Can't keep water in my Jabsco 37010 bowl...

[Grant]

Peggy - The Jabsco 37010 electric flush toilet in my Maxum cruiser won't keep water in the bowl. The toilet base is mounted about 4' below the waterline, so the desired water level in the bowl would be just about even with the waterline. There's a 10" or so loop in the discharge line, and I installed a one-way check valve in the intake line per Jabsco's recomendation. The ONLY way I can keep water in the bowl is to give it a good flush, and then immediatly close the seacock on the intake line. My buddy has no problem with his boat using the same toilet!Any ideas? - Thanks!

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

Unless there's a typo in your post

I don't think you want the bowl to hold water. You said the toilet base is 4 feet below the waterline...from the base to the top of the bowl is only about 14 inches. Without anything to prevent water from rising, an open seacock would sink your boat.Even if you meant 4 inches, I still can't imagine why anyone would want the toilet on a sailboat to hold water...heeling, especially in even moderately heavy seas--or even just being tossed around by a wake while motoring--would send water splashing all over the head. That's why marine toilets, unlike household toilets, are designed NOT to hold water. However, if you're determined, all you have to do is remove the joker valve...that'll allow the water between the bowl and the top of the loop in the discharge line to flow back into the bowl. Unless you want it to be dirty water, be sure to flush long enough every time to completely rinse the discharge hose.Closing the intake seacock allows the intake impeller to run dry...if you keep doing that, dry friction heat will destroy the impeller.

 

[RREgge]

Maxum? I think you are lost!

Peggy is the person to help you with this one, the rest of us have sailboats. You should try boatered.com for your powerboat questions.Why is it powerboaters are always lost and asking us for directions?RREggeS/V Allie Kat

 

[Grant]

Jabsco Follow-up...

Yes, Peggy, that was a typo - I meant to say the base of the toilet is 4 inches, not 4 feet, below waterline. As one of your readers was quick to point out, my Maxum is NOT a sailboat. Therefore I am not concerned with heeling issues, etc. I apologize if I have somehow infringed on your readers sense of well-being by making reference to anything other than a sailboat. Thanks for your advice.Sincerely,

 

[Ron]

Grant

Don't know if the intent of the "Powerboater" crack was just a good natured ribbing, or a lack of civility.Nevertheless, we're all mariners sharing the same waters and experiencing similar problems. And, we can always learn from each other.--Ron