Gray Water Overboard.

[rtbates]

It's always amused me when folks scream about NOT letting the shower, ice box, etc drain into the bilge. Our Cape Dory has both and I'll wager that our bilge is cleaner and better smelling than most... It isn't hard at all...

[Zanshin]

In Europe countries such as Greece and Turkey have enacted (but not yet truly enforced) gray water regulations but as for the rest gray water is not regulated except in a very few nature reserves.

[popeye2818]

Originally Posted by SailFastTri

don't complicate your boat. If your sinks drain through direct overboard, leave it that way. Shower should have a sump with overboard pump.

Actally the sink drains nowhere as the sink and stove are gone ,along with the plumbing .I looked up Don Caseys article ,but there was no diagram on draining sinks overboard .Do I I just plumb it from the sink to the through hull ,below or above the water line ?Do I need a trap ?The sink is well above the water line.I still have to see if the shower thats in there has a built in sump or If I have to install a tank.Info on the sink drain would be great .Thanks..... Aaron

[Bash]

Originally Posted by Triton318

What?! Boats can have showers?

Yes. And some of them are even indoors.

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by Bash

Yes. And some of them are even indoors.

View from the toilet: the shower entrance shown here on the right.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by popeye2818

Actally the sink drains nowhere as the sink and stove are gone ,along with the plumbing .I looked up Don Caseys article ,but there was no diagram on draining sinks overboard .Do I I just plumb it from the sink to the through hull ,below or above the water line ?Do I need a trap ?The sink is well above the water line.I still have to see if the shower thats in there has a built in sump or If I have to install a tank.Info on the sink drain would be great .Thanks..... Aaron

Water-filled traps are used in houses to block sewer gases. On a boat they serve no purpose and can smell.

I prefer above the waterline for sinks. A sea cock is still a good idea (for one thing, if a boat is up-side down, the trapped air can go out the sink drain; yup, seen it happen.

[Cheechako]

No trap required.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by Bash

Yes. And some of them are even indoors.

Prima donnas!!!

[Capt Phil]

Had a sump on the last 3 liveaboards we had... both showered nearly daily. As the last shot before shutting down the shower, one of us would pour about 1/2 cup of Simple Green down the shower drain every 2-3 days. Kept things smelling clean and sweet. Sump located in the engine room on the last 2 boats with easy access to clean out hair, etc from the strainer about once every 2 months. Not a big job and the Simple Green made it a fairly easy and not unpleasant job. I would opt for a similar setup on any future liveaboard we might have.
I've delivered a few vessels with bilge draining showers and would counsel against going in that direction for reasons of odors, particularly ina tropical or semi-tropical climate, and unless maintained regularly, a good chance of clogging the bilge pump.