a valve unless it isn't there.
