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Toilet flushing into water issue

Discussion in 'Carver Yacht' started by Rebecca615, Jul 24, 2020.

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  1. Rebecca615

    Rebecca615 New Member

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    Does anyone know how to prevent a Carver 466 from flushing waste into water? Our Internacional waste water pump is inactive and therefore we would assume no waste water could go overboard; however, when we flush aft toilet it seems to dispense/vent out port side holes....

    we’ve tried everything. Help. This is gross!!!
  2. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    There's a "Y" valve above the holding tank. Turn it to the holding tank. Btw, once you do that lock it in that position with cable ties. Many jurisdictions require it.
  3. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Check your owners manual. Carver will be glad to send you a copy.
    If it's to gross, stop using that head.
    Sounds like the holding tank is full and the over flow going out the vent.
  4. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    If
    If it were full it'd be backing up into the head.
  5. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Joker valves were designed to keep that from happening.
    The OP stated it was coming out the side vent.
    Last edited: Jul 24, 2020
  6. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    If you flush and black water comes out of the vent it means the tank is full... you need to pump it out

    most heads incl vacuflush will force black water out of the vent as long as you don’t have a charcoal filter on the vent
  7. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    No she didn't. She said " it seems to dispense/vent out port side holes." She used vent as a verb not a noun. And sorry but the Joker valve wouldn't come into play. When she flushed it wouldn't go down, and might even shoot back at her from back pressure. Her indicator would also show the holding tank to be full. Also this boat has vacuflush heads. It'd be real difficult for waste to flow through and past the vent filter.
    P.S. I ran a 466 for about 3 years, and am quite familiar with its systems. She just needs to turn the "Y" valve from the overboard position to the tank position. Let me also add that I'll bet the previous owner switched it to the overboard position either because they pumped out before winter storage after the pumpout facilities closed or because the filter was clogged and they didn't know how to change it. So she should be prepared to change out the filter.
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2020
  8. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Have you ever run into a manufacturer installed vacuflush head system that didn't come with a vent filter? I haven't.
  9. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    I ve seen many boats where owners have removed the filters. They cause a lot of issues including damage to the poly tanks when they clog.
  10. Rebecca615

    Rebecca615 New Member

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    Thank you all. Very helpful information. Our understanding of the Y valve is simply to direct overboard dispensing between aft and forward heads. How do I switch Y valve to “tank position”? We currently have it in the middle of the Y in an attempt to block both tanks from dispensing.
    PS we’ve read the owners manual and tried our best. We also just pumped out a few weeks ago (only use boat on weekends and no abnormal usage) and indicator states tank is low although I don’t think it works.
  11. Sea Gull

    Sea Gull Member

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    The Y valve should never be in the middle. The input is the single base of the “y” and the output is an either/or choice. It is never meant to stop the flow.

    The most common use of a y valve is after the head, but before the holding tank/overboard discharge. The effluent always come from the toilet, but the y gives you the choice of dumping it overboard or directing it to the holding tank.
  12. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    It has 2 positions, although it sounds like you've found a 3rd (half-way between so only some of your waste it going overboard). It directs all your waste one way or the other. Btw, was I correct that the waste is coming out one of the (lower) discharge holes not the (higher and with a cover on it) vent hole? Since you're new to the boat I suggest you familiarize yourself with the piping that goes to each of those overboard discharge holes. I once had one break at night in rough seas (on a different boat). That turned the discharge hole into an inlet for sea water. When things like that happens it's good to be familiar. They come from air conditioners, sinks, bilge pumps and such, and yes your toilets. You also have vent holes (smaller, higher and covered) for your holding and fuel tanks. Also familiarize yourself with the valve for switching between your forward and aft fuel tanks. The aft tank being over filled can make the aft SR smell of diesel. So it's a good idea to burn some off from there after fueling. Good luck.
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2020
  13. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    pumped out a few ago, even with only week end use, even if just two people... that s a long time. I doubt the tank is low.

    where does the black water come out from? A thruhull under water or the vent hole higher up the hull?
  14. rtrafford

    rtrafford Senior Member

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    If it was "venting" (verb) out the designed thru hull, how could it be seen? Who installs black water discharges above the water line other than a "vent" (noun)? If it's "venting" (verb) in a manner in which it can be seen, it must be "venting" (verb) out of a "vent" (noun).
  15. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Actually.... I do. I removed the discharge TH and SC sea cock on my 53 and I m about to install a TH just a couple of inches above the WL for the overboard pump. It will only be used offshore obviously so spray and waves action will rinse the hull. No need for another hole below WL :)
  16. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Neptunus did at the very stern, Just inches above the waterline. It added to the smell but I kind of liked it that way because you could see what was going on and if anyone had corn for dinner.
  17. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Actually it's often above the waterline, otherwise pressure from water seeking its own level might prevent the waste from exiting the boat unless there's a pump. Underwater through-hulls are generally intakes. It also makes it easier to spot offenders. However I have seen them in both places, but the underwater ones have generally been connected to a macerator and had a seacock (making overboard pumping a 2 step process or on sailboats and larger yachts.
  18. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    The only boats I have seen with gravity draining black water tanks were Bénéteaus.... they had (smelly) small holding tanks behind the head mirrors I guess they were trying to cut down costs and avoiding adding a macerator :). Pretty much every boat has the holding tank down low in a bilge requiring a macerator and vented loop
  19. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Yep, but I never put it past some manufacturers to scrimp in places that won't be noticed in the brochure.
  20. leeky

    leeky Senior Member

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    Thanks for that, Capt J. I actually laughed out loud.