The joys of marine toilets

[georgeo]

Forumites may have seen my previous posts on my struggles with a seized inlet gate valve, now solved. Regrettably however, not the end of the story. marine toilet was cleaned by SWMBO this weekend, and now blocked. Vigorous denials of putting anything down, it with threats of withdrawal of priviledges if i continue to pursue this line of enquiry! Can confirm that no, how shall we put it, solid material has gone down it in recent memory as >90% of my sailing is singlehanded! So am tempted to take my Karcher to it and give it a blast! Any downside in terms of damage to the kit possible do you think if i do this? I realise of course that I could get covered in an unfortunate backfire!

 

[tillergirl]

Certain domestic cleaning products do nasty things to seals and all that on boat loos although generally that makes things waggle loosely rather than jam. What sort is it?

 

[jimbaerselman]

Erm. Is the exit seacock open? If it is, close it, then:

Detach pipe at exit seacock end and inspect . . . that'll tell you whether it's scale or 'stuff' blocking the pipe.

Detach pipe at loo end and operate loo with appropriate containers and rags around . . . that'll tell you if the loo valves are all OK.

Shower thoroughly and make like a martyr, sigh with exasperation to try to earn a few brownie points . . .

 

[Hoolie]

[ QUOTE ]
make like a martyr, sigh with exasperation to try to earn a few brownie points . . .

[/ QUOTE ]

... and, as has been suggested here previously, for greater effect dab pieces of Mars bar soft toffee on your face and lick it off with great relish!

 

[Malcb]

Problem with gate valves is that you may think, because you have freed them, they are opening and closing, where all you may have done, when freeing it, is sheered the srew from the gate, and either leaving it open or part way open or closed. If the latter then hence blockage /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Gate valves, especially domestic type shouldn't be on a boat.

 

[Hardley]

Had same problem a few years ago, after lending boat to family, all the pumping in the world would not clear the blockage, so I went sailing in a good blow, got set on a reach and flew along, that cleared the blockage. Probably the same method we had to use when under training in RN, instructor would pull the plug out of the boat, let some water in, we would then have to pull (row) like mad, whilst one body would hold the blade of his knife in the plug hole at an angle and the speed of our pulling drained the boat. Being lashed with a ropes end ensured we pulled hard enough.
That's enough swing the lamp.