Head

P

pressure23

Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2020
Messages
11
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Model
Escape
Hi, not new to boating, but I never had a head. I now have a 2017 257 fisherman with a head and holding tank and macerator and I'm clueless. What's the story? Do you put water in top tank for the flush? Do you press macerator after done? How in the world do you pump it out? Can't I simply take the small holding tank off, but how do you stop it from going all the way to the big tank in the hull? Sound like an idiot, but really felling clueless on this thing. Adding the pic of what I have!
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0915.jpeg
    IMG_0915.jpeg
    2.3 MB · Views: 10
Last edited:
Download your owners manual from the Grady site. It will have the instructions for your model. Ironically it's great reading material for your house throne!
 
Still haven't figured mine out. It's like an 8-step process to use it. Couldn't find any instructions either. I think Grady needs to do a video series on every toilet model they have.
 
pressure23 said:
Hi, not new to boating, but I never had a head. I now have a 2017 257 fisherman with a head and holding tank and macerator and I'm clueless. What's the story? Do you put water in top tank for the flush? Do you press macerator after done? How in the world do you pump it out? Can't I simply take the small holding tank off, but how do you stop it from going all the way to the big tank in the hull? Sound like an idiot, but really felling clueless on this thing.
Click to expand...
Keep the discharge seacock closed unless discharging. I also keep the raw water intake closed even thought it doesn't push water in when underway. Just another hole in the bottom I want plugged.

When you use it, open the raw water intake seacock so water can come in. You likely have a disc on top of the housing next to the bowl, turned one way is designed to pull in raw water (and also flush into the holding tank). The other way flushes without pulling in water (although residual stills comes into the bowl). When the tank is full or you just don't want that rotting in the tank, go to a marina with a pump out. The access plate for pump out is likely on the gunwale cap. They'll have a pump station with a hose that seals over the opening. Enjoy the show. I keep nitrile gloves and hand sanitizer in a bag on the boat for this. Alternatively, you can discharge offshore if over the right distance, as long as you aren't within a non-discharge zone. ONLY USE MARINE TP. The only things that should go into it: what comes out of your backside or bladder and marine TP. NOTHING ELSE. I had to rip open my tank and clean out the macerator twice before due to feminine toiletries in the system. Doesn't matter how seasoned the people are, they'll flush what they flush. I don't let anyone outside my family use it without me saying, don't put anything else in there!
 
It sort of sounds like you're describing a porta-potty (generally plastic) with a macerator option. But can you clarify if you have a SEPARATE holding tank... or is the bottom section of the potty the holding tank?

You should probably have a pump-out deck plate/fitting, as well (and probably a Y-valve to switch between pump-out and overboard discharge). THAT is what you normally use to evacuate when at the pump-out dock - the pump-out deck plate, NOT the macerator/overboard discharge.

You have to well offshore in a LEGAL discharge zone to use the macerator. Otherwise, the macerator must remain inoperable - closing and locking the seacock works (even zip ties on the handle will generally meet the law requirements).
 
Gone Coastal said:
Keep the discharge seacock closed unless discharging. I also keep the raw water intake closed even thought it doesn't push water in when underway. Just another hole in the bottom I want plugged.

When you use it, open the raw water intake seacock so water can come in. You likely have a disc on top of the housing next to the bowl, turned one way is designed to pull in raw water (and also flush into the holding tank). The other way flushes without pulling in water (although residual stills comes into the bowl). When the tank is full or you just don't want that rotting in the tank, go to a marina with a pump out. The access plate for pump out is likely on the gunwale cap. They'll have a pump station with a hose that seals over the opening. Enjoy the show. I keep nitrile gloves and hand sanitizer in a bag on the boat for this. Alternatively, you can discharge offshore if over the right distance, as long as you aren't within a non-discharge zone. ONLY USE MARINE TP. The only things that should go into it: what comes out of your backside or bladder and marine TP. NOTHING ELSE. I had to rip open my tank and clean out the macerator twice before due to feminine toiletries in the system. Doesn't matter how seasoned the people are, they'll flush what they flush. I don't let anyone outside my family use it without me saying, don't put anything else in there!
Click to expand...
Yeah, I'm describing one with a china bowl and separate holding tank. If you have what the other poster described, I have no idea how to use it. At least after it is used for relief.
 
