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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

The next problem - factory-installed head

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kpaternoster
1st Mate

Member Avatar

USA
30 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/13/2006 : 11:49:11

Hi there,

I have one more issue to deal with on the new boat (well, not one more issue, but the next issue I'm going to deal with). I'm hoping someone out there can give me a head's up.

It appears that the "fresh" water isn't coming into the head. The guy I bought the boat from said he just rebuilt it 2 months ago, and it was working then. Not working now. Any clues?

Thanks,
kim

Kimberly Paternoster
1989 C25 #5811 "Tipsy Gypsy"
Lake Travis (Austin), TX

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/13/2006 : 13:58:22

Kim,

If you have a fixed marine head, be sure to open the water inlet valve located under the V berth through the access door.

Also, if you have a vanity sink in the head area, you may also be having issues with air getting into the inlet for the head.

Ain't new boats fun!!!

Edited by - on

kpaternoster
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
30 Posts

Response Posted - 03/13/2006 : 15:36:11

I did check that valve... hehe... after that last valve incident, so I know it's not a valve issue. If it's air coming in through the sink (which I do have btw), what do you do about that? I would just as soon get rid of that sink and have a closet there frankly. How many sinks does a 25 foot boat need????????

kim

Edited by - on

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 03/13/2006 : 15:49:13

Hi Kim,

When I bought my boat, the marine head wouldn't draw lake water either. In my case, the little flapper inside the pump mechanism had detached. A pretty simple fix. If you can identify something obvious like that, you can repair the problem for little cost.

My head is a Groco MF (I think), and when I contacted the Groco people they were very friendly over the phone and knew exactly what the problem was after hearing my description.

Good luck.

Edited by - on

kpaternoster
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
30 Posts

Response Posted - 03/13/2006 : 19:04:33

Thanks for the info. I have a good friend who is going to help me fix that (I'll buy him a case or few of beer for it, but better him than me I think).

kim

Edited by - on

DanM
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
256 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2006 : 09:31:29

Hi Kim, and a belated welome. Here is the website for Groco: www.groco.net (If that's what you have) You can download the info sheet and parts list. WM has info for other brands and a handy maintenance brochure. (No endorsement)

If your sink drains through a T fitting connected to the lakewater inlet, you should be able to close the valve and then run some fresh water into the sink. The drained water would then be flowing toward the head and, unless there is a leak or airlock, it should enter the pump.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2006 : 09:32:10

Kim,

This happens periodically on my 88 TR. It's the flapper sticking as previously posted. Put a little vaseline on the the metal disc that consitute the "flapper" and you won't have a problem for a year or two.

A word of caution, do no t over-tighten the screws when you reinstall the flapper cober. The housing is very delecate. If you over-tigthen and crack the housing your pump will leak. BE VERY CAREFUL.

Edited by - aeckhart on 03/14/2006 09:34:30

ilnadi
Captain

Members Avatar

452 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2006 : 10:16:27

first, I'll do my usual stupind questions:
1. is the flush lever on "wet bowl"
2. do you feel resistance when you pump (the c-rings holding the disk to the rod corrodes off)

ours only sucks up water if the sink drain is stoppered (one came with the boat) You can definitely test by closing the thru-hull, pumping 4-5 pumpts down the sink and pumping it out the other side.

Edited by - on

Brian King
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
73 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2006 : 12:59:21

I have never had to plug the sink on my '89. All I do is open the thru hull valve and water pumps into the head just fine. Sounds like a head rebuild job is in order. I did mine last year,,,,YUCK!

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2006 : 13:19:02

One thing that has been establish many times on this forum is that new heads are almost as cheap as kits and a lot cleaner to install. Never pass up a chance to upgrade!

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kpaternoster
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
30 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2006 : 14:12:54

The guy I bought the boat from did the head rebuild about a month ago, so it's close to new already. I think something just isn't working right.

kim

Edited by - on

Jmurfy
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
176 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2006 : 22:32:17

I've had my boat for 6 months and was surprised to find out the water pumping into the head was lake water! I had been trying to pump antifreeze from the fresh water tank through the system for winter storage and couldnt figure out why it was taking so long! I always assumed it was from the water tank. I was also surprised to find out after dumping 4 gallons of non toxic antifreeze down the aft sink drain that the only thing I was preventing from freezing was Lake Michigan! I learned all this after I pulled the boat from the water at the end of last season and heard the antifreeze dripping on the concrete floor of my storage area. ( I thought I was treating the holding tank!) And I thought my learning curve had flattened out for the winter!

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 03/15/2006 : 11:58:10

Every time I read posts like these I kneel and kiss my porta potti. I buy a new one with every boat I buy. This one is 13 years old and has never been used,( thanks to the stern rail)and a sign stating PIZ TU CELA

Val on the hard DAGNABIT # 3936 Patchogue, N.Y.

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Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 03/15/2006 : 13:47:37

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Every time I read posts like these I kneel and kiss my porta potti. I buy a new one with every boat I buy. This one is 13 years old and has never been used,( thanks to the stern rail)and a sign stating PIZ TU CELA <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Our marine head gets a workout every summer. The wife feels more comfortable using it than the facilities on shore. I use it a lot too.

We replaced our head at the beginning of last year, it was pretty easy and only took an hour from start to finish. Sometimes I think a portapotty would be nice, but I think I would only get one if I got one with a deck pumpout option.

Good luck.

Edited by - on

kpaternoster
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
30 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2006 : 16:04:46

aloha,

If you know where the flapper valve is, and you see this before 5pm CST, and you don't mind phoning Texas, please call me at 512.848.5155. i'm at the boat right now, but forgot my schematics...argh!!! thank you all...

kim

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