Potty time

[dj2210]

Well I've been smelling some not so nice odors on board especially after the boat has been closed up. I checked the vent line by removing the hose and stanchion to make sure it's clear. I'm thinking it's time to replace the head and hoses. It's appears to be a Par, maybe original, so I figure it's time to go. My plan is to put in a Jabsco manual head and replace hoses with either the Raritan or Trident hose.
My head goes directly to the holding tank and then to a y valve to deck port or macerator and thru-hull.
Is there any reason to put in a vented loop in the line from the head to holding tank?
Also is there any reason to keep the macerator and y valve? I'm very far from the 3 mile offshore limit
Doug

 

[shipwreck66]

I'm going to go ahead and remove my old macerator and plug off that line, for the same reason. I started using the cheaper RV treatment from Academy rather than the expensive stuff, and actually is keeping the odor down. Also, someoone advised me to use Pinesol in the lines when I leave the boat. Just fill some in the bathroom sink and work it thru with the head pump

 

[Brad Woodward]

Doug, There is a lot of info on odor from the head on this site. You can use a chemical like the blue stuff that sits on top of the liquid and keeps the ordor down but you have to add some every time you pump/dump your head. It can start to add up. Much of what was said in other posts is that ordor is caused by your holding tank not getting enough air. A tank with adequate ventilation will not smell. Many boats are not made with big enough vent hoses and have an ordor problem. Those that put in larger vent hoses had the problem go away. Just a thought before you go and spend a lot of money on pumps, and other hoses.

 

[dj2210]

I have been searching but really didn't see an answer whether I needed a vented loop from the head to the holding tank. Does Catalina rely on the Joker valve in the head to prevent the head from filling up?
Is there any good reason to keep the macerator pump and corresponding parts if your 8 hours from the closest shore?

 

[fox islander]

...I replaced my hoses with the spendy Trident stuff and flush only with fresh water. Very little odor.

 

[shipwreck66]

I also only flush with fresh water, anything with biologicals will stink up the tank regardless of the preventives you put in there, and many of those smell like porta-jons. I only recently, stupidly, figured out that the head sink drained into the head, then pumps into the holding tank. So I fill the sink with a little Pinesol and fresh water, and pump the head. Also, my water system isn't pressurized, so the water in fresh tank was getting stale, and there was a bit of odor coming from that. I know now not to fill it up and to treat it will those magic chem pills periodically. 20 gal takes a long time to use up with just a whale pump in the galley and the goofy hand pump in the head. I don't see any reason not to go ahead and remove the macerator, just keep it on a shelf somewhere for future use. Just be sure to plug your thru-hull, I wouldn't trust just the valve itself to keep water out. If you're not going to use it, seal it up good. I debated having mine sealed for good and glassed over as this is now officially a fresh water boat and will never use those thru hulls again, although I wondered if one could be used as intake for a marine AC?

 

[dj2210]

I appreciate all the info. It's been too HOT (105) to go to the boat and measure things so maybe I'll get a chance to this week. I might try replacing the hoses and buying the pump assembly from amazon for 60 bucks and see how that works out.

 

[jrowan]

I also only flush with fresh water. I believe that most of the Catalinas were plumbed this way, with the sink draining into the head? I thought that this was weird at first. But then I realized the logic to it, after head use, U normally wash your hands, etc. with soapy water, which is prefect for sending down the drain. I believe that its the bacteria in raw sea water or lake water which if used to flush the head causes the worst odor. Since I flush with fresh water the smell is really minimal. Although my head pump is starting to leak when pumped, has anyone replaced their valve assembly, or is it so disguisting that its better to just replace the entire head?

 

[Stu Jackson]

jr, nope, Catalinas were NOT plumbed that way, a PO did a very good mod.

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5755.msg38216.html#msg38216

You only need to do it on the LAST flush of the day, and use Odorlos, too. It works.

What head do you have? If it's a Raritan, fix it. If it's anything else, either swap for new or buy a Raritan PHII or the LBA pump replacement using your old bowl.

 

[Bad Obsession]

I second what Stu said. I put a PHII in my boat and I haven't regretted it at all.

