Toilet Issue

JoeWhite · Mar 9, 2025

That handle is not in the closed position. But the one that will make the bowl full of water is the through hull valve that may be not visible easily.

kappykaplan · Mar 9, 2025

The "switch" at the top of your photo should be left in the dry position (all the way to the right) when you're done. When did you last replace the joker valve?

kappykaplan · Mar 9, 2025

Kraffert said:
Have never replaced it.

The switch should be pointed to bring fresh water into the bowl? Or the opposite?

Opposite of bringing fresh water into the bowl. If you've never replaced the joker valve in the time you've had the boat, I strongly
recommend you do so.

kappykaplan · Mar 9, 2025

Joker valves should be replaced annually, depending on how much the toilet is used.

kappykaplan · Mar 9, 2025

Kraffert said:
Thank you!

I appreciate the assistance

De nada . . .

H30sailor · Mar 10, 2025

Agree with above. Easy quick fix. The mechanism looks old. It’s only about $100 to replace the pump mechanism (Amazon , West Marine) which includes the joker valve. Joker valves allow back flow into the toilet once they get stiff and start to fall. It’s so simple - a few screws and a few hose clamps to loosen. You’ll lift off the old pump, screw in the new and attach the hoses, and turn the seacock open again. You’ll see the white mark on the handle will move easily to the lock position. You’ll push the tab on top to the dry bowl position after use. Easy peasy I’ve done 4 times now on different boats. Watch the Jabsco you tube video and you’ll see it’s a quick fix.

H30sailor · Mar 10, 2025

Here’s the video for replacing your Jabsco pump.

Tally Ho · Mar 10, 2025

I addition to everything all above have said, it would be critical to close the thruhull when leaving the boat.

The thruhull is the valve that is mounted in the hull, below the waterline and allows you to bring water into the toilet.

Greg

sailme88 · Mar 10, 2025

Repeating what Greg said... When not aboard close your thru hulls..ALL OF THEM..

Also check your vacuum breaker...

H30sailor · Mar 10, 2025

You’ll find a diagram in your owner’s manual; these are often available online as well. You’ll need to know where all of your through-hull fittings are located. You’ll be shutting off the seacock for the sea water intake before fixing your pump, unless it was plumbed into a fresh water tank in which case you’ll close that valve. But most likely you’re pulling in sea water. You would have been told if it was converted to fresh water.

JBP-PA · Mar 10, 2025

Kraffert said:
I have no idea how to close through hulls, nor where to find them.

Follow the smaller house from the back of the toilet. It will lead to a ball valve/seacock/lever valve (or possibly a turn gate valve which should be upgraded at the first opportunity).
There are other through hull valves. One for your sink drain, one for an inboard engine, one for air conditioner, etc.
When not aboard, you should close them all, though many people don't close their engine through hull.

For the joker valve, get the Raritan brand one. It works better than the Jabsco one and the fit is exactly the same.

Claude L.-Auger · Mar 10, 2025

On my 34, the top of the bowl is 2 inches below the waterline. If you leave the through-hull open and the Jabsco valve is not in the dry position, principle of communicating vases will fill the bowl, which will overflow and fill the boat. It happened to me as a guest got up in the middle of the night and forgot to put the lever back to the dry position. We were anchored and when I got up in the morning, I thought the boat moved differently, sort of sluggish. I opened up the floorboard for the bilgepump and discovered water all the way up to the floor boards. Somehow I also had a problem with the pump which did not start ! Luckily I was able to get the pump going but it took a few hours to get rid of the water. I then discovered the Jabsco lever on the wet side and saw water flowing over the rim of the toilet bowl. Since then, all of my through-hulls get shut down when I'm not on the boat, but the one for the head gets shut down before I go to bed. I tell my guests to throw a glass of water in the bowl for rinsing while pumping during the night. I laugh at it now but it could have turned into a really dangerous situation.

kloudie1 · Mar 10, 2025

Wow.. I had almost the same thing happen! I think when there is no one in the vee berth, my toilet bowl top is just a hair above the waterline.. Wife left lever in the "wet" position and we were in the vee berth so the forward side of the bowl was a bit below waterline. I heard the bilge pump running continuously around midnight and stepped out of the berth into water (fresh bayou water) just over the forward floorboard.. Water was pouring slowly over the forward side of the bowl into the shower sump. Shower sump pump was working hard .. I found the bilge pump through hull cracked and the hose laying by the batteries with water shooting out from the main pump. Turned off the pump and pumped the boat out with the manual pump.. Changed the through hull the next day.. Scared the #@$#^& out of me.. Scared wife too.. she remembers now where the lever goes.

Tally Ho · Mar 11, 2025

As others have said, follow the water fill line from the toilet to a valve of some sort in the hull.

My boat has ball valves. Others may have gate valves (not recommended these days).

I found my sink drain in my galley was rotted. It exits the boat at a below the water thruhull. Luckily, the hose didn’t rupture, or my boat might have sank.

Greg

Toilet Issue

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