08/27/2008 01:34:46 PM
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BamaBoater
Member
Posts: 119
Joined: 11/07/2007
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We have a purasan system and we dock in a legal overboard discharge area. Our problem is the stinky lake water that fills the bowl after a flush. And when we close the boat upon leaving and then reopen a week later, the smell is particularly bad. And the water in the bowl is crusty! It is as bad as it sounds. Takes awhile to air out! Does anyone else experience this? And what, if anything, can be done to treat it? We do not use the holding tank and we don't put chemicals in the bowl.
BamaBoater on the Tennessee River
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08/27/2008 06:02:28 PM
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OLD HOUSEBOATER
Super moderator
Posts: 1520
Joined: 10/18/2002
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Suggest you convert to fresh water flush. Head Master (Vic Willman)can provide parts and instructions. Not cheap but very quiet after conversion.
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OLD HOUSEBOATER
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08/27/2008 08:37:09 PM
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BamaBoater
Member
Posts: 119
Joined: 11/07/2007
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This post will be full of dumb questions like where would the fresh water come from? The water the marina supplies at the slip? Does it require changing the toilets to a different brand? What is so expensive about changing over to fresh water flush and how expensive is expensive? Can we still use the Purasan system? A quieter flushing system would be a great benefit, but its the smell I can't deal with.
BamaBoater on the Tennessee River
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08/28/2008 07:43:28 AM
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OLD HOUSEBOATER
Super moderator
Posts: 1520
Joined: 10/18/2002
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Fresh water system uses water from your boats onboard water system. It requires a solenoid valve, backflow preventer and bits and pieces of tubing and clamps. The impeller is removed from the pump as it is no longer required. Call Vic Willman at Raritan for instructions and parts.
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OLD HOUSEBOATER
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08/28/2008 10:30:07 AM
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BamaBoater
Member
Posts: 119
Joined: 11/07/2007
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Thanks Old Houseboater for the information. Seems like we are remodeling other systems on this boat anyway. So I'll continue my research and let you know how we'll fix it. But its got to be fixed!
BamaBoater on the Tennessee River
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08/29/2008 01:32:14 PM
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GWhiz
Junior Member
Posts: 18
Joined: 05/21/2008
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I’ve wanted to get ideas of this plan
from this forum, for some time now.
This looks like the perfect thread to
highjack, because it might help Bamaboater.
I know of several folks that have made this
modification, so it must work.
I have a Purasan. Additionally the Holding
tank has never been used. The plan is to setup the black tank
as a water tank for the head. The water will be pulled out of
the bottom of the tank instead of the bottom of the boat.
Hence fresh water not river water.
What do you all think?
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Living Aboard - G-Whiz - 1986 14x60 Sumerset Cuba Landing Marina MM115 on the TN River
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08/30/2008 10:14:15 AM
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BamaBoater
Member
Posts: 119
Joined: 11/07/2007
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That's an interesting concept, GWHIZ. Of course, I have no idea if it would work but I'll be asking the experts at the marina for any and all suggestions, too.
Thank you for your input. Did you do that on your boat? Do you have the same problem with the lake water smell that I do?
BamaBoater on the Tennessee River
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08/30/2008 12:29:13 PM
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GWhiz
Junior Member
Posts: 18
Joined: 05/21/2008
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I haven’t done the modification
yet. I know of one Houseboat at our Marina, and another at a
different Marina that has. They report no problems with
it.
The holding tank is on the same level as the
Purasan unit, so gravity will keep the water pressure high enough
for the standard system to work with out changing anything other
than where does the intake get water from.
This will be a fix to our problem. Every
time we go out, our head gets air in the intake and it takes hours
to get the water flowing again. But yes, I do get that icky
smell and color every now and again.
I’ll keep the forum posted. Still
looking from other experts on their take of this modification?
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Living Aboard - G-Whiz - 1986 14x60 Sumerset Cuba Landing Marina MM115 on the TN River
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08/30/2008 04:36:15 PM
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stmbtwle
Admiral
Posts: 2142
Joined: 04/22/2003
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Seems to me it should work. You already have the tank, wouldn't be much of a deal to tie into it. I'd try it.
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Willie She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw
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08/31/2008 04:27:22 AM
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joetil
Admiral
Posts: 293
Joined: 09/10/2006
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GWHIZ
It sounds like your description of getting air in the intake is probably caused by a bad check valve on the water inlet line. This check valve is supposed to keep the water in the intake line from draining down so the pump doesn't have to suck it up from the outside water level each time.
Either replace the valve, or disassemble it and clean it out if you can. Even if you start using your original toilet pump set-up to suck from a fresh water tank you'll still need to fix this problem.
