The wonderful world of marine waste systems

[ageless]

Spent the AM diagnosing a head that wouldn't Evacuate. I had poured miratic acid in the head a couple weeks ago to clear out any build up that might be the cause ( nice turd volcano that made). I visually checked all the lines and they were clear. Removed the discharge stator housing to discover a vulgar mess of hair rapped around the rotor handle. I had replacement parts for each so I chose to install them since I was there and have no hx when it was done last. Install went easy but I've encountered a weird symptom, when flushing the pump sounds and functions as it should for 2-3 sec's then sounds like it's struggling, doesn't evacuate, and water sprays out of the top discharge hose. Only thing I can think is I tightened the housing too tight, the top hose is double clamped and they're tgeir tight, thoughts?

 

[kingsley_oasis]

Sound similar to problem I had. Blockage to holding tank. Could clear it with shop vac but some time latter would have same issue. Replace hose no improvement. Found build up in street elbows and other fittings at holding tank. Removed them all and gave them the DD acid treatment and now heads work like new.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

It sure sounds like there's a blockage downstream lugging that motor. They will build some pretty good pressure with a new stator.

I had a blockage in a bowl (lens from LED light over toilet). The toilet would back up. But when the lens became dislodged I think the turds went supersonic from the sound of it. Lots of suction on that end equals pressure on the other end. Can you figure out how to snake the line or disconnect the delivery end to the tank?

Call Raz.

 

[jpk55]

I'm in the process of dealing wit clogged hoses now, it the muriatic acid doesn't work tonight, its new hoses tomorrow. 30 years of use or lack of, has done bad things to the waste line.

 

[SEVEN]

I know it's not a big deal to pour acid into the heads but 30 years is more than enough to put a hose through. Do yourself a favor and change the hoses. They're going to fail on you sooner than later.

 

[ageless]

I know it's not a big deal to pour acid into the heads but 30 years is more than enough to put a hose through. Do yourself a favor and change the hoses. They're going to fail on you sooner than later.

It's in the plans, just have a few other more pressing issues to address. Really wanted to get that head operational to avoid guests in the master

 

[jpk55]

Success. I bit the bullet and put away the Muriatic acid and the snake and replaced the waste line. 3 hours from beginning to end, removing the clamps, the lines from the Y valves and clean up. I should have done replaced the hose fromthe start. Used 1" wood dowels screwed thru the hose and duct taped the old hoseTo the new. 2 man job, one pushes and one pulls. Tired and sore, but the toilet flushes.Jeff KotlerSouthern Cross 1981 61' m/y

 

[ageless]

Success. I bit the bullet and put away the Muriatic acid and the snake and replaced the waste line. 3 hours from beginning to end, removing the clamps, the lines from the Y valves and clean up. I should have done replaced the hose fromthe start. Used 1" wood dowels screwed thru the hose and duct taped the old hoseTo the new. 2 man job, one pushes and one pulls. Tired and sore, but the toilet flushes.Jeff KotlerSouthern Cross 1981 61' m/y

congrats--I've been online hose shopping today myself. Is there a marine "standard" of hose required or can one use any "waste/sanitation" hose? Agri supply has a great variety of sanitation grade hose that is much more affordable than west marine white hose

 

[jim rosenthal]

Practical Sailor has a good writeup on marine sanitation hoses that you may be able to access on their web site. As far as using a non-marine hose, the only liabilities are (besides the obvious) that if something leaks and damages the boat, your insurance might use the non-marine hose as an excuse to not pay the claim. Try looking at Defender Marine- their prices always beat WM. Also try Pyacht.com, the online arm of Fawcett Marine here in Annapolis.

From what I recall, the SeaLand Vacuflush hose is very good. I've had Trident white hose in my boat for years and it's held up fine.

 

[Toolsntoys]

There has been discussion here about using the black epdm type hose used for raw water engine hose. Hatt used this type for years.

 

[ageless]

Pulled both ends of hose running from waste tank to the thru hull valve below the pump. Poured how water into the tank hose end and it trickled out of the valve end, was able to pour enough water in there that it couldn't drain fast enough to keep me from filling the hose. Let all the water drain and poured 2 cups of muriatic acid in the tank end and attached valve end back on, will let it sit for AWHILE and see what happens.

I sure would like to know how Hatteras got the hose support clamps on in the space from the tank to the bulkhead it passes through, no way anyway could fit in there and the space extends back 3.5' under the fridge----go go gadget arm????

