Hunter Passage 42 forward head seawater hose clogged

[BBC16385]

This is season 28 on Surprise. A few weeks ago I installed the fourth Jabsco macerator pump on the forward head. Last weekend the boat was splashed after annual service to I tested the pump. It will not pump water into the bowl from the sea. Today I spent a couple hours on it. Here are the results. The sea cock does open and close. Pump will clear the bowl if I pour water into it. The wiring and plumbing are correct. I poured water into the upper hose end and it did not come out of the bottom. (I removed hose from the sea cock.) So there is some kind of clog. My trusty unwound coat hanger (about 3 ft. long) did not reach the clog from top or bottom. My strong vacuum cleaner on "blow" would not blow out the clog. I don't want to use Drano or any chemicals.
Anyone have any ideas?
Many thanks.

 

[dlochner]

Is there a filter in the line?

When the seacock is opened with the hose removed, does water come in?

Perhaps it is time to change the hose.

 

[capta]

Does "The sea cock does open and close." mean water comes in through it? Have you checked the sea strainer?
Just for fun, why don't you hook up a hose from the seacock directly to the head. That will tell you if the problem is in the head or the hoses to it. Could save you a lot of messin' about.

 

[Terry Cox]

Anyone have any ideas?

If it were our boat I would connect a city water hose to the incoming sea water hose to clear whatever has blocked the line. We had a similar problem with the aft head intake line, which turned out to be some dead critter that had crawled into the through hull and died.. A city water hose cleared it just fine.

Another possibility is the formation of sea life at the through hull. We do not seem to have that problem around here, but I have heard of certain critters clogging through hulls in some areas. That may require a diver to scrape off whatever has established their home there. No sea water strainer, just a short direct hose between the toilet and through hull valve. Please let us know your outcome.

 

[Terry Cox]

A few weeks ago I installed the fourth Jabsco macerator pump on the forward head.

Why four pumps? Our 1991 original Jabsco pumps work just fine in both heads.

 

[JamesG161]

You might read this for help.

Hunter 42 Owner Modifications and Upgrades

Jim...

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

I'm guessing that the problem may be sea water mineral buildup in the intake line--and prob'ly in your toilet discharge line too, which would impede toilet discharge...I've seen it reduce the diameter of a 1.5" to less than 1/2". The cure is either muriatic acid or a new intake line. Also wondering why you've been using a macerator pump all these years instead of a pump designed to be a flush water intake pump

--Peggie

 

[Terry Cox]

Also wondering why you've been using a macerator pump all these years instead of a pump designed to be a flush water intake pump

Good morning, Peggie. Like most all P42s, Hunter built them using Jabsco electric macerator pumps that bring sea water in on one side of the pump and discharges the bowl contents on the other side. Simple, trouble free ( in our case) and effective, albeit a bit noisy. As I covered in my earlier thread on our clogged toilet, the only final cure was to replace the discharge hose. If the PO has mussels clogging his intake line about the only way to clear is to scrape them away. Still a puzzle to me why he has replaced his with so many pumps. Both of our original 1991 Jabsco electric macerator toilets still doing a stellar job.

 

[JamesG161]

I wonder if any one clicked on my link [my post # 6] which was posted by @Phil Herring about this issue.

SMH

Jim...

 

[Sailgunner]

Is the ball valve bad? Just had to replace one on my A/C.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Good morning, Peggie. Like most all P42s, Hunter built them using Jabsco electric macerator pumps that bring sea water in on one side of the pump and discharges the bowl contents on the other side. Simple, trouble free ( in our case) and effective, albeit a bit noisy. As I covered in my earlier thread on our clogged toilet, the only final cure was to replace the discharge hose. If the PO has mussels clogging his intake line about the only way to clear is to scrape them away. Still a puzzle to me why he has replaced his with so many pumps. Both of our original 1991 Jabsco electric macerator toilets still doing a stellar job.

