Masera

[Bob S]

I was told by the boat yard my maserator in the forward head is frozen. I'm not sure if it's necessary because in the waters I sail I cannot discharge waist. We use the pump out exclusively. I'm not sure how this is set up. Do the Beneteau's require the maserator to flush? It's a manual Jabsco toilet. The yard wants $500 to do it. If it isn't required I will pass or do it myself. If it is can a Jabsco pump be used as a replacement?
Sorry, I'm on the left coast visiting my son waiting for my grandchild due this week! I'm 3000 miles from my boat.

 

[Gunni]

You don't need a macerator. The jabsco head pump is completely capable of moving waste to the tank.

 

[Benny17441]

Is it frozen or clogged? Not unusual for macerators to get clogged by visitors who do not know the do's and don'ts. It is usually a messy job but take the unit out and take it apart to see what the problem is. It is just an electric motor attached to a pump and discharge hose. In many instances just removing the clog will return the macerator to action.

 

[Bob S]

Is it frozen or clogged?
Benny, the boat is new to me. I paid the yard to spring commission her because of time restriction on my part. They left me a voice message that this is what they found.
Thanks for the quick response. Can the head be used with it frozen or do I have to replace the pump? Either way, I'm the DIY type. The yard quoted 250 for the pump plus another 250 in labor. I don't complain about yard costs but I've learned that if I do it myself I can save a lot of money and I understand/learn how my boat functions in the process.

 

[Davidasailor26]

The macerator should be connected to an outlet from the tank, but the head should be able to pump into the tank, and you should be able to get a pump-out without any problem.

 

[Gunni]

The pricing and labor looks right, but you can take the pump out and replace the hose with a new full length. I looked at putting a macerator pump on my system to evacuate the tank off shore and my guy told me that they are a common fail item if not properly used and maintained and even then a frequent replacement item. The problem for me is like so many head items the pump would be wedged into a space only a small trained monkey could access. I lost interest in the complication.

 

[Ron20324]

The usual problem is after using the macerator pump, it needs to have water run through it to get the crap out. If not, it will dry up like a brick.

 

[Bob Mack]

RE Bene macerator problems, in general. Have identified another typical problem, and solution.

Problem: On my 2007 373. macerator runs but does not pull a suction and pump out. Pump runs OK, no impeller or cutter problems. No apparent blockages in intake or discharge piping, or at thru hull.

One solution: The hard plastic suction line inside the tank is a two piece unit with a slip ring compression nut, similar to the height adjustment on a sink. This allows the suction to be adjusted, about an inch above the bottom works fine. However, on mine I found that the nut had never been tightened and allowed a suction leak at the joint. Tightening cured the problem.

 

[Vegas]

I never use mine, but someone leaned up against the momentary push button and bad stuff leaked out of a leak in the pump. I like your idea of removing the pump from the system. Did you remove yours? Can you just somehow cap off the hoses, or do you have to complete the "circuit" with hose????

 

[NYSail]

On another threat I belong to, many people have converted their holing tanks to "gravity release" instead of using the marsurator. On the 423 they add a t at bottom of tank with one part going to deck pump-out and other going to thru hull which gets the handle removed in teh closed position. A direct exit from the bottom of the tank which on the 423 is above the waterline. Then can get rid of the pump and all those hoses.

 

[Vegas]

Excellent info! Thank you!

 

[Gunni]

On the 423 they add a t at bottom of tank with one part going to deck pump-out and other going to thru hull which gets the handle removed in teh closed position.

Huh? Lots of Beneteau's are set up for this modification with a bottom-discharge waste hose. It is suboptimal and makes your deck pump out hose part of of your waste holding tank. Use top shelf hose. But it does make it possible to dump your tank offshore. You will need to valve-off the gravity drain thru-hull hose right at the tank tee...and leave the thru-hull valve intact for reg. inspection compliance.

 

[NYSail]

Right now my deck pump out hose is part of the holding tank because it is set up to feed off the bottom. When I do this modification I will use the top Masurator fitting for the deck then use the bottom fitting for the overboard discharge. Less pipe filled with “stuff”. Did replace hoses using to quality stuff.....