Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 03-05-2013, 04:54   #1
Registered User
 
BlackOak's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Memphis, Tn.
Boat: Just Photographs & Memories Now
Posts: 366
Images: 12
Vent Tube Size?

I was curious if there is a minimum ID (inside diameter) of a vent tube from the waste tank to the outside of the boat?
BlackOak is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2013, 05:33   #2
Registered User
 
denverd0n's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 5,009
Images: 6
Re: Vent Tube Size?

Generally speaking, the bigger the better. Poor air circulation, because of a too-small vent line, is one of the leading causes of bad head odors. I've even considered multiple vent lines, to get some cross-flow ventilation.
denverd0n is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2013, 06:01   #3
Senior Cruiser
 
GordMay's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W
Boat: (Cruiser Living On Dirt)
Posts: 49,126
Images: 241
Re: Vent Tube Size?

Quote:
Originally Posted by denverd0n View Post
Generally speaking, the bigger the better. Poor air circulation, because of a too-small vent line, is one of the leading causes of bad head odors. I've even considered multiple vent lines, to get some cross-flow ventilation.
Indeed.

See also ➥ http://www.practical-sailor.com/issu...s_10949-1.html
__________________
Gord May
"If you didn't have the time or money to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"



GordMay is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2013, 06:18   #4
Registered User
 
S/V Alchemy's Avatar

Join Date: May 2008
Location: Nova Scotia until Spring 2021
Boat: Custom 41' Steel Pilothouse Cutter
Posts: 4,976
Re: Vent Tube Size?

I don't know if there's a volume to I.D. ratio, but multiple ones make sense in some ways. Two 5/8" vent lines going through a Y-connector to a 3/4 well above the waterline and with a gooseneck from (say) a 50 gallon waste tank sounds about right, and would be helpful, too, at pump outs.

Should I invoke Saint Peggie Hall here?
__________________
Can't sail? Read about our travels at https://alchemyonpassage.blogspot.com/. Can't sleep? Read www.alchemy2009.blogspot.com for fast relief. Can't read? Avoid www.volumesofsalt.blogspot.com, because it's just personal reviews of sea books.
S/V Alchemy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2013, 12:31   #5
Registered User
 
rwidman's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: North Charleston, SC
Boat: Camano Troll
Posts: 5,176
Re: Vent Tube Size?

Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackOak View Post
I was curious if there is a minimum ID (inside diameter) of a vent tube from the waste tank to the outside of the boat?
Why? There's no law on a minimum size, but as others have posted, the bigger the better. Pretty much you would normally match the hose size to the outlet on the holding tank.

If you are building a boat and having a custom holding tank built, one or even two one inch vents would be a lot better than what comes on most production boats. have one vent fitting put on each side of the tank and run vent hoses from these to each side of the boat.
rwidman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2013, 23:09   #6
Registered User
 
BlackOak's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Memphis, Tn.
Boat: Just Photographs & Memories Now
Posts: 366
Images: 12
Re: Vent Tube Size?

Thanks! The vent fitting built into the waste tank is 1/2" od. Guess I need to get a different waste tank, with a bigger vent fitting.
BlackOak is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2013, 23:37   #7
Registered User

Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Montegut LA.
Boat: Now we need to get her to Louisiana !! she's ours
Posts: 3,421
Re: Vent Tube Size?

There are water proof fittings that can be easely fitted to your tank in most any size you might want.
__________________
Bob and Connie
bobconnie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2013, 23:48   #8
Registered User
 
delmarrey's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Philippines in the winters
Boat: It’s in French Polynesia now
Posts: 11,368
Images: 122
Re: Vent Tube Size?

If they are real small or plugged up one can have quite the explosion. You can ask my ex in-laws about that!
__________________
Faithful are the Wounds of a Friend, but the Kisses of the Enemy are Deceitful! ........
The measure of a man is how he navigates to a proper shore in the midst of a storm!
delmarrey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2013, 05:04   #9
Registered User
 
rwidman's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: North Charleston, SC
Boat: Camano Troll
Posts: 5,176
Re: Vent Tube Size?

Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackOak View Post
Thanks! The vent fitting built into the waste tank is 1/2" od. Guess I need to get a different waste tank, with a bigger vent fitting.
That's not necessary. A "fitting relocating kit" is available from West Marine. Check to see what sizes are in the kit.
rwidman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2013, 05:21   #10
Registered User
 
BlackOak's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Memphis, Tn.
Boat: Just Photographs & Memories Now
Posts: 366
Images: 12
Re: Vent Tube Size?

trying to wrap my head (no pun intended) around this. My plastic waste tank has 3 fittings. The discharge fitting @ 2.5", the input fitting about 2", and the vent fitting in 1/2".

So...do I cap off and seal my present vent fitting, then cut a larger hole into my waste tank and install a new larger fitting? Then bore a hole through the deck or hull of me boat to make a larger venting system?

Or

Use the present 1/2" vent fitting, then use a larger adapter screwed/mounted/attached onto the 1/2" vent fitting to increase it to 3/4 of an inch or larger, then bore a hole into me boat to accomodate the larger vent line?

The bore-a-hole is a little unsettling for me.
BlackOak is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2013, 05:59   #11
Registered User
 
rwidman's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: North Charleston, SC
Boat: Camano Troll
Posts: 5,176
Re: Vent Tube Size?

Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackOak View Post
trying to wrap my head (no pun intended) around this. My plastic waste tank has 3 fittings. The discharge fitting @ 2.5", the input fitting about 2", and the vent fitting in 1/2".

So...do I cap off and seal my present vent fitting, then cut a larger hole into my waste tank and install a new larger fitting? Then bore a hole through the deck or hull of me boat to make a larger venting system?

Or

Use the present 1/2" vent fitting, then use a larger adapter screwed/mounted/attached onto the 1/2" vent fitting to increase it to 3/4 of an inch or larger, then bore a hole into me boat to accomodate the larger vent line?

The bore-a-hole is a little unsettling for me.
Look at the fitting relocation kit. I have never used it or inspected it but I believe it has several fittings and plugs for unused fittings and instructions for installing the new outlets.

You have a really good option here. Use the existing 1/2" outlet and hose, then add a larger outlet and hose to the other side of the tank and install a matching thruhull on the other side of the boat. This will provide cross ventilation.

Adapting the existing 1/2" outlet to a larger hose will not be an improvement.

If you're afraid to bore a hole in your boat for a vent, have a pro do it. It's not that hard.
rwidman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2013, 20:11   #12
Moderator Emeritus
 
sailorchic34's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Boat: Islander 34
Posts: 5,486
Re: Vent Tube Size?

Me I would use a 1/2 by 5/8 increaser and just use the 1/2" port. It will act as a slight restrictive orifice but the pressure drop across it will be minimal compared to a 1" port at low flow velocities.

Then use 5/8" hose or even 3/4" hose (ID). For a short run say under 8-10 feet that will be fine. If you have a long run or electric toilets use one size larger hose. The electric toilets have a higher flow velocity so move more air per second. Also longer runs have a higher pressure drop then short runs, so a larger size vent hose would be better.
sailorchic34 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2013, 04:55   #13
Registered User
 
BlackOak's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Memphis, Tn.
Boat: Just Photographs & Memories Now
Posts: 366
Images: 12
Re: Vent Tube Size?

Thanks all for the advice on this topic. It has been a great help to improve my venting system.
BlackOak is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
size

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 00:56.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.