 

[wise4]

Sorry folks but a lot of stuff people put down the head to 'make it smell better' is actually making it worse.... The only thing we add is some 'good bacteria' to speed the breakdown of all that organic material... Doesn't take much and any rv store will have several brands cheap....

We always flush with sea water and typically pump out or pump overboard every month or so. A holding tank with a proper vent and a good bacteria level will have no odor issues with the decaying stuff in sea water....

The only time we ever had an odor problem was after adding some veritable oil to the head thinking it was good for the pump mechanism..... Might have been good for the pump but was horrible for the holding tank..... That rookie mistake opened my eyes ..... And it never happened again....

 

[dj2210]

I ordered the new head and 12.5 ft of trident 101 hose today.

 

[bobcat30]

Three years ago I had the foul odor also. I replaced all the lines with the the new type of "HEAD LINES" It totally eliminated the smell for about $20 $30.

Start hear and you might not have to replace the entire head.

BobCat

 

[jimmcgee]

I too only use fresh water in the head. Something that did make a difference was after flushing everything through I add a little fresh water back into the head, just enough to cover the outlet hole. Seems to help with odors coming back up through the lines.

If figured if it works to block sewer gas for the toilet at home it should work on the boat.

 

[BJV]

The big advantage to flushing with fresh water is it reduces the calcium build up in the hoses. To prevent odors you need to flush enough to clear the lines, ensure the holding tank gets a good supply of fresh air (vent) and if using additives use one which enhances the good bacteria (like Raritan CP). We live aboard for past 7 years and this procedure has worked well for us.

 

[JrhettB]

I also only flush with fresh water. I believe that most of the Catalinas were plumbed this way, with the sink draining into the head? I thought that this was weird at first. But then I realized the logic to it, after head use, U normally wash your hands, etc. with soapy water, which is prefect for sending down the drain. I believe that its the bacteria in raw sea water or lake water which if used to flush the head causes the worst odor. Since I flush with fresh water the smell is really minimal. Although my head pump is starting to leak when pumped, has anyone replaced their valve assembly, or is it so disguisting that its better to just replace the entire head?

The sink drain actually Ts into the head intake line near the seacock. If you keep that closed and fill the sink with water, you can use it to flush the head. But if you are just trying to drain the sink after use, just open the seacock and it will drain without constantly filling the head.

I've gone through many projects working on the head including changing the joker valve and then later the entire pump assembly. Also ran new lines and yesterday cleared the stanchion air vent by taking off the head cabinet. All are dirty jobs, but not difficult. Not sure how old you head is, but the newer pumps lock down the flap creating a bit of redundancy with the joker valve.

 

[foolproof]

I experienced this problem myself this weekend, and feel that my experience may be of some help.

My boat has a rubber bladder as a holding tank, under the port settee. 4 weeks ago we got the head fixed and used it all weekend. We pumped it out before we went home for the week.

Three weeks ago we went to the lake, used the head but didn't figure we needed to pump out...it was a short weekend.

Last weekend we were down for a three day weekend and used the head quite a bit...it's amazing how big this thing seems to be! I peeked under the settee and noted that it was only partially expanded. We sailed all day, and the marina was closed when we came in, so we went home without pumping.

This weekend, we noticed a bit of an odor when we got aboard, but it seemed to go away when we opened up the boat. Then, last night, it got really bad! I had rinsed the bilge earlier in the day, and noted that it was now full of nasty brownish water. I vowed to investigate in the morning, provided I wasn't overcome by the noxious fumes first.

Today we took the boat to the marina and got pumped out. I had them rinse 3 times to get the bladder rinsed out really well. When the bladder was completely full I ran a hand around trying to find a leak. I found two leaks, both at the line fittings.

I discovered that the fittings in the bladder are simple flanged fittings with a gasket and a nut on the outside to hold it tight in the bladder. The vent line fitting nut was loose, so I took it apart, cleaned it really well and reinstalled it. The waste fitting was loose also, and the fitting had actually shifted in the opening in the bladder, and was leaking raw sewage right into the bilge! I disassembled the fitting, found everything to be in good shape, but dirty. I cleaned all the parts and reinstalled.

After fixing the fittings, I went back to the marina and had them fill the bladder again, and checked for leaks. Everything seemed OK, so we sucked it dry.

Hope this is of some value.