On Tue, 16 Jan 2007 06:05:22 GMT, Peggie Hall
wrote:

Carl wrote:
Hi - a question for Peggy (or anyone else who's ever done something
like the following)

I'm looking seriously at replacing my old electric Lavac with the new
Tecma Easyfit. The specs (and measurements) look great. Does this seem
reasonable?

The "solenoid" version of the Tecma assumes that you would be using
fresh water flush. What I'd really like to do is plumb it for either
fresh or salt water flush. That way I could use salt at sea when fresh
water is scarce.

I'm guessing that your salt water pressure system is a washdown pump
that shares the same thru-hull as your existing head intake. I think
what you want to do can be done, but I'm not sure that just a y-valve is
enough to protect your potable water supply.

This may help re using a Y-Valve. I rigged 'Final Step' with the same
type of pump for potable and salt water. I bought a "marine" Y-Valve
(I think around $90) with the intention of using it to select either
hot water or salt water. Didn't work. Salt and hot mixed. Turn off
salt pump and hot backed up / turn off fresh pump and salt backed up.
Leave them both on and got hot salt water mix. Found out the Y-Valve
wasn't made to operate under pressure!!! Say whaaat???

Went to a local oil field supply and asked about 1/2" Y-Valve. Found
out they call them 3-port valves. No 1/2" in stock, but had 3/4". I
asked the price. The guy looked in the book and said, "Whew! That's an
expensive one!". Oh-oh. "How much?", I asked. $12.85. For a
brass/stainless steel ball type. Put it in and spent 2-1/2 years
living aboard and cruising. Had hot water in the galley and head in
marinas and salt when not, and never did the twain mix.

I guess the equivalent of an oil field supply would be about any
industrial supply. Maybe a commercial boat place for pure boat stuff.
I saved a young fortune getting stuff from there. A lot of it the same
as from a marine store. Such as that $8 a foot waste hose for 85-cents
a foot (yes, same brand, same stuff). 1/2-inch potable water hose for
10-cents a foot. 1/2-inch ball valves for $2.95, 1-1/2-inch ones for
$8.65. Boxes of 100 stainless fasteners for about the same price as 4
from a marine store. Etc., etc., etc......

Rick