Gone Coastal said:
Yeah, I'm describing one with a china bowl and separate holding tank. If you have what the other poster described, I have no idea how to use it. At least after it is used for relief.
Click to expand...
And... it could still be a porta potty with separate holding tank, too.

I guess the best thing is to first get concrete clarification (and maybe pics) of what were dealing with before going too far.
 
Thanks for all the responses. Not sure if this pic will give you enough info to see what I have.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0915.jpeg
    IMG_0915.jpeg
    2.3 MB · Views: 20
Hi,

That looks like a simple porta-potti to me.

Are you sure that setup has a holding tank?

In any case, my prior boat had a head that looked like yours looks. It had a separate holding tank.

Basically, it could be pumped out at any marina with a pump-out or harbor pump-out boat.

From what I can see of your setup...

1. fill the reservoir tank on the head with water and head treatment
2. use and flush
3. pump out holding tank when full

repeat 1 - 3 as necessary.

Each winter:

1. have the crap pumped out of the holding tank
2. fill with fresh water and repeat #1
3. clean the head thoroughly (I used head treatment as a cleaner and a wet-dry vac to empty it.
4. add rv/marine antifreeze to the reservoir and pump through the head and into the holding tank
 
Can you get a close-up picture of the black panel/switch to the left of the head?

I am wondering if that is a pump-out switch to pump it out when > 3 miles offshore.
 
See if there is a manufacturer's tag on the unit. If so can get the manual off the net.
 
There appears to be a sticker right before that "switch". which shows the direction for the valve to be in for pump out vs seacock. looks like lever may be thru the access pie plate on the wall under the sticker.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JJF
pressure23 said:
Thanks for all the responses. Not sure if this pic will give you enough info to see what I have.
Click to expand...
That helps - mostly :)

So you have what I was "guessing" above. But what we still don't know is if you have a separate holding tank or the only holding tank is thelower half of the potti.

Right there in your picture is the directions for the Y-valve I mentioned. It's probably inside either the large access hatch or the pie plate below it.

You'll want to find your seacock and ensure it's currently closed... and that it operates smoothly/correctly.

Don't overthink this, though - it's VERY basic plumbing. Once you start putting your eyes on things, it will make a lot more sense.
 
This is a porta potty with holding tank, and a choice between dockside and offshore pumping. It has a macerator, a Y-valve, and a seacock. If you don't have hoses that we can't see coming out the back of the potty, it is self-contained, and dumped by hand.
You could have dockside only, which would eliminate the macerator, Y-valve, and the seacock and through hull, but you still would have a hose from the holding tank to the waste pump out cap, often in the deck of the walkaround on that side. .

DC6BF6B5-0BBD-477D-9F55-373A171B65B3_1_105_c.jpeg
5ED2EA3D-1574-45BE-B203-0BF34BC30AE6_1_105_c.jpeg
 
Last edited:
DennisG01 said:
That helps - mostly :)

So you have what I was "guessing" above. But what we still don't know is if you have a separate holding tank or the only holding tank is thelower half of the potti.

Right there in your picture is the directions for the Y-valve I mentioned. It's probably inside either the large access hatch or the pie plate below it.

You'll want to find your seacock and ensure it's currently closed... and that it operates smoothly/correctly.

Don't overthink this, though - it's VERY basic plumbing. Once you start putting your eyes on things, it will make a lot more sense.
Click to expand...
Thanks that's been my issues, eyes on it. This is my newer Grady I got at end of season and little chilly out before the marina stacked it. I do think there's a macerator. The boat came with a few rolls of TP in it LOL from past owner so it was an active bowl. I'm thinking I don't want it tied to the separate holding tank even if it is plumbed as this is really for my wife who won't got out long when I didn't have one. But I think it will get light use. I didn't have one on prior Grady and never stopped me from all day fishing days.
 
I do have one more follow up, what is keeping the potti stable in its position? Is it bolted into the deck usually?
 
I 'accidentally' deleted my earlier response so in summary, the picure in the OPs post is a porta potty style MSD. I had the same in my 208. If the OPs MSD is held down to the deck with brackets on the sides, that would confirm my assumption.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.