Watch you head - it can sink your boat!

[Doug Margison]

Fortunately my wife and I close the through hull valves to our boat when we go home after a sail or weekend on the boat.Last week when we got to the boat and opened the through hulls we noticed the water level coming up in the head even though it was on "Dry Bowl"Don't worry I told my wife, the head is original equipment and the top of the bowl must be above the sea level so it won't overflow. We pumped a few times to clean out any debris, then pumped it dry. Low and behold the water just kept on rising and rising, reached the top of the bowl and started to overflow. Whew, quickly we shut the through hull.Then I went and checked the level of the seawater relative to the top of the head - top of head 2" below seawater level. Remember this is original installation.This weekend we are going to rebuild the pump, and modify the water intake hose to have an anti siphon tube extening up to 8" above seawater behind the head so if, heaven forbid, we forget to shut the thru hull and the seal in the pump fails the boat won't sink. This is a serious matter that we understand has sunk many a boat, so boaters BEWARE. If this article potentially saves a single boat it is worth it.

 

[Peggie Hall/HeadMistress]

Put vented loop between the the pump and the bowl

If you put it between the thru-hull and the pump, the toilet can't prime. And 8" above the bowl isn't enough...it must be at least a foot above the bowl *at any angle of heel."However, it will still be necessary to keep the seacock closed when you're underway. A vented loop will not prevent "ram water" (water forced up the hose) from overflowing the bowl.Rebuilding won't solve the problem that caused the head to fill on "dry"...that's due to a failed dry/flush valve, which isn't in the rebuild kit.And btw...it's not at ALL uncommon for toilets on sailboats to be completely below the waterline.

 

[Bryan C.]

Why above not a requirement

You'd think it'd be a requirment, at least for smaller boats, to put the top of the head above the waterline. In most cases its got to be pretty close, anyway. Tis aboe on my 35, and it does give me some comfort that a leaking joker won't cause my boat to sink. I'm surprised an above water line installation isn't just a standard installation.

 

[Sam Lust]

Toilet Height

If the toilet on these smaller boats was set so the rim was above the water line, you'd have to have a hatch to stick your head out of as you sat on the throne.My feeling is you have to pay attention to business. Make sure you have a functional siphon break placed as Peggy states between the PUMP and BOWL well above the water line at the greatest angle of heel. Yes, you have to chuck that pretty little piece of hose they put on the new toilet. And close your through hull.

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

Sam's right...

Unless you want a sailboat with a flybridge, putting the head above the waterline is impossible. However, it's not a major big deal--IF you pay attention and do what's necessary to protect your boat. And that doesn't only apply to toilets.