Marlin Macerator help

Angler Management

Angler Management

GreatGrady Captain
Joined
Jun 15, 2014
Messages
302
Reaction score
26
Points
28
Location
Washington State
Model
Marlin
I have three girls.

I haven't had time to figure out where the macerator is on my new 2007 Marlin, but that's next on the list as the vacuflush is not sending the contents of the basin to the holding tank... I'm certain I'm not the only one whose young kids have caused a blockage from any number of band-aids, lego men, Barbie sequined jackets, etc...

Point me in the right direction before I start unscrewing unnecessary panels?

Thanks in advance.

Randy
 
In my Sea Ray, the transfer pump (technically, it's not a macerator) was mounted right on the black water tank. Could yours be the same? I assume you can find the tank easy enough. The transfer pump has a main body about half the size of a gallon paint can. There will be two lines (hoses, 1-1/2" if it's the same as my Sundancer) -- one on each side. If the clog isn't in the toilet, then pull the transfer pump apart. When was the last time the duck bills were replaced? Might be due for those - do you hear the pump turning on occasionally - even when the toilet hasn't been used?
 
The macerator pump is built into the storage tank which is accessible under the panels in your mid-birth. Start with the panel closest to the opening, I believe.

(I thought it was Ayn Rand who said "If it is worth doing, it is worth overdoing" although Steven Tyler seemed to live it. My favorite Tyler quote is "The light at the end of the tunnel may be you."

Cheers,
-Scott
 
If the light at the end of the tunnel is me... am I about to crash into a mirror?

I've pulled the panels in the mid-berth. This boat is new to me, no idea when these units were serviced last. I'm still not able to keep the circuit breaker for the "head" in the "on" position, I hear no whirring.

I still need to try a plunger. But I am concerned I've burnt the pump. Not sure of overboard macerator status... it worked a few weekends back but the tank is now empty.

RC
 
Angler Management said:
If the light at the end of the tunnel is me... am I about to crash into a mirror?
Click to expand...
I think he was referring to his drug addiction problem and concluding that he needs to solve his own problem and not wait for someone else to solve it for him. I posted the quote at work hoping to encourage folks to come forward with any new ideas they may have to solve problems, rather than just complaining about them.

I haven't had any problems with my pump yet but folks usually start with a few wraps with a hammer to see if they can free them up. There are a bunch of posts on this - here is one:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=13306

Good luck with it.
-Scott
 
Not sure this helps but I'll add my experience with our 2006 Marlin. My holding tank below the aft berth cushions was not emptying soon after I bought the boat (used in 2008). I learned how to replace duck bills on my pump. They are located on the side of the pump and not too difficult to replace.

My other tank is located in the aft cabin on the port side, it's behind the large panel (about 18" tall x 24" wide).

Sorry I'm so late in responding and I'm not sure I told you anything you didn't already know.

Scott
 
I'm sorry for the delayed response. I'm not near the boat on a job away. The overboard macerator if I remember correctly was Jabsco I believe, with a side box that was similar to the duckbill post in description. The pump in the port locker had no apparent name and looked pretty beat up...

Hammer already used. No luck.

I'm leaving on a ten day trip Tuesday and I only have Saturday to dial this in, so I actually called a marine mechanic to take a look this week. I'll report back.

We normally use a bucket with only one moving part on this trip, so I'm not overly worried. It has more to do with pride and any smell that may appear after several hot days of non use.

The head circuit breaker trips. What's the deal with the quick connects all over the place in the bilge. I expected fuses but it's only orange guides? Must be a mass production thing.

Anyway thanks for the input so far. If anyone has other tips I'm all ears. Otherwise I'll keep my fingers crossed this mechanic in the harbor traces it down for me.

Cheers. Randy
 
Yeah, kids (and guests!) can be hard on marine heads. Unfortunately, as I'm sure you can surmise, it's hard to figure things out via a forum with limited info. It could be a clog, could be a failed motor, it could even be a failed breaker - lots of things to check. But I'm sure someone who will be there in person can get it figured out for you. But at least the "bucket method" has an extremely low failure rate! :)

So if your main system is a Vacuflush, then you should have a porcelain bowl with a foot pedal for flushing? And then it sounds like you have an actual macerator (the Jabsco one) for overboard discharge. So, these are really two separate systems. The Vacuflush puts stuff into your holding tank, and the mac takes it out. With the vacuflush, you'll have: Head --> vacuum generator/small tank --> holding tank. The small tank is where the suction pump is - this is the one with the duckbills. This small tank is sometimes mounted right on the holding tank, and sometimes it is a separate tank... the latter of which sounds like it is in your case?

This suction pump is actually a really, really good pump set up - rarely fails, and clogs are relatively easy to get rid of as you just need to unscrew (if memory serves from the last time I did this, they are left-hand screw) the fittings on either side of the pump housing to expose the duckbills.

The Vacuflush is a Dometic/Sealand product and a good place for information (with pictures) is northeastsanitation.com. They also have good prices on rebuild kits and are good, knowledgeable people to deal with.

Gold luck! I hope it all gets worked out for you!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.