Westsail 28

Measurements

Mast Height: 40 feet

Jib Sheet Length: 40 feet

Both anchors have around 50′ of chain and 250′ overall – they’re marked in 25′ incremements with red or green … on both rodes yellow is 100′. So – 2 greens and a yellow would 150′; 3 reds and a yellow would be 175′, etc.

Oil Change

See the Oil Change post

Head

Flushing

It’s important that you use the foot pedal at the base of the head while pumping or you risk damaging the head.

Pump out procedure

Simply open the cap on the starboard side and pump out, nothing else required.

Backflow problems from holding tank

The backflow problem suggests that the little anti-syphon valve at the top of the loop (on the big hose) isn’t working. When you pump the head you should be able to hear the peculiar hissing sound it normally makes. There is a rubber diaphram with an offset hole in it. There are some spares taped or otherwise stuck up there near it in the cabinet. The loop is before the y-valve, so if the hose is full, it doesn’t make a difference which way the valve is set. However, I’ve easily gotten confused with the valve, which is why I put the ‘now’ stickers on top the lever. The the hose eventually connects to the starboard side of the holding tank, so it is more likely to go backwards on the port tack.

Using Macerator pump

To use the macerator pump, you make sure the big thru-hull is open. Then there is a newish ball valve which attaches to a T right above it (as I recall). This opens the hose from the macerator pump. You open that (in line with hose), then turn the pump on. Turn it off when it sounds like its no longer sucking (changes to a high-pitched whine). I usually pump some water into the tank, and then run the pump again to rinse it out.