Atlantes Freedom head question/53MY

[MikeP]

I know we've done this to death and that I have asked some of the questions myself but I have several more:

Did the Atlantes head fit with no additional holes being made to the bulkhead for the hoses?

I assume that the oem GM pump is no longer used and that the output of the master toilet (for example) runs directly from the toilet to the forward holding tank...that's a rather lengthy run of hose - probably 30-40 feet. Does the integral head pump have any difficulty pumping the waste that distance?

It would seem obvious to me that since the head doesn't use much water, waste will be sitting in that hose for lengthy periods. Any problems with that from an odor point of view?

Did folks install the optional odor system? Is it worth bothering with?
Our GM heads all have waste treatment systems so the waste has no odor. The Atlantes heads do not use enough water for the GM waste treatment systems to work; that's why I'm wondering about odor.

Thanks

 

[MarioG]

Mike we have three atlantes heads going to one holding tank in the ER. To this day they all have been problem free and emit no oders. No optional oder system installed. great system. ours is connected to the fresh water system from each head sink. No GM pump required. the unit is is self contained and very powerful. Trust me...lol

 

[sandspur1966]

Mike

I just had them installed in 3 of my 4 heads and will be doing the last in June.

I too converted to freshwater and the hose run concerned me but has been no problem.

The run from my master head to the holding tank in the forward bilge has to be 45 feet and it has been fine.

I went with the Atlantes after listening to Sky's experience.

AS far as holes, the bulked holes are not an issue since the head sits flush against the bulkhead and covers any of the old holes or modifications. The issue you will have is decks.

The 14 screws that hold the old GM heads down are visible. I removed the OEM vinyl material, sanded the subflooring clean and laid 1" glass tile set in 5200 and grouted.

 

[MikeP]

"The 14 screws that hold the old GM heads down are visible."

OUCH! I don't want to see the old GM screw holes in my Amtico teak/holly. And I don't really care to pull up the epoxied amtico and re-lay it.

Some serious re-thinking about this may be necessary; the GM heads work fine...

 

[z28jimi]

Mike we have three atlantes heads going to one holding tank in the ER. To this day they all have been problem free and emit no oders. No optional oder system installed. great system. ours is connected to the fresh water system from each head sink. No GM pump required. the unit is is self contained and very powerful. Trust me...lol

Mario, did you use the original discharge hose from the heads to the holding tank, or did you replace it with new hose and/or hard pipe? I bought the Elegance, and was concerned about the length of the discharge run. I'm considering replacing at least part of the old hose with hard pipe to try to maximize slope and minimize friction. Any suggestions based on your experience?

 

[carolinacoast]

I have copied most of SKY's ideas on improvements, and did so on the Atlantes about 3 years ago. I had the same question about the master head run, so I called the tech at Raritan. "Use new white sanitation hose and cap off the old if you can't remove. the design can handle a 50' run and 10' of elevation without additional equipment." we went freshwater, and this one improvement has been the best on the boat so far. quieter, effectively enlarged the waste tanks bc of the reduced water use, no salt water smell. I just tell guests to use the blue button. I have yet to take apart any heads or hoses since then. YEAH! my wife would go without a refrigerator before going back to the GM.

 

[yachtsmanbill]

"The 14 screws that hold the old GM heads down are visible."

OUCH! I don't want to see the old GM screw holes in my Amtico teak/holly. And I don't really care to pull up the epoxied amtico and re-lay it.

Some serious re-thinking about this may be necessary; the GM heads work fine...

C'mon Mike... Bubba J. Neandertal invented them things... there is probably a dinosaur turd stuck in one of those hoses...
Contersink and plug the holes in that plastic floor and every one of the judges will think its a real wood floor, that is unless they pull out the "pocket mass gas spectrometer from Popiel" an lop off a sample to field test... Get Randy to stay over nite after a chili fest and youll be begging for an Atlantes LOL... ws

 

[MikeP]

Bill - good suggestion - it would look even MORE like real wood with some teak plugs!

""Use new white sanitation hose "

I have to tell you that I installed new white sanitation hose in a couple of spots two years years ago and it was sticky/smelling within a year. The old, original Hatt-installed Bellowflex was still fine. I pulled all the white hose and replaced it with Parker Armada, the current "replacement" for Bellowflex." http://www.safehose.com/ParkerProducts.asp?catID=377

I just ordered 50 feet of Armada for my holding tank re-plumbing.

