Unpleasant question re heads...

[rogerthebodger]

My forward head is very similar to yours with just a simple pipe and anti siphon fitting between pump and sea cock.

I had a blockage that would stop the pump in its tracks but would release after a little time. I removes all the pipes and anti siphon several time but could not find any blockage. As last resort I get my scuba cylinder and blew the pipe through with full pressure. This cleared the blockage after the sea cock that was directly screwed to the skin fitting.

My conclusion was that some critters had grown to such an extent in the outlet after the seacock that any hard stuff or paper would catch on the critters and cause the blockage until the water dissolved the paper etc thus releasing the pumped pressure. This was confirmed at my last pull out as others had a similar partial blockage with marine growth.

 

[LadyInBed]

As last resort I get my scuba cylinder and blew the pipe through with full pressure. This cleared the blockage after the sea cock that was directly screwed to the skin fitting.

I use a long hefty screwdriver.
I'm also fairly sure that marine growth is the major cause of seized seacocks.

 

[Sea-Fever]

Also, don't confuse the smell of the output with the smell of the input!
Sea water left in the inlet pipes can generate hydrogen sulphide when the heads is used again after a few days of non-use. This is due to "animals" in the sea water degrading. It goes quickly once flushed through.

That's an interesting point I hadn't considered.

 

[RupertW]

That's an interesting point I hadn't considered.

And often proved to be a myth when the problem is actually the transfer of output waste to the input pipe via the valves and the pump sides. In some very live waters it might be a part of the problem but not in pure seawater but that’s a big thread drift to an old argument.

 

[Momac]

I find the best plan with boat toilet is to pee only in them.
By making use of shore facilities it is possible .. most of the time.
And as said bag up any tissue paper - nappy bags are very cheap.

 

[LadyInBed]

I find the best plan with boat toilet is to pee )only in them.

A 2pt milk container does it for me

By making use of shore facilities it is possible .. most of the time.

Only if you are a marina hopper.

 

[Heckler]

And often proved to be a myth when the problem is actually the transfer of output waste to the input pipe via the valves and the pump sides. In some very live waters it might be a part of the problem but not in pure seawater but that’s a big thread drift to an old argument.

A big plus one, peeps still dont get it that the flush water is on top of the piston and the fecal water on the other side. Up and down with the piston smears the walls of the pump with fresh seawater one way and fecal the other way!

 

[johnalison]

A big plus one, peeps still dont get it that the flush water is on top of the piston and the fecal water on the other side. Up and down with the piston smears the walls of the pump with fresh seawater one way and fecal the other way!

Lots of pumping is the answer. Seawater has good cleansing properties, given half a chance. If you are using the holding tank, you are not going to do much harm by doing the usual pump, then closing the tank valve and continuing to pump through to the outside. Unless you have a daft arrangement where everything has to go through the holding tank.

 

[Sea-Fever]

Lots of pumping is the answer. Seawater has good cleansing properties, given half a chance. If you are using the holding tank, you are not going to do much harm by doing the usual pump, then closing the tank valve and continuing to pump through to the outside. Unless you have a daft arrangement where everything has to go through the holding tank.

Is it daft? Why? (apart from the reason you give here)

 

[johnalison]

Is it daft? Why? (apart from the reason you give here)

As far as I am concerned, anything that adds a complication to a bit of boat equipment is just another way of inviting trouble. Also, if one is in the position of having a full holding tank which one is unable to discharge for the time being, the heads become unusable, even for a quick pee. Most holding tanks of this type seem to need pumping out, and pumps have been known to fail.

 

[Momac]

A 2pt milk container does it for me
Only if you are a marina hopper.

Toilets are available at places that are not marina's.
However I do appreciate some people may not be able to get to them.

 

[LadyInBed]

Toilets are available at places that are not marina's.
However I do appreciate some people may not be able to get to them.

I can't find the symbol on 5011, what page is it on

 

[Robin]

A tank and its breather vent form an extremely effective anti-siphon system - if you use the nice simple design that always passes through the tank then no separate anti-siphon valve is needed.

Pete

Wot we have on 2 holding tanks, both outlets are routinely left open, no anti syphons. We put no paper through, that goes into small collection bins lined with fragrant 'nappy' sacks from Asda, dumped daily, and do run fresh water in daily via shower hoses, then pump out. System stays sweet and completely pong free. Tanks are pumped out at opportune times and kept empty as far as possible, we do have tank gauges to show status. generally speaking, bad weather excepted, no solids go into the tanks in harbour as shoreside facilties are used. Ladies however use miles of blotting paper it seems even in a night's meagre tiddling, gents make do with a paper free shake or two.:ambivalence:

Edited to add:- I should clarify that everything goes via the tanks chez nous, no option for direct discharge overboard..