We have a 1996 Hunter Passage for about one month. When we first got the boat, we had a small odor problem from the forward head...and in the process of finding an answer the following happened: My forward head overflowed from waste water backing up into the toilet (The aft head remained and stayed clean and odorless throughout this entire adventure). It turned out to be a full holding tank (each flush came out holding tank's vent line) We pumped out the tank and everything was OK for about an hour. Then at the dock, and with the holding tank's intake thru hull fitting CLOSED, the forward head started overflowing from waste water again. The holding tank apparently had a small amount of water remaining and when we completely emptied the small amount of water left in the holding tank, the backflow obviously stopped. I checked the joker valve and it looked like it didnt close completely - so it's replacement is on order. And why may I ask do you think this happened??? Hopefully its just the little joker valve!! I wonder how the holding tank water got back up into the head's discharge line, when the head's discharge line apparently feeds to the top of the holding tank??
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Well...you're right about one thing...
Sewage on the bottom of the tank cannot "jump" into the intake fitting from the toilet at the top of the tank and make its way back to the toilet. Which is why, unless your tank is filling up again (have you checked?), I don't think it's coming from the tank. I think it's coming from the head intake. Here's how you find out for sure: close both seacocks (the tank doesn't have an intake seacock, only a discharge seacock, btw...it's the toilet that has an intake seacock). Wait to see whether the bowl fills again. I'm betting that it won't. Then open only the tank discharge seacock (the one that the macerator sends the tank contents out of), ...and wait again. If water backs up into the toilet again when only that one is open, check your tank... 'cuz it has to be full again to overflow back to the toilet. If nothing happens, close that seacock and open the head intake seacock...and wait. It HAS to be one or the other...tanks--unless they're full to overflowing and the vent is blocked--just don't back up through the toilet unless water is coming in to overflow them. And empty tanks don't back up into the toilet, period. Seacocks should NEVER be left open...ALWAYS kept closed except when whatever is connected to 'em is actually in use. That means, keep the BOTH head intake seacocks closed except when you use the head--and close it immediately afterward... That means keep the tank discharge seacock at all times, only opening it to dump the tank at sea (beyond the '3 mile limit' only)--and close it immediately afterward. You were fortunate that you were aboard to see it happen...because it could very easily have sunk your boat at the dock. Let me know what you find...and I also want you to be able to describe how the entire system is plumbed--especially whether there are any vented loops in the head intake and/or tank discharge hose between the macerator and the thru-hull. Is there a y-valve in the pumpout line...or just a wye or a tee fitting? What kind of toilet? And is there a vented loop between the pump and the bowl...or at least a high arch above the waterline in the intake line? Once I know what you have, I can tell you what else you need to do besides keeping the seacocks closed.
Sewage on the bottom of the tank cannot "jump" into the intake fitting from the toilet at the top of the tank and make its way back to the toilet. Which is why, unless your tank is filling up again (have you checked?), I don't think it's coming from the tank. I think it's coming from the head intake. Here's how you find out for sure: close both seacocks (the tank doesn't have an intake seacock, only a discharge seacock, btw...it's the toilet that has an intake seacock). Wait to see whether the bowl fills again. I'm betting that it won't. Then open only the tank discharge seacock (the one that the macerator sends the tank contents out of), ...and wait again. If water backs up into the toilet again when only that one is open, check your tank... 'cuz it has to be full again to overflow back to the toilet. If nothing happens, close that seacock and open the head intake seacock...and wait. It HAS to be one or the other...tanks--unless they're full to overflowing and the vent is blocked--just don't back up through the toilet unless water is coming in to overflow them. And empty tanks don't back up into the toilet, period. Seacocks should NEVER be left open...ALWAYS kept closed except when whatever is connected to 'em is actually in use. That means, keep the BOTH head intake seacocks closed except when you use the head--and close it immediately afterward... That means keep the tank discharge seacock at all times, only opening it to dump the tank at sea (beyond the '3 mile limit' only)--and close it immediately afterward. You were fortunate that you were aboard to see it happen...because it could very easily have sunk your boat at the dock. Let me know what you find...and I also want you to be able to describe how the entire system is plumbed--especially whether there are any vented loops in the head intake and/or tank discharge hose between the macerator and the thru-hull. Is there a y-valve in the pumpout line...or just a wye or a tee fitting? What kind of toilet? And is there a vented loop between the pump and the bowl...or at least a high arch above the waterline in the intake line? Once I know what you have, I can tell you what else you need to do besides keeping the seacocks closed.
I don't have an answer
But I can tell you this is a very common problem on the P-42, exactly as you describe it. I'm not sure a cure has been posted here but be sure to check the forum archives. My vague recollection is that it has something to do with the position of the anti-siphon value, or vent, but I couldn't swear to it...
But I can tell you this is a very common problem on the P-42, exactly as you describe it. I'm not sure a cure has been posted here but be sure to check the forum archives. My vague recollection is that it has something to do with the position of the anti-siphon value, or vent, but I couldn't swear to it...
Peggy is right (as usual)
The thruhull valve is open when the handle is in line with the hose. It is closed when the handle is perpendicular with the hose. If the handle goes fully into that position, then the valve is also fully into the closed position. You know the tank is full when the flushing causes water to come out of the air vent. There is an electric anti syphon valve for the forward toilet behind the shower controls. You access it from the cabinet in the main cabin. There is a wood panel in the forward end of the forward most cabinet. Take the screws out and take the panel out. Have someone flush the toilet [it is an electric Jabsco, Peggy] and you listen to the valve to hear if it is clicking open and shut, or not. If not, replace it with a new one.
The thruhull valve is open when the handle is in line with the hose. It is closed when the handle is perpendicular with the hose. If the handle goes fully into that position, then the valve is also fully into the closed position. You know the tank is full when the flushing causes water to come out of the air vent. There is an electric anti syphon valve for the forward toilet behind the shower controls. You access it from the cabinet in the main cabin. There is a wood panel in the forward end of the forward most cabinet. Take the screws out and take the panel out. Have someone flush the toilet [it is an electric Jabsco, Peggy] and you listen to the valve to hear if it is clicking open and shut, or not. If not, replace it with a new one.
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