Head and Hot Water Questions

[Sorrento 25]

New to the cabin cruiser world here...

My boat has a portable type head with an integral tank etc. It has a waste pump-out. That seems simple enough to understand.

It also has a macerator pump that is inop. Do I need to replace this? Is this only to pump out waste if the shore facility cannot suck it out??

I also see a valve at a fitting on the bottom of the hull adjacent to the macerator pump. What is this??

My AC water heater is also inop. I don't see much point in having one without a generator. Is there such a thing as a marine propane water heater? Any other options besides 1500 watts of A/C? 1000 watts would be much better.

Is there a boating "bible" that would answer miscellaneous stupid questions like this for me??

Thanks!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Head and Hot Water Questions

the macerator pump turns solids into small pieces, so easier to pump out, and doesn't settle to the bottom it a big log. the fitting is probably a dump for the tank, back when that was done. the water heater was probably used for shore power. propane is extremely dangerous on a boat. there are very strick rules for using propane, even on somethings as simple as a gas grill. there are heat exchangers, that heat water off the operating engines