Fresh water flush of the head?

[Toki]

Hey folks, R27 Classic with the factory salt water head flush system. If I want to flush fresh water through the system, say for winter layup or thorough sanitation system rinse, what's the best way to do that? Here's what I did:

1. Shut the sea water through-hull valve
2. Use the electric flush until no more water flows into the head
3. Use the shower head to pour fresh water into the head while flushing

Now the problem with this method is Step 2 takes a long time. There's much sea water upstream of the through hull in the strainer, lines, wherever.

Is there a way to disable the sea water pump to the toilet while still enabling the flush out pump? Or maybe another valve to shut off the sea water closer to the head? Or am I going about this all wrong and there's a much better way to run fresh water through the system?

Thanks

 

[BB marine]

I'm not sure how often you want to do this. If I was to flush the seawater side of the head I would do it with the intension of flushing the complete system. Close the seacock remove the strainer cover, clean the strainer, take a fresh water hose from the dock stick it in the strainer with the water flow low and start flushing. If you are winterizing after flushing for a few minutes take the fresh water shore hose out and start pouring non toxic anti freeze in the strainer until you have flushed enough through to protect the hoses and head.

If you are just wanting to flush from the head to the tank. Fill the head bowl with fresh water and flush it will empty the bowl quickly.

I personally would want to flush fresh water from the strainer to head to tank.

I flush with fresh water all the time I removed the raw water flush. I don't like the critters adding to the odors. Knock on wood (fiberglass) no head odors in the boat yet.

 

[Capt’nKarl]

This is how I flush the entire head system on my 21EC on the hard. To start, the holding tank has been emptied. I also park the boat in an area where I can safety discharge the fresh water holding tank contents on the ground.
I made a stand to act as my extra pair of hands otherwise it takes 2 people to accomplish this task. Keep the head raw water intake valve open. I use a funnel with an opening larger than the through hull raw water intake opening. (I made a special short section length of hose with the funnel nozzle clamped inside one end and a regular female garden hose coupling on the other end). I have a jack stand so I can adjust the height of the funnel to gently place it against/over the raw water through hull intake. Otherwise you’ll need a second pair of hands to hold the funnel hose in place. I connect the funnel section of hose to a regular garden hose and turn on the fresh water supply just enough to keep water flowing from the funnel into the raw water intake. Then I use the manual pump to fill the bowl and dry the bowl multiple times until I feel the entire system has been flushed. Additionally I usually add an ounce or two of PineSol into the bowl to pump into the holding tank. When the tank gets full I empty the contents and repeat. Works like a charm. Here in Florida I don’t worry about water freezing in the holding tank but for those who do you can add antifreeze in a bucket and pump this solution through the system.

 

[Toki]

Thanks Brian and Karl, You're both sort of saying the same thing: a proper fresh water flush of the whole system should be done from the through-hull or the strainer back, whether in the water or on the hard. I understand this, and perhaps next Fall I'll do this.

However, I am also interested in doing a fresh water flush from head to holding tank more often. My charter company does this routinely throughout the year on their other boats. So I'm looking for a simple way to prevent the salt water from pumping into the head while I flush fresh water down via the shower head. This would seem to involve either:

- A valve on the salt water line near the head that I could shut off

- A fuse or breaker for that salt water pump I could trip (assuming the saltwater fill and flush are done with different pumps)

Or perhaps I'm being dense and overlooking something basic when it comes to head/tank maintenance?

 

[Matty]

Not sure if the seawater supply is the same on OB and classic. I have the seacock shut off then the sea strainer with one hose in and 3 out to head, generator and salt water hose. Air conditioner has a separate strainer and seacock. I dont see why you could not add a shut off valve to any one of these right after the strainer. I actually just did this for my generator water supply as the electric valve failed. Then add a T valve with a garden hose connection right after. When you want to flush the system close the shutoff valve, hook up the hose and run the head with fresh water.

 

[Toki]

Matty, I believe that's exactly how my R27 Classic is plumbed. That's a great idea to just add a valve and a tee to the appropriate line after the strainer. I may do that. But before I cut into my boat's lines, I'd like to be sure there's not a simpler way to do this that the boat already accommodates; existing valve or breaker/fuse.