Water level in Jabsco bowl

[Martin15377]

Hello Mrs. Hall,

I have just replaced the old Jabsco marine head on my Mac25 with a new Twist'n lock manual head, also from Jabsco.

When I pump water into the bowl, only the bottom part of the bowl is filling (a few inches), and water seems to flush away immediately even if the flush control lever is in the "fill" position. Other than that, the toilet works fine and flushes correctly with the control lever in the "flush" position.

Is it normal that I can never fill the bowl more than a few inches of water ? Is there something wrong with my toilet ?

The head is above the water line, in the enclosed compartment next to the V berth. The water is coming in from an inlet that is completely aft, and the holding tank is also in the back of the boat. There is at least 12' of hoses to get there. There is a vented loop fitted to the discharge hose.

Someone told me that the distance between the toilet and the inlet/outlet might be too long...

What is your opinion on that ?

Thank you for your time and help !

Martin

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Your toilet is behaving normally

Your toilet is intake thru-hull is waaaaay too far from the toilet...but that's not why your bowl won't hold water. It's not supposed to. Although some high-end electric marine "thrones" are designed to bring water into the bowl and hold it, manual marine toilets are not designed to hold water..they're actually designed to push out slightly more with each pump stroke in the "wet" or "flush" mode than they bring in. To add water to the bowl ahead of solids, you'll need to use a cup from the sink.

We do need to discuss your sanitation system plumbing, though!

As noted above, your head intake line is way too long...it should be no more than 5-6' long.

Your holding tank should be no further than 6' from the toilet...the reason: that's as far as bowl contents can move in the amount of time anyone will spend pumping a toilet. If the waste doesn't make it into the tank, it sits in the hose to permeate it. If the line from the toilet only goes to the tank--the toilet doesn't flush directly overboard--there's no need for a vented loop in the head discharge line.

I also question that you're toilet is entirely above the water line...'Cuz I don't know how, on a 25' sailboat, that's possible unless it's set on a platform at least a foot above the head sole! However, whether it is or not, there should be a vented loop in the intake...it belongs between the pump and the bowl as shown in the installation instructions for your toilet Jabsco manual toilet instructions

I'd love to help you modify the system to put things where they'll be the easiest to maintain and give you the fewest problems...and also be without odors! If you'd like to do that, just send me an email. Meanwhile, keep a couple of BIG plastic cups in the head!