restarting the head ??

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Gene

I just purchased a 1981 Watkins 27 Pilothouse. The boat has been out of the water and in dry storage since 1989. It's almost like a new boat. Needless to say, it's doubtful the head has been used in 14 years. What, if anything, should be done to/for the sanitation system ??
 
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress

I suspect the first thing you need to do is

Replace the toilet...after 14 years, it's prob'ly so obsolete that, with the possible exception of a rebuild kit (all the rubber seals, valves etc), no parts are still available for it. Even if you can still get a rebuild kit, unless your luck is better than mine, something will break that can't be repaired immediately after your install it. If it's electric, the lubrication in the sealed motor has long since settled, ceasing to provide any corrosion protection. Same is true of your bilge pumps, fresh water pump, and anything else that has rubber parts and an electric motor, btw. If they work at all, they're not likely to work very long. After 14 years on the hard, none of the hoses (fuel, exhaust, fresh water OR sanitation) are likely to be salvagable...hoses dry out, become brittle and crack. I wouldn't trust ANY of 'em...I'd replace 'em all. Then there are the seals and gaskets in the engine...same thing. And Lord knows what else, including the wiring. You've got a LOT of work to do to make a 21 year safe and reliable. My last one was only 16 years old and had only sat for 5 years when I bought it...I had to replace just about everything on it, 'cuz lack of use is FAR more destructive than even hard use. However, I bought it knowing that...I hope you did too, and that you had a full pre-purchase survey. Btw...you asked about the sanitation "system"...what else does it have besides a toilet?
 
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Gene

but......

This boat has not sat unattended for 14 years. The owners have been (albeit slowly) working on it. It has a BRAND NEW Yanmar 2GM20F engine, and new bottom/paint. I agree with you on pumps, hoses and the like. But this is a 27' boat, so replacing these won't be that expensive. I called it a sanitation "system" because it wasn't a porta-potty. I'm not sure if the toilet has been replaced (it looks new) or not. But I have the owners available to me to ask and answer my questions regarding the boat. I really appreciate your advice and input, and please keep it coming. This boat is in excellent condition, and looks like about a 3 year old boat. There were only 7 of the PilotHouse models made. With the new engine, and replacing the hoses pumps and motors, I think we will have a super boat for what we paid and will have to put into it. I'll keep you adivsed. Thanks
 
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress

Let me know about the toilet...

And whether the boat has a tank. If so, is it metal or plastic? Restoring and updating a boat is always full of surprises--some pleasant, some not--but overall, a lot of fun. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
 
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