Re hard pipe...I wonder why hatteras did not use hard (plastic) pipe since it was commonly used back then for homes and is a fraction of the price of hose. I'm gunshy about it since they elected not to use it.

 

[jim rosenthal]

My Raritan Lectra-San is plumbed with hard pipe- PVC pipe. So far so good, after at least ten or twelve years. There are hose sections to the through-hull etc so vibration is absorbed.

With the Atlantes head, do you have a choice of fresh or salt water, or do you have to decide that when you install it?

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Mike,
If you don't go with the "plug the screw holes" idea, you could always set the new toilet on a piece of solid teak that is large enough to cover the old base area.

 

[34Hatt]

Re hard pipe...I wonder why hatteras did not use hard (plastic) pipe since it was commonly used back then for homes and is a fraction of the price of hose. I'm gunshy about it since they elected not to use it.

What your kidding right there are many things they could have done even better. Hard pipe as in pvc was not common back then because to many people said it wont work in a boat. Hell I find some that do think that way. It is the best upgrade you can do. My system has about 30" of hose total and that is about 30" more then I like but you do need some!

 

[MikeP]

Maybe I should have saved 300 bucks or thereabouts by using some hard pipe!

From everything I have read, it seems that hard pipe is not used much on boats except for very short lengths. But I have to admit I don't know what the current ABYC recommendations are. What do current "good" boats use, hose or plastic pipe?

 

[34Hatt]

Maybe I should have saved 300 bucks or thereabouts by using some hard pipe!

From everything I have read, it seems that hard pipe is not used much on boats except for very short lengths. But I have to admit I don't know what the current ABYC recommendations are. What do current "good" boats use, hose or plastic pipe?

Well I have pvc running from front bulkhead to the transom for a.c pump output. Boat has been Survey twice by two different guys. Last one was a picky s.o.b and didn't say boo about that. So for whats that worth?

 

[yachtsmanbill]

I just ordered 50 feet of Armada for my holding tank re-plumbing.

Re hard pipe...I wonder why hatteras did not use hard (plastic) pipe since it was commonly used back then for homes and is a fraction of the price of hose. I'm gunshy about it since they elected not to use it.

J-H-C !!! Bubba was living the good life with a two holer! Old hoses with loopdie-doodles all over gods' creation under the floors is not my idea of being hi-tech. I mite hafta send you a bucket of Hatteras screws too!
The bottom line is, bubba built a helluva hull, probably was already brain dead from the fumes anyway, so whats another 300 gallons of resin eh?? That doesnt excuse some of the home made systems/installs Ive encountered on mine. Get out the sawzall and go to work! ;-)) ws

 

[MikeP]

I'll take that bucket of Hatt screws - a lot easier to work with than cross drive - recessed square heads will stay on the end of the screwdriver!

 

[MarioG]

Mario, did you use the original discharge hose from the heads to the holding tank, or did you replace it with new hose and/or hard pipe? I bought the Elegance, and was concerned about the length of the discharge run. I'm considering replacing at least part of the old hose with hard pipe to try to maximize slope and minimize friction. Any suggestions based on your experience?

All discharge hoses was replaced with white sanitary hose. good stuff and hopefully in the far future no oder emiting from the hose.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I used standard pvc where possible and the Trident white sanitary hose in the tight spots. Going on 5yrs now with no problems.

 

[Canuck Dennis]

Just so as everyone knows, std white pvc will also grow up inside, my fwd head up here in the PNW has vertical pipe drop of 15 " then horiz for 15" both grow up inside withing 5 yrs, 1 1/2 " pipe , would probably take 10 yrs anyway before it really started to restrict the discharge, I stripped it out and checked a few yrs ago when doing a mod, and was surprised at the build up, vinegar bath and gentle tapping released it easy enough. ( stress the gentle part)

 

[yachtsmanbill]

In the process of doing my aft head in the master... Its about a 20 inch drop over 30 feet with a clean out T at the start, which is plugged with a vacuum break. I figure a loong flush should clear the pipes... ws

 

[MikeP]

Another question

Another question for those who installed the Atlantes...

I have read the Atlantes owners/installation manual and I see that the waste hose size is 1.5" ID. The oem hatt GM waste hose to the holding tanks is 1" ID.

SO...did everybody who installed the Atlantes change all the waste hose in the boat to 1.5" or did they use an adaptor to reduce the Atlantes output to 1"? That would seem to compromise the ability of the Atlantes macerator pump. What say those who have done this?