Portable Head Reservoir

[mwalder]

I have a portable head in a 232 Gulfstream that's full and I can't figure out how to empty it.

As per the manual, the Jabsco Y Valve lever is pointed down and the discharge seacock is in the vertical position. When I depress the button at the helm, nothing comes out of the discharge (on the bottom of the hull).

I removed the cap labled 'WASTE' from the top deck, filled w/ fresh water and pressed the 'head' button at the helm. The fresh water I just filled comes out w/ no problem. I hear the macerator pump working but don't know where it is located.

Anyone had experience w/ this system? Does the boat need to be moving ya' think? Again, I'm referring to the base of the portapotty itself that's full of liquid waste. To my knowledge there is no holding tank in this boat.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[artodea]

Here's the way it works on my Gulfstream (1996 model):
The hose from the porta-potty goes to the Y-valve. One leg on the output of the Y-valve goes straight to the pump-out port on the deck (the "Waste" port). The other leg goes to the macerator pump mounted under the passenger seat. From there it goes directly to the seacock through the hull below the water line near the Y-valve.
There is also a vent line that goes from the hull near the waste port to the porta-potty.
I have only emptied the "contents" using the pump-out station at my local marina - I have not used the macerator pump other than momentarily running it to verify its operation.

If you are on the hard without access to a pump-out station you can also just remove the porta-potty and empty it the old fashioned way.

Good luck

- Art

 

[mwalder]

Thanks Art. Thats helpful. I thought pump out stations were for boats with holding tanks but there is no holding tank other than the small base of the sanipottie it seems. Also, where is access fo that macerator, i dont see a service hatch.

 

[artodea]

Access for the macerator pump is through the under-seat storage shelves. Remove that and it should be right there. It just so happens that I have mine open for replacing the live well feed hose - here is a picture:

 

[mwalder]

You're awesome thanks.

 

[DennisG01]

It's unclear if this has worked in the past for you? Has someone worked on this system - specifically the hose connections at the y-valve? Also unclear if you rotated the valve before filling through the waste cap? It sounds like the hose connections are screwed up. The waste cap shouldn't have a direct route to the macerator/thru-hull. Note the way that was mentioned above regarding the pathway that they are routed and compare with how they are hooked up on the valve.

Or...

Are you sure the bottom portion of the porta potty is full - and not confusing it with the top portion (which holds water)? Meaning, if you're just lifting the whole thing to feel the weight...

But, I'm still coming back to water shouldn't get from the waste fitting directly to the seacock, unless you moved the y-valve and just didn't mention it above.

A little more detail with help, regarding the procedure(s) you have done.