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joetil
50x15 Burns-Craft in South Fla
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09/02/2008 07:18:27 AM
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Coolbreeze
Member
Posts: 156
Joined: 07/16/2004
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Gwiz,
What you proposing will work and will provide you with better quality flush water. The only issue I could see is how you tie in to fill this tank. Treat this tank as contaminated water since it is tied to the toilet with no physical break. Fill it with a hose through the pumpout fitting. Don't tie this tank directly to the freshwater system on the boat. You could get into a cross contamination issue.
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Rick
1994 Sumerset 80'
Lake Lanier, Ga.
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09/11/2008 04:35:49 PM
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BamaBoater
Member
Posts: 119
Joined: 11/07/2007
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Before we closed up the boat last weekend we dry flushed (?) the head and put in clean water. We are getting ready to go back this weekend and will see if the clean water remained clean. That may be a quick fix. I'll report back.
BamaBoater on the Tennessee River
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09/12/2008 04:32:21 PM
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jpracer
Junior Member
Posts: 9
Joined: 02/01/2005
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I had the same problem and replaced the hose from the shut off(inlet) to the head and that fixed it. the old intake hoses were full of gunk, i guess bacteria growing or something, anyway the smell and dirty looking water in the bowl went away.
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09/14/2008 06:28:56 PM
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BamaBoater
Member
Posts: 119
Joined: 11/07/2007
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We opened the boat for a visit this weekend and checked the water in the toilet first thing. Although not brown and crusty like it used to be, it was cloudy. It also had a foul smell but not as bad as before. Leaving fresh water in the bowl for a week helped but didn't solve the problem. I do believe we need to check the hoses. They are probably the original hoses - the boat is a 1997. Do most folks change those kinds of hoses themselves or do they hire it done? It doesn't look like an easy task for the inexperienced. Wouldn't it be nice if that solved the problem????
BamaBoater on the Tennessee River
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09/19/2008 10:01:46 AM
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Jeepster04
Admiral
Posts: 310
Joined: 09/15/2008
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Im new around here but Ive been reading a lot lately(Ill make a 'hello' thread soon).
Something weve been noticing in our boat is dirty water from the previous flush is coming back up into the toilet. I assume there are some seals bad in our pump which I hopefully will take care up this winter/next spring. Once we leave the boat and come back that bathroom always smells really bad. Either way, I was curious why no one said this may be your problem. Is the lake water actually that dirty in your area?
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1990 16x78' stardust
Eastern Ky
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09/19/2008 11:56:35 AM
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Head Master
Member
Posts: 106
Joined: 10/28/2002
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Jeep, first make sure the vent on the holding tank isn't plugged up with a wad of toilet paper - or whatever. If the air that is inside the tank can't escape through the vent line as the tank fills, the tank will pressurize as you keep adding more and more to it. Then it will start backing up into the toilet (the pressure will take the path of least resistance). After you've ensured that the vent line is indeed open, replace the joker valve (duckbill valve) in the head, and you should be good to go.
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09/19/2008 08:53:26 PM
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Jeepster04
Admiral
Posts: 310
Joined: 09/15/2008
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Dont want to get this thread OT but..
The vent is fine, Ive checked that many times and you can smell it just fine from the outside when you flush(not a good thing). It does it if the tanks are empty or if they are full, doesnt matter.
Going to need to explain that duckbill valve, remember, Im new. Family just got the boat this summer but Ive been looking it over GOOD. 
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1990 16x78' stardust Eastern Ky
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09/19/2008 09:20:17 PM
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alreadygone
Admiral
Posts: 792
Joined: 02/07/2004
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GP, What brand head?
Bob
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I carry a gun because it's too tiring carrying a cop.
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09/20/2008 03:29:55 PM
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Jeepster04
Admiral
Posts: 310
Joined: 09/15/2008
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If youre asking me... Idk.. 
Once I got on here I noticed everyone talks about the different brands but Ive not been on the boat in a couple weeks to check. Ill look at it next time Im out there.
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1990 16x78' stardust Eastern Ky
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09/21/2008 10:32:13 AM
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BamaBoater
Member
Posts: 119
Joined: 11/07/2007
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I'm not sure if our water is that dirty, but after it sits in a hot boat for a week or so, the smell is horrible. And the water in the bowl is brown and crusty. Where does that water come from if the head isn't being flushed? Does it just seep in? I think we will have to have professionals look at it. Perhaps they can show us around the parts and pieces and we will be able to maintain it in the future. Seals, pumps, valves, hoses, etc are very new to us. We don't even know where to start looking!
And I don't mind if this thread goes in other directions. We are learning something new all the time even if we don't need to use that knowledge right away. Plus, I don't feel so alone! 
BamaBoater on the Tennessee River
Edited: 09/21/2008 at 10:34:11 AM by BamaBoater
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