Head lube...

[stevewitt1]

Great suggestions.  I had to put a new head in at the beginning of this season when I bought the boat.  Old one cracked at base and I couldn't find the leaking.

After 37 years of boating it was the first brand new head I think I ever had.  The whole season that pump worked so smooth and great and now I can't sleep at night for fear of the second season.  LOL

The other thing I did:  I've seen some great suggestions on here for plumbing mods on the drains.  Twice I had the water from the inlet fill up the bowl to he point of spilling over (failed shut off the shower sump shared sea cock in a timely fashion.)  So, I took a rather simple minded approach and installed a gate ball valve behind the head in the water pickup line where it comes out from under the seat.  Am I opening myself up to some serious problems by doing this?  So far all summer I've had no bowl filling and nothing coming in through the shower drain (pump mounted high).

Steve

visit us at www.ocontoyachtclub.com and www.warbirdsix.com

[Stu Jackson]

Steve, sounds like a reasonably prudent thing to do.  If you read the little sign on the head sink door, it says: Important (2 or 3 times) to close the head inlet valve.  All you've done is make it more accessible.  Good idea.  Your boat, your choice. 

[Mike and Joanne Stimmler]

Steve,
I don't mean to nit pick at you but a term you used in your post, "gate ball valve" is a bit confusing. These are actually two different types of valves. A gate valve is like the hose bib valve at your house and a ball valve is the type that just requires a quarter turn to turn on and off which I think is the one you were refering to.
What you've done is an excellent idea though as Stu said. A friend of mine has the same set up on his Pacific Seacraft/ Erickson 38. His was just a simple ball valve mounted just behind the head and in his case actually eliminated the need for a vented loop(as long as you remember to turn it off). In most cases the flush/fill switch on the head pump will prevent the back siphoning but it's not 100% reliable.

Good job!

Mike

[stevewitt1]

Mike

Thank you for the clarification.  You are absolutely right I did install the ball valve that requires but a ¼-turn to open/close.

Stu
You are right too.  My sticker was actually on the bulkhead between the head and Nav/communication/entertainment center/AC fridge and wet hanging locker center.  The other neat thing about buying a new head is getting a "brand new sticker!"  As you can see, I'm easily amused.
Being as absent minded in my old age as I am, I do find it easier to remember the valve while it is in sight.  I'm sure a couple of times of cleaning up water and my memory of the sea cock valve would have improved.
Steve

[Lance Jones]

Steve, I had posted that very same solution earlier in the year. It really helps. Great minds....