FWIW, my system is built with the head feeding directly to the tank.
There is a Y-valve that allows either deck pumpout or discharge
overboard with a manual pump. One implication is the my system is
inherently legal because there is no change of "accidental discharge."
It also means that there is less chance for leaks, etc.

I haven't found this setup to be a problem, since there are very few
locations that I've wanted to discharge while at anchor or in a slip.
Of course, if more of my time onboard was offshore passage making,
I might look at this differently.


bushman wrote:
Thanks for the previous advice. You-all were right about replacing the
holding tank that had a hole in it. Against my miserly ways I am going to
get a custom tank from RONCO. My question today: Is it OK to have the head
dump straight into the tank without a Y valve overboard? The head and
thruhull are on opposite sides of the hull and I have access to both sides
of the holding tank but running a hose across will mean having to shorten
the tank by several gallons. We plan on cruising where dumping is the norm.
Peggy I have purchased your book and read it four times. You know you have a
good book when almost every line has been highlighted.
- Allen