Raw water strainer for marine toilet

Good afternoon everyone. I’m servicing my Jabsco Electric toilet this weekend. In addition to the rebuild, I’m thinking about adding an in-line strainer. Can anyone give me advice regarding the installation, and use of these little plastic strainers? That would be much appreciated.



Thank you,
Alex

What info do you need? You plug it on both side and with the arrow on the right direction for water flow, nothing challenging there. Just one advice put it in an easy to access place as if like me you will clean its strainer mesh quite often.

L

I was hoping it was that simple. Lol. Sometimes there’s a lesson learned even if a project seems straight forward. Thanks Lou. I’m surprised boats aren’t fitted with a strainer to the toilet right out of the manufacturer.

I wouldn't put a filter like that one below the waterline

Do you think I can put it close to the actual toilet if I have enough room? If it’s above the water line of course.

kchace said:

I wouldn't put a filter like that one below the waterline

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Why not if it’s placed between the vent loop and the toilet?

McGillicuddy said:

Why not if it’s placed between the vent loop and the toilet?

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That would of course work, but many toilets on power boats are already above the waterline and do not have vent loops. In a case like that if one wasn't thinking about it, it could easily be installed below the waterline.

Ken

HeatherAlyssa said:

Do you think I can put it close to the actual toilet if I have enough room? If it’s above the water line of course.

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Certainly.

HeatherAlyssa said:

Do you think I can put it close to the actual toilet if I have enough room? If it’s above the water line of course.

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Obviously, install it where you can clean it. I installed a different style but closer to the intake near where the seacock is located. And yes, above the waterline.

Excellent advice. That’s what I was looking for.

The many advantages of switching to a fresh water flush might have you reconsider the entire sea water flush concept?

FF said:

The many advantages of switching to a fresh water flush might have you reconsider the entire sea water flush concept?

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Second That--Freshwater Flush

FF said:

The many advantages of switching to a fresh water flush might have you reconsider the entire sea water flush concept?

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Fresh water flush eliminates much of the odor but there is a cost in fresh water use (you never run out of sea water) and the replacement head is pretty expensive. It can also be a lot of work.

I considered a Vacuflush and I considered a Marine Elegance but in the end I stuck a $15 strainer in the intake line and moved on to other projects.

If you are actively using the head on a daily basis, there is no smell from seawater. If you are not, it's just the first few uses after resuming use of the head that smell. And the strainer eliminates much of that.

I use my head often. Lol. I’ll put it that way. I’ll go with a $15 strainer.

Done

This is where I fitted mine. However I have a checked valve on the pump in side and fitted the strainer before the check valve to keep it clean.

L

Nice. I spent the day reinstalling the toilet, pump and strainer after I rebuilt the pump and replaced all the seals. I noticed the previous owner did some odd ball things during the initial installation so it took me a little bit to make it right. Now it’s exactly how I want it. I’ll keep an eye on the strainer and see how that helps with catching any Seagrass that can cause odors.

HeatherAlyssa said:

Nice. I spent the day reinstalling the toilet, pump and strainer after I rebuilt the pump and replaced all the seals. I noticed the previous owner did some odd ball things during the initial installation so it took me a little bit to make it right. Now it’s exactly how I want it. I’ll keep an eye on the strainer and see how that helps with catching any Seagrass that can cause odors.

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In my case the issue was not the odor but dirt from the river (like little pieces of wood or grass) that were clogging the check valve and water input.

L

HeatherAlyssa said:

Do you think I can put it close to the actual toilet if I have enough room? If it’s above the water line of course.

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I'm a bit late in seeing this... The whole point of a strainer is to keep animal and vegetable sea life out of the flush water inlet line as well as the toilet...so it should be installed as close to the thru-hull as possible and still be in an accessible location above waterline.

That is, IF you actually need a strainer. Because a lot more light can reach the bottom in shallow waters than in deep waters, there's a typically a lot more bottom vegetation in shallower waters...and bottom vegetation is home to a lot more animal sea life in shallower waters than in deep waters. So if you spend a lot of time in shallow waters where weeds proliferate, you definitely want a strainer in your toilet inlet line. But if you're mostly in deep water where there's very little vegetation to get sucked into the toilet intake line, and you haven't ever experienced a need for a strainer, you prob'ly don't need one. Otoh, it's hard to go wrong erring on the side of caution, so if you don't mind checking it regularly and cleaning out any sea water mineral build up in it even if you never find anything else, install one anyway.

Peggie
"If you can't explain it to a six year old, you don't completely understand it yourself." --Albert Einstein

Peggie,

Thank you for the reply. The thru hull and access is below the water line. The only area where a run of hose was accessible and above the water line was in the hose coming from the bulkhead behind the toilet to the pump. I’m going to see how this works. The only change in this system is the inline strainer. If it doesn’t work, I guess I’ll find out after a few flushes. Lol.

As for depth of my vessel during most flushing evolutions; I’m in approximately 7 to 8 feet of water here at Solomons Island off the Chesapeake Bay. They’re saying the marine grass has bounced back which is great for the crabs, but probably a better reason than ever to use a strainer on a vessel.

Thank you for the input. If things go awry, I’ll be sure to post.

Alex

In your waters, I'd definitely recommend a strainer. It should be close to the thru-hull, but the location you've decided 0n will at least keep animal and vegetable sea life out of the pump assembly and the rim of bowl. Worst case, you'd only have to replace the intake line.

Peggie

Peggie,

That’s exactly my thoughts. I’d hate to have to reroute the intake line, but it’s really only about 6 feet of hose total from the thru hull to the pump. Thank you again! [emoji4]

Alex