Why no exhaust fan in the head?

Trashman

I’ve looked at quite a few boats through the years and I have yet to see one with an exhaust fan in the head.   is there a reason for this?  when I had my 270 I wondered why in such a confined area there is no exhaust fan... even for the galley area

aero3113

They would have to make it so it has a hatch that opens from the outside to keep it water tight. I don't think that's the reason why you haven't seen one though, you would think it makes sense to have one installed.

aero3113

or it can be made with a hatch that blows open when its turned on, like a dryer vent.

raybo3

Just vent it into the engine compartment/bilge......... Just say'n

davidbrooks

If i didn't have the shower it would be super easy to vent mine into the mid bilge space.  I was thinking the same as you all.  I have a hatch but it wont stay open.  Really needs an arm that will keep it propped up.

Ian

Yeah, that may be a bigger risk....

Dream_Inn

davidbrooks said:

If i didn't have the shower it would be super easy to vent mine into the mid bilge space.  I was thinking the same as you all.  I have a hatch but it wont stay open.  Really needs an arm that will keep it propped up.

you can tighten those port windows so that they stay open.  There is a little adjustment screw.

Handymans342

I believe Al did a modification by installing a fixed window and installing a bilge blower as the exhaust fan with a 4 inch vent in the ceiling vented out to the rear of the boat using 4 inch bilge blower hose

LaRea

Cost.  It's not exactly a "boat show" feature.  Anyway, most boats under 40' are non-deuce-droppage zones.  

Liberty44140

Dream_Inn said:

davidbrooks said:

If i didn't have the shower it would be super easy to vent mine into the mid bilge space.  I was thinking the same as you all.  I have a hatch but it wont stay open.  Really needs an arm that will keep it propped up.

you can tighten those port windows so that they stay open.  There is a little adjustment screw.

Really? I'll be looking closely for the screw. Can't recall seeing one but I'd love for that darn head window to stay open.

Dude_Himself

LaRea said:

Cost.  It's not exactly a "boat show" feature.  Anyway, most boats under 40' are non-deuce-droppage zones.  

Tell my kids. The motion of the ocean makes their tiny little bowels purge. Every. ****. Time.

At least now I have a Vacu-head and not the nasty Porta-Potty I used to deal with each trip.

J3ff

Formula's have them..

Dream_Inn

LaRea said:

Cost.  It's not exactly a "boat show" feature.  Anyway, most boats under 40' are non-deuce-droppage zones.  

Well, not to take it too far off topic, but we use the heck out of our head.  Even in the marina, when I wake up, I'm not walking up to the marina bathroom!   I get a kick out of those people that say "we never use our head for #2" - to me it says, "we really don't use our boat away from the dock".  (LaRea, this was not geared towards you or anyone on this forum, as I know you use your boat more than most of us on this site)

Liberty44140

We are definitely in the "no #2" club but I have to admit I always ask myself why. We travel quite a bit with the boat but we always dock when traveling so we have a bathhouse close. We rarely anchor overnight but of course if a #2 is needed at anchor then the head is used. Like most here we are electric, not vacuflush, but I dont think that really matters. 

Dream_Inn

Liberty44140 said:

 Like most here we are electric, not vacuflush, but I dont think that really matters. 

My previous boat (310 Rinker) was electric head.  We used it all the time as well.  It really doesn't matter.  I just make sure I have a good vent filter and change it every other year (with my own charcoal).  There really is no reason not to use it.  (Now, we don't put TP down it, but instead that goes in trash - some would think that is horrible, but I like the soft stuff and would rather none of that gets stuck in there...sorry, maybe TMI )

Stodge

I'm a firm believer is using the head for its intended purpose.  The only restriction is what goes down it (human waste and Scott RV/Marine toilet paper only).  Similarly we use the shower, even in marinas.  I make sure to keep up on the chemicals in the head and the Big Orange filter.  

FYI I have friends with FourWinns cruisers and they have powered vents in the head.

Black_Diamond

For the hatch / window:  pop off the cover at the end of the hinge. The screw to tighen is behind it.  If the cover will not pop off. Use like a 1/8" drill bit to put a hole in it for screwdriver access. 

Liberty44140

We also exclusively use the shower on the boat, its a big reason for owning a 342, no showers in the bathhouse. We switched this summer from the Walmart/Scotts RV/Marine TP to West Marine's TP. Admiral MUCH prefers West Marine brand but it is thicker, still designed to break down and use in a marine head though. No issues. We add chemicals to the head every weekend or every other weekend to keep fresh and also change the charcoal in the vent filter every other year (home made vent filter). Thanks for the notes on tightening the head port, I'll be doing that this winter!

dropout

My previous boat a 96 Chris Craft had an exaust vent plumbed to the bildge blower. My 05 Rinker doesn't even have an electric head.

Stodge

Liberty44140 said:

We also exclusively use the shower on the boat, its a big reason for owning a 342, no showers in the bathhouse. We switched this summer from the Walmart/Scotts RV/Marine TP to West Marine's TP. Admiral MUCH prefers West Marine brand but it is thicker, still designed to break down and use in a marine head though. No issues. We add chemicals to the head every weekend or every other weekend to keep fresh and also change the charcoal in the vent filter every other year (home made vent filter). Thanks for the notes on tightening the head port, I'll be doing that this winter!

On the subject of showers:  I've been having (for lack of a better description) a vapor lock on the shower sump after we are in bumpy (3 foot or more) conditions.  Running the shower will fill the sump but the pump just runs and does not move any water.  What I have to do is pull the pump in the sump out, then pop it back into place.  I have a check valve I was planning to put in the discharge line.  Since it seems to go "up hill" toward the end I think it may fill up when it's bumpy then the pressure in the discharge line is making the pump stop it's discharge.  The $64 question is: where should I put the check valve.  My thought is near the sump.  What little water would be before the valve would drain back into the sump.  The pump could get started and push out the rest.  

Liberty44140

Hey Stodge, I think you commented back before on this that you are confident that you have no restrictions, right? I had a restriction from the pump to thru hull and had similar issues early last summer but no problems the last two seasons now that there is no restriction. Which pump/tank do you have? Wondering if you may just need a new pump. This is what came with my boat so I replaced it with the exact same when I bought the boat:
http://www.attwoodmarine.com/store/product/Shower-and-Drain-Sump-Pump-System

Stodge

I replaced the sump including pump 3 years ago when I first started having issues.  The one I have is Atwood, which is what was in place originally.

I don't think I have any restrictions.  I replaced the discharge line when I replaced the sump.  When it's happy it pumps quickly.

Liberty44140

Any chance that your new discharge line is longer than your old and looping too high or low creating some kind of air lock when the boat bounces?

LaRea

Have you tried to reproduce the problem at the dock?  Maybe use a hose to spray water into the thru-hull from outside?

Stodge

Those are both good questions: 
@Liberty44140  I did not use the corrugated hose like the bilge pumps use.  Instead I used a clear smooth hose of the same diameter.  I'll have to inspect for excess height.

@LaRea I have not tried that.  It wouldn't be easy at home as the discharge is well below top of the sea wall and I dock with the port side to land.  I'll have to try that when I'm docked at a dock and can reach the discharge.

Still have the remaining question of check valve placement.  Assuming I have to go to that extreme do I put it close to the sump or close to the discharge?

Willhound

Just to play devil's advocate, but do USCG rules allow a check valve? I don't believe they do on bilge pumps. Not sure about a shower sump.