Mysterious Bilge Mess

[jhurite]

Last week we had a storm out here on the lake. Friends of mine said the winds were pretty severe but since I live an hour inland, I didn't notice. I had him check the boat after the storm and every thing was ok but the boats rocked pretty hard in their slips. Anyway, the Wednesday after the storm we come out to go sailing. I get on the boat and immediatly notice a foul smell. I check the tanks to find that my waste was pretty full and in need of emptying.

We decide to pump out after our outing but as we sail but when I go below and look in the bilge to find raw sewage. Of course I immediately go aft to check the holding tank and hoses. Everything is fine. No smell, no mess. Nothing. We get back and I pump out the tank and clean out the bilge. I still can't figure out where it might have come from. I cant see any traces or indication of a leak anywhere. I even buy a fiber optic camera to trace all the hose and look around the head but nothing.

I own a 2007 H33 so it's not like its very old. I still have no idea where it might have come from. Anyone out there have another idea where to look?

 

[Ken Honeycutt]

Just curious but have you changed your joker valve lately. I had a problem with my head nearly overflowing when the holding tank was near full after a rough sail. Changing the joker valve solved the problem. Not sure how your head is set up but on my 36 the head hoses run under the floor pan in a way that would allow water to flow into the bilge - shower water sometimes ends up here. Maybe this was your leak path when the head overfloewd.

 

[jhurite]

I have never changed the joker valve since I've owned her. You have a point. This weekend, after sailing on a pretty close reach with my asym, I found the toilet full of brown liquid. I have the auto flush toilet too. If the boat were jostled and the head full, because theres no vent loop, that must be the mystery. Sounds like a messy job though. How long do these valves last?

 

[Ken Honeycutt]

I think the recommendation for changing the valve is once every year or depending on use. It isn't too bad of a job. Just flush the toilet with lots of clean water before you tackle. If you have a schematic of your head it should show the location. On my Jabson it is fairly easy to change.

 

[Ken Honeycutt]

I meant Jabsco toilet

 

[jhurite]

I've got the parts on order. I'll keep you all updated. Thanks for your help.

 

[FastOlson]

Maybe a different "head" might help

Those Jabsco heads are cheap, both in design, construction, and initial pricing... and you can "pay" for it every year.
We had one on our first keel boat, and I actually sorta kinda thought that it was normal to rebuilt it every other year and sometimes more often.
Sheesh.

Then, our current boat came with a Raritan PH2. We easily get a decade of use out of it with no parts or work needed.

Loren