Charcoal filter for head???

[Lucky's]

I have read many people talk about a charcoal filter for odor control in the head. I searched thoroughly on here and found instructions on how to refill them, but not how/where to change them.:smt100 So my question for you weekender guys...does this model boat have a filter for the head, and if so where the hell is it?!? If it makes a difference, it is a manual flush head. Thanks in advance!

 

[Southpaw II]

If your boat has one, it will be located in-line between the tank and the external vent. Usually, there is a 5/8" hose to vent outside. The filter is on this line.

Don

 

[Lucky's]

If your boat has one, it will be located in-line between the tank and the external vent. Usually, there is a 5/8" hose to vent outside. The filter is on this line.

Don

Thanks, I will check it out!! I was picturing something closer to the actual head itself, so I wouldn't have even thought to look there. Thanks!!

 

[electricaldoctor]

You could probably install a "fart filter" on almost any system. Do you have one? I don't know, but just follow the vent line from the top of your waste tank to the vent fitting on the exterior of your hull. The fart filter is installed any where in this line. Good luck. Smell you later, Ken. :grin:

 

[Lucky's]

You could probably install a "fart filter" on almost any system. Do you have one? I don't know, but just follow the vent line from the top of your waste tank to the vent fitting on the exterior of your hull. The fart filter is installed any where in this line. Good luck. Smell you later, Ken. :grin:

Nice! :thumbsup: Anyways, I have never noticed an odor on the outside of the boat, so I'm guessing something is in place and working then. I have a nasty odor problem in the head itself and I was thinking this filter was for odor control from tank to head, not tank to air. I'm assuming the odor is from the nasty river water sitting in the bowl?? I've never had a manual flush head before this boat so kinda of learning as I go with it. Any suggestions on suppressing that odor??

 

[electricaldoctor]

Some heads have a holding tank directly below and that might explain the fragrant aroma that you are experiencing. A friend of mine has a 32' Carver that had such a setup. His had a macerator that grinds everything up before dropping it into this tank. Once this tank is full, it is pumped to a forward tank where the good stuff is pumped out in the usual fashion. He got fed up with his little pirates feeding their G.I. Joe toys through the macerator @ $200.00 a pop, so he remove the head, macerator and tank and bought a hand pumper and got rid of the odor all in one go. You can also buy one of these in-line water water treatment systems at West Marine to compliment your system.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...toreNum=10111&subdeptNum=10687&classNum=10691

I had one on a previous boat and it worked great. The water in the bowl has a light blue colour to it and a pleasant aroma to boot. They claim that the puck that fits inside this unit also helps to lubricate the toilet mechanism as well.

Good luck.

 

[electricaldoctor]

deleted.

 

[Lucky's]

Some heads have a holding tank directly below and that might explain the fragrant aroma that you are experiencing. A friend of mine has a 32' Carver that had such a setup. His had a macerator that grinds everything up before dropping it into this tank. Once this tank is full, it is pumped to a forward tank where the good stuff is pumped out in the usual fashion. He got fed up with his little pirates feeding their G.I. Joe toys through the macerator @ $200.00 a pop, so he remove the head, macerator and tank and bought a hand pumper and got rid of the odor all in one go. You can also buy one of these in-line water water treatment systems at West Marine to compliment your system.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...toreNum=10111&subdeptNum=10687&classNum=10691

I had one on a previous boat and it worked great. The water in the bowl has a light blue colour to it and a pleasant aroma to boot. They claim that the puck that fits inside this unit also helps to lubricate the toilet mechanism as well.

Good luck.

I will be getting one of those!! Thanks a ton!! :thumbsup:

 

[electricaldoctor]

I will be getting one of those!! Thanks a ton!! :thumbsup:

Better yet, it is "Admiral Approved"

 

[Lucky's]

Better yet, it is "Admiral Approved"

While I was looking at reviews of those online, I read a comment from a guy who said he plumbed his manual flush head into the water supply to the head sink, thus using fresh water to flush. I have no idea what kind of boat he had, but I wonder if that would work on mine?? :huh: Thoughts on that??? Although it sounds like a good idea, I wonder about cross-contaminating if something back-fed...

 

[electricaldoctor]

While I was looking at reviews of those online, I read a comment from a guy who said he plumbed his manual flush head into the water supply to the head sink, thus using fresh water to flush. I have no idea what kind of boat he had, but I wonder if that would work on mine?? :huh: Thoughts on that???

