Ranger 29 Macerator Issue

[cstooks]

New 2017 R-29CB owner and the issue I am having is that the macerator will not discharge overboard (I live in Canada, so yes I know its not legal to do so in US waters). Since my previous post I have had three pump outs and have tried using a pressure washer to spray from the outside of the hull into the valve with no luck. The macerator pump turns on when the switch is deployed (easily audible), but nothing comes out the through hull. The boat also has now developed a "farting" issue that is super annoying and stinky, we always wash the waste with fresh water 2-3 times on top of adding the holding tank solution on every pumpout (and never go more than two/three days) and it feels like there is a vapor issue or something wrong with the duck valves. I am at the point of just hiring a mechanic to come out but want to give him some direction about where to start. The toilet works great but for some reason, there is a blockage or valve stuck between the head and the through hull.

 

[fishheadbarandgrill]

Not trying to be a smart a$$. Have you checked the discharge valve downstream from the macerator?

 

[cstooks]

No offense taken at all, I have not simply because it has always worked and I never touched that valve.. but will check!

 

[jimv]

I'm a little confused by your description -

On my boat, and most of the Ranger Tugs I've seen, there is only one 'Output' from the holding tank. This output goes to the 'Y' valve, which routes the output to either the deck fitting for a pump-out, or the macerator pump for discharge.

You state that youv'e done pump-outs but have not touched the valve.
Your boat may be constructed differently, but you should have to turn the 'Y' valve to the correct output -
therefore, if you've recently had success with pump-outs via the deck fitting, someone may have turned the valve to make those possible, which would stop the flow through the macerator.

Just my $0.02, but worth a quick peek at your 'Y' valve.

~J

 

[fishheadbarandgrill]

I'm a little confused by your description -

On my boat, and most of the Ranger Tugs I've seen, there is only one 'Output' from the holding tank. This output goes to the 'Y' valve, which routes the output to either the deck fitting for a pump-out, or the macerator pump for discharge.

You state that youv'e done pump-outs but have not touched the valve.
Your boat may be constructed differently, but you should have to turn the 'Y' valve to the correct output -
therefore, if you've recently had success with pump-outs via the deck fitting, someone may have turned the valve to make those possible, which would stop the flow through the macerator.

Just my $0.02, but worth a quick peek at your 'Y' valve.

~J

There is no Y valve on the R29 Classic. The black water tank has two discharge connections one for the macerator and one for the deck pump out. There is an overboard discharge valve down steam from the macerator.

 

[dexmot74]

If this is a 2017 it will have a Y valve under the bow mattress.

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk

 

[cstooks]

I will double check the Y valve. Hopefully thats it, but given I didnt even know where the Y valve was located and have never touched it before. It might be the duck valves are either stuck in the closed position or they need to be replaced. The macerator itself seems to be working (I think there are actually two, one in the toilet and then one external) when i turn the switch on.

 

[RichBirk]

If you find the overboard valve open, try injecting water into the discharge hole from the outside. That will eliminate the possibility that the macerater has lost its prime. On my boat it's the rear most hole, starboard side. Cheap thing to try before you start tearing things apart.

 

[fishheadbarandgrill]

I will double check the Y valve. Hopefully thats it, but given I didnt even know where the Y valve was located and have never touched it before. It might be the duck valves are either stuck in the closed position or they need to be replaced. The macerator itself seems to be working (I think there are actually two, one in the toilet and then one external) when i turn the switch on.

I just looked at the R29S owners manual. There is NO Y valve installed. What you're referring to as a Y valve is the macerator overboard discharge valve. On the newer R29S models, the macerator and associated discharge valves are located under the v-berth. There is no Y valve used to select whether you discharge out the pump out fitting or use the macerator. On the older R29 Classics, the macerator and overboard discharge valve is located at the end of the cave by the aft Air Con unit. The valve is accessible through a velcro access panel at the end of the cave.

 

[Sandro]

I have a 2019 r29CB. Find the valve under the forward birth (starboard side) and push it forward so it’s parallel to the floor. This is the macerator / overboard setting. I am offshore quite a bit and never had a problem with discharge. For dock side pump out pull it back up to perpendicular.

 

[HawaiianFish]

It almost sounds like the macerator is not priming. Possibly the impeller went? But I would definitely check the valve first. I have had marina personnel on my boat do crazy things in the past. Would not surprise me at all that someone would shut that valve without telling you.

 

[shontm]

I was having similar problems on my 2020 R29. Backflushing the discharge port worked sometimes to prime. But replacing the macerator impeller is what fully solved it. You can do it yourself. Access is a little tricky but doable. I couldn't easily get the hoses off but was able to do it with them still attached. It did require detaching the frame the under-the-bed drawer slides into to give me a little more space. I used the Jabsco impeller only replacement kit but there's another option that replaces the entire impeller housing. Mine was 5 years old and used only our annual trip to Desolation Sound each year. Good video here: