head odor and potential mod

dogdoc

dogdoc

GreatGrady Captain
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Model
Marlin
When I bought the boat the head (with the exception of the manual pump on toilet) was not functioning. Macerator and indicators did not work. My fix was to convert to a number one only head, we call it the ladies room. To empty the tank I installed a small bilge pump in the tank connected to the original outlet hose of the macerator and hooked it up to a switched 12v wire. The current problem is that we sometimes get a stale urine odor in the head. I think it may be that sometimes the toilet is not flushed adequately and urine pools in the hose never making it to the tank. The discharge hose is very long with the vented loop set up. My thought is to dc the long discharge hose and run a short hose from the toilet directly to the holding tank. I realize this could create a safety issue ( no loop) with siphoning when under way. Since it is liquid only would a check valve suffice. The discharge seacock is always closed except when emptying the tank.
 
dogdoc said:
When I bought the boat the head (with the exception of the manual pump on toilet) was not functioning. Macerator and indicators did not work. My fix was to convert to a number one only head, we call it the ladies room. To empty the tank I installed a small bilge pump in the tank connected to the original outlet hose of the macerator and hooked it up to a switched 12v wire. The current problem is that we sometimes get a stale urine odor in the head. I think it may be that sometimes the toilet is not flushed adequately and urine pools in the hose never making it to the tank. The discharge hose is very long with the vented loop set up. My thought is to dc the long discharge hose and run a short hose from the toilet directly to the holding tank. I realize this could create a safety issue ( no loop) with siphoning when under way. Since it is liquid only would a check valve suffice. The discharge seacock is always closed except when emptying the tank.
Click to expand...
I have a portable head on my Overnighter.
I add a little Pinesol to both the water and holding tanks and it does a lot to control the odor. You might keep a bottle in your head to add a little now and then. I believe it’d help.
 
Ex owner used the toilet and it was smelly.
I bought a holding tank cleaner (need to check on boat), flushed the tank twice with it and 98% of smell is gone.
But i don't use the toilet and thinking about removing it to make some space for more used things.

In my RV trailer i use Thetford Acqua Chem sachets in the holding tank and they work well, but probably not made to to dump in the sea.

I would not remove the gooseneck if toilet is used, just flush with more water and add a squirt of Thetford Acqua Rinse.

Chris
 
The problem with these heads is using salt water for flushing. It seems to interact with the waste in the tank and sours. Fresh water systems smell much better. The answer is to empty the tank ASAP, fresh water rinse and empty again. You can do this at a pumpout station if one is convenient.

I let my guests do what they have to do in the head. ASAP I clean it out.

For me I keep black 5-gallon bucket potty bags in the head. They will stretch over the toilet. Put the seat down and do your business. Close up the bag. Store in a bucket up on the bow.
 
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never use salt water to flush, we use the fresh water sink sprayer in the head. I do believe it is lack of volume for flushing and waste sitting in the hose. I will be more diligent in flushing with large volume when we get back to dock. I have flushed copiously at the dock recently and added black tank stuff. Odor is pretty much gone. Still would like to shorten up that hose but guess I wont.
 
I think you've seen the threads linked below.

There is nothing more inherently awful than a toilet on a small boat.
I went 24 years without one and only once had to shittinabucket.
My crew now requires a functioning head. So I went for it and fixed the pump and the freshwater so they can wash hands :rolleyes:

I agree that salt water (and probably lake water) will get to stinking on its own over time. Has lots of things living & dying.
I suppose now that I fixed my freshwater tank I could rig the head inlet to it. I think I'm done with it though.

I wonder if the time you spent rigging it with a bilge pump would have been better spent rigging a Jabsco pump.


https://www.greatgrady.com/threads/...erator-retrofit-265-express.19049/post-269559
https://www.greatgrady.com/threads/265-not-so-fresh-water-tank.37764/


https://www.greatgrady.com/threads/scad-tank-level-monitor.36326/
 
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