I revamped the heads on Angelina immediately after I bought her. To put it nicely, she stunk. Only when warm but I inspected and purchased in January. Surprise!
The heads leaked and the hoses had long runs and the tanks were inside the cabins. Inexplicably for a boat on the market, they were full to brimming. She was a great lakes boat so there are no overboard outlets - only on deck pump-outs.
I rebuilt the Jabsco manual heads, re-positioned the holding tanks and replaced all the hoses. She has been sweet for years. The forward head holding tank is on a new purpose built shelf in the engine room against the forward bulkhead. The aft head's holding tank is up against the aft stateroom's bulkhead in a sealed box under the master bunk. And I mean sealed.
Both have the shortest run possible of the best possible sanitation hose. Both have dedicated sanitation hose vents.
It's been over 20 years now and I have just replaced the heads with new manual units and the hoses are also due. Maybe a little overdue.
The major points are keeping the holding tanks and their hoses out of the accommodation and if not, seal them in their own box. The hose runs should be planned to be as short as possible and self draining.
It also helps to keep the holding tanks empty. In port pump out as soon as you arrive and use the marina facilities until you leave. On the go, well, you go where you must. Gentlemen use the swim platform when possible, ladies use discretion at all times.
Once, moored along the wall in Troy NY, I went for midnight stroll around the decks when I came upon one of the delivery crew of the large yacht docked in front of us. She was on her swim platform in a most indelicate position. Now traveling with two women on a two head boat I occasionally have sought comfort from the swim platform. But then it was personal choice. It seems the owners of this new yacht did not want the delivery crew using the new heads. The yacht delivery business lost a lot of it's glamor that night.