 

[ageless]

I have been back in this chitty situation and need some clarification on plumbing.
Large black hose from the back of the head to the discharge end of the pump, which is mounted in fwd stateroom bilge. There is a white hose on top of discharge end that leads to the bypass valve to tank or overboard.
Does anyone know why the top discharge hose would run out of the bilge area, disappear from sight (with no other hatches to access) and then have another hose that returns from the same abyss to the valve?
I think I've pinpointed a clog in this line but I want to ensure there isn't a valve or something that I just haven't found in the abyss area.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

Having the same boat and system, I'm a little confused. It's black hose from toilet to pump waste intake. Then it's white hose out of pump to the Y valve. From Y valve it's a hose to the thru hull valve and a hose to the holding tank. There are no other valves. If you have the two or three head layout, they should all be the same. So is this one you're working on different than the others? Could you be confusing one of your inlet side lines that feed water to the bowl? That's a hose from the sea strainer to the pump's other end and a hose from that pump discharge back to the bowl.

 

[ageless]

Robert, I fixed the pics so I could better explain. The white hose at the top of the discharge side you can follow(in the pic) as it runs behind the pump. In the second pic that hose is the one you see on the right, it disappears from the bilge and goes somewhere....looks like it runs under the shower. In the second pic the hose on the left comes from the same area the one on the right went and it attaches to the one-way valve (in the pic), which then goes to the thru hull/tank valve. Where is the Y valve located in your system?

 

[PeterK]

oo have mixed white and black hoses. Don't know if this will helpbut here is how mine is: 2/38/ from bowl to pump. 1" from pump to vented loop (will be above the water line). 1" from vented loop to check valve located near the through hul. 1" off through hull T to black water tank.

X3 on our vessel! Did the longest run (aft master cabin) of 1" last year. Pulled that bowl and 2 3/8 hose 3 moths ago. Calcified down to about about 1/4"!!!

In the process of replacing all on my other 2 heads now. Seriously considering putting new toilets in with the pumps in the base and ditching the galley maids. Will go to fresh water flush on these 2 if I do.

Might have a couple 24 volt GM pumps in the next 2-3 weeks if any wants them: I have new intake and discharge stators for both as well as I was planning on thorough clean up of both of them. Bowls would also be availble.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

I have been back in this chitty situation and need some clarification on plumbing.Large black hose from the back of the head to the discharge end of the pump, which is mounted in fwd stateroom bilge. There is a white hose on top of discharge end that leads to the bypass valve to tank or overboard. Does anyone know why the top discharge hose would run out of the bilge area, disappear from sight (with no other hatches to access) and then have another hose that returns from the same abyss to the valve?I think I've pinpointed a clog in this line but I want to ensure there isn't a valve or something that I just haven't found in the abyss area.

My Ys are all located together in fwd bilge. Is it possible someone has installed a pump to empty holding tank overboard? You seem to have one too many hoses to make sense to me otherwise.

 

[ageless]

You make a valid point with the thought of another pump to discharge the tank overboard but to clarify one question I didn't answer the master stateroom system is plumbed the same way. The top discharge hose runs off somewhere I can't visualize and theres a return hose that goes down to the tank/thru hull valve, seems that wouldn't be necessary on both sides if it were a tank discharge.

 

[ageless]

oo have mixed white and black hoses. Don't know if this will helpbut here is how mine is: 2/38/ from bowl to pump. 1" from pump to vented loop (will be above the water line). 1" from vented loop to check valve located near the through hul. 1" off through hull T to black water tank.

X3 on our vessel! Did the longest run (aft master cabin) of 1" last year. Pulled that bowl and 2 3/8 hose 3 moths ago. Calcified down to about about 1/4"!!!

In the process of replacing all on my other 2 heads now. Seriously considering putting new toilets in with the pumps in the base and ditching the galley maids. Will go to fresh water flush on these 2 if I do.

Might have a couple 24 volt GM pumps in the next 2-3 weeks if any wants them: I have new intake and discharge stators for both as well as I was planning on thorough clean up of both of them. Bowls would also be availble.

I'd be interested in extra parts when they're available

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

You make a valid point with the thought of another pump to discharge the tank overboard but to clarify one question I didn't answer the master stateroom system is plumbed the same way. The top discharge hose runs off somewhere I can't visualize and theres a return hose that goes down to the tank/thru hull valve, seems that wouldn't be necessary on both sides if it were a tank discharge.

You have two tanks on that boat.

 

[BOATER BOB]

Hook a vacuum cleaner hose to white hose of the two with the vac blowing and go find which hose goes were and lable.
Bob