transom shower/washdown

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Alvorada

Alvorada

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Apr 25, 2010
35
Beneteau 331 Herrington Harbor South (Friendship, MD)
OK, we are new boat owners and our family just purchased a B 331 (2001). This is a silly question, but I cannot, for the life of me, figure out how to work the transom shower. I have used transom showers on Hunters, but this one leaves me befuddled. I turn on the fresh water pump, pull out the handle, turn the water on at the transom, and just get a drip or two. Clearly I am missing something very obvious. Please help this novice sailor.:confused:
 
Caboteur

Caboteur

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Feb 21, 2010
347
Beneteau 31 016 St-Lawrence river
I have a Beneteau 31 and "toyed around" awhile before I realized that to turn the water on at the stern you must move the hot/cold selector "up" and then select the water temp and at the same time depress the little pallet on the shower handle!
Not as user friendly as it seems!
Good luck...
 
M

Murray16764

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Oct 16, 2007
52
Beneteau 352 Toronto
Also check to make sure there the control value is open - you will find that in the rear locker, if your boat is like mine.

Murray
 
Alvorada

Alvorada

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Apr 25, 2010
35
Beneteau 331 Herrington Harbor South (Friendship, MD)
Thanks Caboteur. We got it to work this weekend and now I realize what you mean by "up." You were right. Part of the problem is that we were told the shower was 'cold' only so I did not try to pull the hot/cold selector "up" (or "out") just on and off. Well, my wife pulled it up/out and it works great. That's a newbie for you. Thanks again.
 
Caboteur

Caboteur

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Feb 21, 2010
347
Beneteau 31 016 St-Lawrence river
Fantastic...
Quite a few systems on the boats are not as "user-friendly" as they should. We will be going to the Bahamas this fall and sailing through the Chesapeake in the fall & spring. Maybe we will be lucky enough to meet you!
Pierre
 
James Simmonds

James Simmonds

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Jul 28, 2010
52
Beneteau 331 Collingwood
Thanks for the advice

This is our third season with our B331, how the transom shower works has always baffled me. I took your advice this weekend and finally have it working. Now if I could only figure out how the diverter "y" valve on the head works.

J Simmonds "Jillaural" :dance:
 
Mike B

Mike B

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Apr 15, 2007
1,013
Beneteau 43 Baltimore, MD
The diverter or Y valve on the head is simple. Turn it to one side and what gets pumped from the toilet goes into the holding tank. Turn it in the other direction and it gets pumped overboard. That is providing the thru hull is open. BTW unless you're outside the 3 mile limit on the ocean it has to be in the "tank" position and locked in place so it cannot be discharged overboard. Locked means a wire ty, small pad lock, etc. Anything to prevent a guest from flipping the handle in error.
 
Mike B

Mike B

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Apr 15, 2007
1,013
Beneteau 43 Baltimore, MD
One more note on the swim platform shower. Make sure you winterize it come layup. If you forget to do so and it freezes you'll likely have to replace the mixer valve, shower head or both. Ask me how I know :)
 
James Simmonds

James Simmonds

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Jul 28, 2010
52
Beneteau 331 Collingwood
A follow-up note

Mike B said:
The diverter or Y valve on the head is simple. Turn it to one side and what gets pumped from the toilet goes into the holding tank. Turn it in the other direction and it gets pumped overboard. That is providing the thru hull is open. BTW unless you're outside the 3 mile limit on the ocean it has to be in the "tank" position and locked in place so it cannot be discharged overboard. Locked means a wire ty, small pad lock, etc. Anything to prevent a guest from flipping the handle in error.
Click to expand
In which direction is the valve to pump into the holding tank. We have found times when we pump the head and then while we are under sail we get waste backing up into the toilet bowl. Not pretty :doh:
 
Mike B

Mike B

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Apr 15, 2007
1,013
Beneteau 43 Baltimore, MD
Re: A follow-up note

There are a couple of ways to tell what the proper position is.
1. When in the tank position there are holes both in the handle and body if the valve that will line up that enable you to put a wire ty through it and keep someone from inadvertantly pumping overboard
2. Simply put some water through the toilet and listen. If you have the valve in the tank position you'll hear the water splash into the tank.
3. Sometimes there's a label that tells you the position, look for on in the cabinet.

BTW always make sure you pump enough water through the toilet. Doing so will help carry waste to the tank vs letting it sit in the hose. That way if you get any back seepage it will liekly only be #1 not #2.
Now for why you're getting backflow. Beneteau installs the holding tanks above the toilet. The only thing keeping any waste left in the discharge hose from re-entering the toilet is the joker valve, which I suspect is in need of replacing. There's far more info on why it's really happening but based on how B installs the toilet and holding tank there's not much you can do with getting into heavy duty replacement of components. Be sure to flush a couple of gallons of fresh water through the toilet before you change the joker valve. Also pump several times before you open the fitting. This will push most of the water in the line into the tank. Once you open the fitting where it's housed you'll understand why I recommend the fresh water flush.
Mike
 
James Simmonds

James Simmonds

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Jul 28, 2010
52
Beneteau 331 Collingwood
Re: A follow-up note

Thanks - will check that out this weekend. my suspicion is that the toilet needs a complete overhaul. Good job for the winter.
 
D

DancingDays

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May 3, 2009
35
Beneteau 31 Lewisville, TX
Re: A follow-up note

How long should the joker valve last? I started getting the backup problem a few months after we took possession of the boat. I replaced the joker valve, which helped at the time, but in a few months it was back again.

I decided to do a rebuild this weekend. Everything seemed to go back together easy enough, but now I can't get a prime on the intake. Grrr.
 
D

DancingDays

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May 3, 2009
35
Beneteau 31 Lewisville, TX
DancingDays said:
I decided to do a rebuild this weekend. Everything seemed to go back together easy enough, but now I can't get a prime on the intake. Grrr.
Click to expand
False alarm. It's amazing how much better it works when you don't switch the intake and bowl flush hoses.
 
Segler56

Segler56

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Sep 12, 2010
4
Beneteau Beneteau 411 Galesville
Back to the transom shower, every time I need to pump up the fresh water, there's a steady stream out of the mixer valve! It doesn't appear to be something repairable - in other words looks like I need to buy the part, including hose connectors. Any advice would be appreciated!!
 
ColleenIII

ColleenIII

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Jul 22, 2009
13
Beneteau 331 Deale, MD
I also have a novice question about the B331 transom shower. Boat is new to me this season (B331 2001). I have never used the transom shower but went to winterize it last weekend. all went well; steady stream of antifreeze (Pink Stuff). But I cannot for the life of me figure out how to push back in the temp selector handle. Now the rubber cover will not go back on as the handle sticks out to far.

So which way do I need to push-down/pull-up/twist to get that handle back in position?
 
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