Even after 35 years in marine sanitation I still learn something new almost every time I log into a discussion forum. It would never have occurred to me that any boat builder would re-purpose a macerator pump to use as a pump/motor assembly on a macerating electric toilet. I'm guessing your toilets are 37010, cuz almost all of Jabsco's later macerating toilets use remote intake pumps...the pump/motor assembly that the bowl sits on is only the discharge pump.

--Peggie

 

[Terry Cox]

I'm guessing your toilets are 37010, cuz almost all of Jabsco's later macerating toilets use remote intake pumps..

Hi Peggie. Unsure about our model number. Our macerator/pump mounts on the toilet base and has two chambers separated by a baffle. The front chamber empties the bowl and the back brings in sea water. The pump itself sits below the waterline and the upper part of the bowl sits above the waterline.

 

[BBC16385]

Is there a filter in the line?

When the seacock is opened with the hose removed, does water come in?

Perhaps it is time to change the hose.

There is no inline filter.
The seacock is fine. Water flows in.

 

[BBC16385]

Why four pumps? Our 1991 original Jabsco pumps work just fine in both heads.

Terry, they last about 8 years + or - forward and aft. They get a lot of use. I was on board 65 days last year and hope for more this year. Maybe we have more salt in our water that where you are?

 

[BBC16385]

Good morning, Peggie. Like most all P42s, Hunter built them using Jabsco electric macerator pumps that bring sea water in on one side of the pump and discharges the bowl contents on the other side. Simple, trouble free ( in our case) and effective, albeit a bit noisy. As I covered in my earlier thread on our clogged toilet, the only final cure was to replace the discharge hose. If the PO has mussels clogging his intake line about the only way to clear is to scrape them away. Still a puzzle to me why he has replaced his with so many pumps. Both of our original 1991 Jabsco electric macerator toilets still doing a stellar job.

Terry, I am also on my third overboard discharge macerator pump.

 

[BBC16385]

I'm guessing that the problem may be sea water mineral buildup in the intake line--and prob'ly in your toilet discharge line too, which would impede toilet discharge...I've seen it reduce the diameter of a 1.5" to less than 1/2". The cure is either muriatic acid or a new intake line. Also wondering why you've been using a macerator pump all these years instead of a pump designed to be a flush water intake pump

--Peggie

Peggy, it is so good to hear from you! You have helped me on this boat's issues since 1997. Always appreciate your all-knowing advice!

 

[BBC16385]

I wonder if any one clicked on my link [my post # 6] which was posted by @Phil Herring about this issue.

SMH

Jim...

Yes, I read it. But that is not my problem, although it has been my problem in the past. I have the seawater hose disconnected at each end. I have a funnel on the high side (toilet side) and the seacock side is off the seacock. I pour water into the funnel and nothing comes out on the other end.

 

[BBC16385]

Is the ball valve bad? Just had to replace one on my A/C.

Strange. I just had to replace mine on the A/C also. The only one that has failed in 27 years (that I know of). But this ball valve is fine.

 

[Terry Cox]

I pour water into the funnel and nothing comes out on the other end.

There you have it? Either a kink in the short piece of hose or a buildup of marine life blocking water flow? Perhaps time for a new hose?

Even our 1991 original overboard macerator pump still doing the job.

Our toilets get a good work out each year, too. During the course of year we're out maybe three months altogether. The aft head gets way more use than the forward. After each cruise we make it a point to flush fresh water through all the discharge hoses, including the overboard macerator pump, if used.

Another replier mentioned that perhaps the warmer water temps affect marine growth more so than our cooler PNW waters. Even our original seawater heat pump systems remain clear of marine growth blockages, with sea water temps ranging from the mid 40s to the low 50s year-around.

 

[JamesG161]

We have one of these on our boat for cleaning plugs.



We unplug the front head from a guest who stayed on our boat for 3 days without flushing,

Jim...