It would help to know exactly what kind of a system that you actually have. You are probably drawing lake water up via a through hull fitting and then through a strainer before it gets to your toilet. Keep your strainer clean. I have a vac-u-flush system that uses fresh water and very little of it as compared to other systems. Why would you go to the bother of changing over from lake water to fresh water. It seems like a lot of work to me and you will deplete your fresh water supply a whole lot sooner.

 

[tdschafer]

While I was looking at reviews of those online, I read a comment from a guy who said he plumbed his manual flush head into the water supply to the head sink, thus using fresh water to flush. I have no idea what kind of boat he had, but I wonder if that would work on mine?? :huh: Thoughts on that??? Although it sounds like a good idea, I wonder about cross-contaminating if something back-fed...

Shaun,
That is how the vacuflush systems work. They feed off of the onboard water tank thus using clean "potable" water in the system. It is a much better system IMHO. I had a 260 that used sea water through a manual pump head. This then emptied into an Electrasan unit that treated the waste & pumped it overboard. I used to get that nasty smell in the head too, and it took a couple of flushes to clear when I got to the boat! But, then again, I boat in salt water!!

 

[Lucky's]

It would help to know exactly what kind of a system that you actually have. You are probably drawing lake water up via a through hull fitting and then through a strainer before it gets to your toilet. Keep your strainer clean. I have a vac-u-flush system that uses fresh water and very little of it as compared to other systems. Why would you go to the bother of changing over from lake water to fresh water. It seems like a lot of work to me and you will deplete your fresh water supply a whole lot sooner.

Water comes from a thru hall under the steps to a manual flush valve at head. Not sure about a strainer. Upon use, I pump a manual vertical handle which sends waste to holding tank in er. Problem is I primarily boat in a river that connects to lake Michigan. The river water is nasty so as it sits in the line and bowl, it gives off a horrendous odor! That filter from west marine placed inline may help, I'm just trying to look at all options...

 

[Lucky's]

Shaun,
That is how the vacuflush systems work. They feed off of the onboard water tank thus using clean "potable" water in the system. It is a much better system IMHO. I had a 260 that used sea water through a manual pump head. This then emptied into an Electrasan unit that treated the waste & pumped it overboard. I used to get that nasty smell in the head too, and it took a couple of flushes to clear when I got to the boat! But, then again, I boat in salt water!!

Thanks for the info, Todd! I think its at least worth looking into!

 

[electricaldoctor]

If you spend a lot of time in the river with nasty water, then your options appear limited. Sounds like you have to either treat the water or flush with fresh water. :huh:

 

[Lucky's]

If you spend a lot of time in the river with nasty water, then your options appear limited. Sounds like you have to either treat the water or flush with fresh water. :huh:

I'm thinking I'll try that filter from wm before I mess with the plumbing. It certainly can't hurt anything!

 

[electricaldoctor]

I'm thinking I'll try that filter from wm before I mess with the plumbing. It certainly can't hurt anything!

It is not a filter!! Water goes through a chamber where the scented puck is located and then onto the toilet. Even if you have odorless water coming into the head, the extra scented water is a welcome bonus.

 

[tdschafer]

It is not a filter!! Water goes through a chamber where the scented puck is located and then onto the toilet. Even if you have odorless water coming into the head, the extra scented water is a welcome bonus.

ED,
He might be confusing the fart filter with that other contraption. Obviously two different animals.
If the smell is primarily in the head, I would also try the scented water attachment you mention first.:thumbsup:

 

[Iprof]

Head Smell

When we looked at our 300da, the wife could smell the head, they had air freshener pucks all over the boat. I lifted the cushion in the aft cabin and the smell was worse, the hose from the head to the holding tank was permeated. I made it part of the condition of sale to change the hose. Once it was changed no more head smell in the boat. The "fart filter" on my boat is attached to the ceiling in the bilge right above the holding tank.
If the hose from the head has never been changed I would suspect it is the cause, they don't last for ever.

Ken

 

[SCORPIO]

Don't know where SR put the filter on the WE but on the 300DA it is in the bilge mounted under the deck on the port side above the holding tank. Its about 16" long and about 2" in dia. filled with activated charcoal. My boat has a fresh water flush. They tapped water from the head sink using a one way valve to prevent contamination. Works fine and no odor.