Maritime_Eng

What do you mean inside the discharge hose? Are they back by the vacuum pump of inside by the head?

Sorry for all of the questions but I am new to this system...

Thanks for all of your help!

dukenrock

Every once in a while mine will develop a small leak at the top of the pump. There's a couple of white fittings on the top that make a seal to the top of the tank. See if one of those are leaking. I'm not sure but you may also have a spring loaded screw/cap type device on the top. Push down on that and release it to see if it seals off as well.

FormulaM2Formula

Mine was leaking on the top of the tank past the spring loaded vacuum relief valve. Dirt falls into these valves, and then gets in between the valve and the seal, and then they leak. A new one cost $100. You can spray water around it to see if it is sucking the water around the valve.

Check this out http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...ight=vacuflush

Also, the vacuflush in the Fastech boats is not the same as some of the bigger boats, so not all the parts are the same.
Garrett

Sea-Dated

I agree, my next suggestion was going to be to call Vacu-Flush and talk to them. We found a dealer in Texas that was very helpful. I can not remember the dealers name but the guy we spoke to was Ron. He was like the head of the chitters or something like that. Very knowledgeable and helpful guy.

That is exactly where they are. On ours, there were two on each side of the vacuum pump. On the smaller systems they have only one valve on each side. Ours went south after about 6 years and we have replaced them again since. I want to say it was like $60 for a set of Duck Bills. Pretty easy fix and the heads have been working great since then.

I will try to find the name of the dealer that we talked to. I know I have it down at the boat but will not be going there until this weekend.

BL6

"Should be in the engine compartment in front of the engines up against the "back seat". Black tank, white hoses. It does make an obvious thumping sound when priming the pump"

Question: why is holding tank mounted right in front of engines? You can never have enough room around engines to work on, impellors, etc. Can tank be moved elsewhere?

Rippem

short answer...No

not in a FasTech. No single other spot in the bilge big enough, and you do occasionally need to get at it.

BL6

So the "porta potti" w/ pumpout style has a small tank right at the stool & eliminates the bulky tank in engine compartment?

Rippem

yes, and I would choose that myself if I had a choice for simplicity and to keep the space open in front of the engines. My boat had the VF, and that's OK. It's not like it's been a detriment.

the women dig the classy effect of the vaccuuflush "real bowl" and push-button (or lever) convenience.

I have also found they feel a little more involved with the boat in knowing the sequence of turning on the pump and FW breakers ect. ie: operating a boat system on their own.

but that doesn't mean "squat" (pun intended) when you want to get in front of those engines though.

BL6

Rippum - thks for comments. I'm looking for boat #6 for our family. Have been eyeing 353's.
I made a list of "must have's" for my next boat. And one of them was adequate work room in front of engine.
I'll just have to take into consideration. Dave