Bowl back filling

[Rob]

My head appears mysteriously full when I board the boat to take her out for the day. There is an odor in the boat as well, though not too bad (assume it's the KO doing its job). Water color is a dirty light yellow.Is this the dreaded joker valve giving up the ghost?If so - new valve, or as Peggy often reccommends, just replace the head?Am I way off base?Thanks all!RobC-27, Jabsco (?) head, holding tank, no y-valve

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

I'll bet you're leaving the intake seacock open...

relying on the dry/flush valve to keep water from rising in the bowl. If so, you've just learned first hand why that's a very bad idea...'cuz dry/flush valves fail. They're especially prone to failure in jabsco toilets. If the top of your bowl weren't above the waterline, your boat would have sunk....'cuz water outside the boat will try its best to seek its own level inside the boat any time it has an opportunity to do so. Open seacocks have sunk a lot of boats.If that's not the cause...does your head discharge hose run uphill from the toilet? If so, water in the hose is running back downhill into the bowl. The inside of that hose isn't exactly clean, which would account for the dirty color. Replace the joker valve. However, joker valves aren't supposed to totally block ALL seepage. Always remember to pump the head "dry" enough times to clear all the water out of the hose before closing up the boat each time. As for the odor, unless it's only in the head--obviously coming from the bowl--it's prob'ly a separate issue...a dirty bilge or sump, or both. Read the articles "Head Related Odors" and "Boat Odor Isn't All in Your Head" for what to do about 'em.

 

[Rob R.]

Head Mistress strikes again...

Yup Peggie - I was. I knew the bowl was above waterline, and never had a problem with a failed valve. But, dealing with this in the theoretical is different then actually seeing it. I think I'll be using that seacock a little more often in the future! It is beyond me why the put it in such an inaccessible area on a C-27. Thanks!Rob

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

Plan B:

Inaccessible seacocks are a major problem on many boats, but most production builders now put 'em "out of sight, out of mind" because seacocks are anything BUT "decor" items, and today, it's decor that sells boats. You can protect the boat while it's at rest in the slip or on an anchor--but not underway--by installing a vented loop in the intake. It goes between the pump and the bowl (if you put it between the thru-hull and the pump, it can prevent the pump from priming), and needs to be at least a foot above the waterline at any angle of heel. If the seacock is so inaccessible as make it all but impossible to get at without taking everything out of a locker, also install a shutoff valve (not a one-way valve, a shut-off valve) in the head intake line, next to the toilet that can be kept closed ALL the time except when the head is actually in use.

 

[Rob R.]

Now that's an idea...

And a good one Peggie! I'm gonna look into that - otherwise we have to move everything out of the V-Birth, which we use (half) as a storage area.Thanks again -Rob