Well-nigh problems with marine toilets stem from a lack of basic maintenance, or an endeavour to affluent bulky foreign thing through the system. Keeping an eye open up for the common issues listed beneath will help to keep the organization working reliably.

H2o leaks


Leaks side by side to the pump handle of the popular Jabsco and Raritan models are a common occurrence on a unit of measurement that has not been serviced for sometime. The skilful news is that the water that escapes hither is the sea water used for flushing – so you don't demand to worry well-nigh it being a severe wellness hazard. Information technology'south too usually easy to gear up – the problem is invariably with a worn or perished seal around the rod to which the pump handle is attached. Simply unscrew the big plastic nut on tiptop of the pump to reveal the one-time seal – information technology'due south usually a ten minute job to replace it.

Heads

Regular maintenance will increase your familiarity with the system and enable yous to identify and care for common problems.


Calcification


I of the more than difficult problems to diagnose is that of the outlet pipework becoming progressively clogged up with calcium deposits. As this is a trouble that manifests slowly it's all too like shooting fish in a barrel to fail to spot the early signs of impaired performance – yous tend to slowly adjust to the new norm, until the system fails considering the pipework has go severely restricted.

Regularly flushing with a mild acid such as vinegar (also a mild disinfectant) may help to irksome the build upward, although this won't eliminate it by any means. The photograph shows a v-year former heads outlet to holding (black) tank where the cross-exclusive surface area has been reduced by around 50 per cent.

Sanitary grade piping is expensive, merely it's commonly non necessary to replace the pipage – if it's removed from the boat the calcium tin can be mechanically removed by bending the pipe and/or hitting information technology against a difficult surface, and then flushing with h2o. If necessary repeat this process a couple of times.

Calcification

Don't underestimate the effects of calcification in the discharge pipes – this is a v year sometime piping later around 70 days per year on board.


Joker valves


The valves at the get out of the pump are too prone to becoming gummed up with calcium deposits, which will eventually impair their operation to the point at which the pump no longer functions properly. The classic symptom of this is if it appears to be difficult (or incommunicable) to flush abroad the contents of the bowl – if the joker valve fails to seal, so equally well as clean seawater beingness sucked into the pump, it will besides tend to draw in the contents of the waste pipage.

Also, equally a pump ages the prophylactic components become more breakable. The above photo is of a damaged joker valve from a little-used (just 30-year-old) pump. The service kits that are available for all pumps contain replacements for all these components, including the joker valve.

Joker Valve

Correct operation of the joker valve on the discharge side of the pump is critical, but can be dumb past calcification, or by concrete impairment to the valve, as in this instance.


Smells


These may originate from 1 of two sources – a scent of sewage may mean that the outlet hoses are not of a proper sanitary class. The importance of this cannot be overstated – if regular reinforced plastic hose is used odours from the inside will somewhen transfer to the outside and thence to the cabin.

Of course, in that location's a 2nd possible cause of getting sewage blazon smells in the boat – leakage on the outlet side of the system. Information technology's worth checking each of the joints in the plumbing with a dry cloth – this will help to identify leaks that may exist too pocket-size to spot by centre.

The 2nd type of scent that may exist experienced that of hydrogen sulphide, which carries a distinctive odour of rotten eggs. Information technology'south the result of bacterial breakdown of organic matter in an surroundings that'southward (relatively) devoid of oxygen – exactly the conditions that may exist found in the inlet pipe in many harbours. This h2o has all the life in it that causes fouling on the lesser of the hull, which if the boat is left for a long period volition grow and reproduce, until the oxygen in the water in the pipe is exhausted and everything dies.

The problem is therefore most pronounced on boats that are used infrequently, merely tin can be solved by installing a chemical handling teed into the inlet pipe or a freshwater flush system to use before leaving the boat. Both options are hands fitted and readily available from chandlers.

Blockages


These are i of every gunkhole owner's worst nightmare, simply if the system is used properly and is well maintained this not be a problem that y'all ever need to encounter. If you exercise take to tackle a blockage don't exist tempted to use undue forcefulness to propel a blockage through the organization – that'due south a recipe for bigger issues. On the other paw, patience may assistance – given time some blockages will get more than pliable and pass through the system more easily.

If the blockage won't move, the only solution is likely to exist taking the pump apart. If yous've already done this as part of routine servicing you will know the process and it should be a quick, albeit not very pleasant, task. However, clearing a blockage is not the best fourth dimension to investigate the inner workings of the pump.

If you are planning other repairs, take a look at the extensive listing of boat maintenance advice on boats.com. More specific advice for wintertime gunkhole maintenance jobs is likewise available, as are diesel engine tips for trouble-free power.

Written by: Rupert Holmes

Rupert Holmes has more 70,000 miles of offshore cruising and racing feel, in waters ranging from the North Sea to the Southern Ocean and Cape Horn. He writes about all aspects of boat ownership and marine travel, including destinations, seamanship and maintenance, also as undertaking regular new boat and gear tests. He currently sails effectually 5,000 miles per year and in the past couple of seasons has cruised from the U.k. to the Azores, likewise as winning his class in the 2014 two-handed Circular Britain and Ireland Race. He likewise owns two yachts, one based in the Mediterranean and the other in the Uk.