Head Question; Just got the boat back from the yard.

[RJM]

While getting the bottom stripped and painted, one of the other projects was tackling the sanitary waste system. Among other things, all of the 50 year old hoses were replaced as well as a cracked base for the replacement Jabsco toilet in the VIP head, which included a new joker valve. I now notice that none of the bowls hold any water for anything longer than a minute or so. Before they would all hold some water, like a home toilet.

Dumb question: What is normal?

And as an added note, a perplexing running on the hot side port engine, which defied diagnosis, was solved when the boat was about to be splashed and the bottom was being touched up. The mechanic noticed that the size of holes in the pickup screens had been reduced by buildup from previous paint jobs. They took the time to use a drill and open up all of what must be a couple of hundred holes on both engine screens and properly touched them up. Lo and behold, both engines ran perfectly on temp! So, if you have this vintage Hatteras with these screens, check them carefully on your next haul-out.

 

[brettportzer]

Vacuflush should hold some water in the bowl.

 

[Captain Ralph]

I was never a fan of heads leaving lots of water in the bowl. I'm of the old (OLD) school of wetting the bowl before use, then flushing all away till all was gone including most of the water.
Later bowls pump pretty low with options of pumping near dry.
Our old Crown heads still pump near dry also (46+ years old).
I recall old GM heads leaving lots of water in the bowl.

 

[SEVEN]

The hose filling the water to the bowl needs to be higher than the bottom of the toilet. If you make a loop the water will stay at that level.

 

[Scarlett]

As to the information intake screens I might be crazy but I take a tooth pick dipped in bottom paint and open up every hole after the boat is bottom painted. It doesn’t take as long as it sounds and has worked well for me.

 

[zigzag930]

Seven, What do you mean if you make a loop the water wlll stay at that level? I have one head that always wants to fill too high. I have just added a vented loop to the discharge side thinking that might help, but it didn't. I am wracking my brain trying to figure out how to lower the water level....

 

[Captain Ralph]

Seven, What do you mean if you make a loop the water wlll stay at that level? I have one head that always wants to fill too high. I have just added a vented loop to the discharge side thinking that might help, but it didn't. I am wracking my brain trying to figure out how to lower the water level....

The water between the bowl and the top of the loop will drain back to the bowl. Lower that height of the vented loop and length of hose to the loop and reduce the water in the bowl.
IF,, your draining into a blackwater tank, usually all down hill, no loop is required.

Seven's idea was just a little rise in the discharge hose of a couple of inches, rite behind the bowl, would keep the bowl wet after rinsing.

 

[zigzag930]

Originally, there was no vented loop and the line was lower than the bowl. Water level was rising too high, so RAZ suggested adding the vented loop. It didn't help and make any difference, so back to the drawing board.

 

[Captain Ralph]

Originally, there was no vented loop and the line was lower than the bowl. Water level was rising too high, so RAZ suggested adding the vented loop. It didn't help and make any difference, so back to the drawing board.

This is the old galley maid head??
"Rising to high"?? While in pumping mode?
After flushing water would come back in?
Is it black water or rinse water filling the bowl?
Do you have a fresh water valve installed?

Where could you install the vented loop?

 

[zigzag930]

Yes, original GM head
After flush, all looks good, but after 30 mins or so - tank is filling to about 1.5" below lower part of rim.
Using seawater, not fresh water
Pump was rebuilt 1 yr ago.
Vented loop was set as high as possible under berth in VIP stateroom and is above water level
I believe it is inlet water. I will need to turn off the inlet seacock to see if that stops the rise. Then will need to try that on the outlet side to see which it is.

In route to Exumas now, so will fool with it when we get anchored.

 

[Captain Ralph]

I remember a re-model turn interesting on an ole 65'.
A couple of years before my friend purchased the boat, the head was relocated back against the transom, port corner.

Black water discharge hose followed the exhaust chase, thru the engine room, thru the VIP stateroom, into the power room to the black water holding tank.

The bowl was never dry.. When the boat was run, bow raised a bit, the bowl would fill with water from that long freaking hose run.

This issue not detected during survey or trials. Previous owner fixed his problem by adding a thru hull (below hull's water line) discharge in the stern. The new owner, wanting to operate his boat correctly discovered these valves and set them to holding tank operation, Then the bowl starting filling during runs.


Have you relocated any components rite before your issues?
What services were done rite before your issues?
Is your bowl below the hulls water line?
Any valves been manipulated rite before your issues?