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  • in reply to: Holding Tanks and Macerators #7097
    Webmaster
    Participant

      Very interesting to hear about the macerator.

      Having had this problem several times over the last 9 months, on both heads; and with the aft head blocked for an entire 3 week cruise, we are keen to get this fixed.

      I understand that there is 2 problems:

      1. The ball valve hull fitting requires the waste to turn almost 90 degrees. This frequently blocks with non-liquid waste including paper. (Actually I got a letter from Opal just a couple of weeks ago recommending no paper at all be put down the toilet). Opal have agreed that the valve needs to be changed which I expect they will do under warranty.

      2. The shape of the bottom of the holding tank encourages blockages especially if paper is used without much water.

      So I wonder if the macerator fixes 1, but to fix 2 the solution seems to be pump lots of water through. We are now using 15-20 pumps of the handle !

      We spoke to a guy from Jabsco at the boat show. He said that a macerator pump would be less useful than a diaphragm waste pump between the holding tank and ball valve. He also recommended an electric flush which uses much more water!

      Can you say how you use your macerator. Do you usually fill the holding tank and switch on the pump from time to time ?

      in reply to: Connecting NASA AIS Enigine to Raymarine Plotter #7096
      Webmaster
      Participant

        We did a similar job but used an AIS unit called EasyAIS connected to a Raymaine E80 with the software upgrade you described. Using a dedicated mast head aerial it has an excellent range of over 15 miles.

        I used a Shipmodul multiplexer to overcome the problem you described with various nmea inputs. I take input from the VHF (at 4800), the Course Computer/Autopilot (at 4800) and AIS (at 38400) and the multiplexer joins all the messages and outputs them at 38400 into the E80. This gives a heading stablised display at 10 updates per second for MARPA, and AIS as well as certain DSC messages which are all displayed on the E80.

        I also take a feed into the PC for a seperate display of AIS information.

        Overall the units integrate well and it all works ! Although there are still certain DSC messages that dont seem to come through.

        Please get in touch if you would like more details

        in reply to: Holding Tanks and Macerators #7095
        Webmaster
        Participant

          Hi,
          We bought a Bavaria 41 earlier this year and thought that on a newer boat (2003) we would not have the same problems that we encountered with our previous boat. The holding tank has been continually blocked and we have been unable to clear it. We have considered a macerator pump to be fitted when she is laid up, so noting your success it seems to be the way forward. I would be interested to know what the pump is.

          Mike Buxton
          Kamara

          in reply to: Mast wiring #7094
          Webmaster
          Participant

            Thanks for that, I have sort of tried that method but was rather hindered being single handed at the time, will try again this weekend although the other potential problem is that being a brokerage boat that had already been dismasted once (on its journey from Wales to Southampton) I have no idea which, if indeed any of the lights actually worked at all.
            Was hoping someone had that section of cabin lining out or on velcro as mine is (slightly worrying?) and could give a definitive colour to colour so I would know if there was a problem elsewhere.

            Thanks again……..Paul

            in reply to: Mast wiring #7093
            Webmaster
            Participant

              Don’t have a diagram but perhaps you could switch on at control board for each function, note which wire has power to it. Then apply 12 volts to each wire on the mast, note which light is activated etc., or is it more complicated than that?

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