Dougcole
Guru
MS 400s are all 15 to 20 years old at this point and the head hoses, if original, are due for replacement. I just finished this little job last week, so I figured I would post this for anyone who is facing the challenge. It was one of the few medium sized projects I have done that went smoother than expected.
The hose is in two parts, the first piece runs from the toilet under the head floor and shower then pops out in the Laz space under the lower helm floor, where it connects to the Vacuflush vacuum generator. The second piece runs from the vacuum generator down and forward to the holding tank.
Steven Cyr extensively covered the section from the Vac generator to the holding tank here:
scyr.org
I followed his lead, though I cut a slightly larger hole under the water heater. I also used the limber hole that the original hose ran through. My holding tank has an elbow fitting where the hose attaches and if I tried to do it his way the hose would never fit. I tried, halfheartedly, to remove the elbow so I could change it to a straight piece but it would not budge and it seemed like I may break something getting it loose, which would be a disaster.
My main concern on the section from the toilet to the Vac generator was that the hose would be secured in an inaccessible spot below the floor with zip ties. Thankfully, it was not. I first removed the hose from the vac generator then I took off the toilet (easier said than done, it ALWAYS makes a mess) leaving the funnel attached to the hose. Using the funnel for a handle I was able to pull the hose forward enough to remove the hose clamps and the funnel. I then used a double male 1 1/2" hose fitting and eight small screws to attach the new hose to the old.
My wife fed the hose into the hole in the floor where the toilet sits while I pulled from down in the area under the helm. It took some twisting, pushing and pulling but the hose eventually fed through. If it was zip tied, I managed to break them free. That made me very happy as I was worried that I may have to do some surgery to get the hose loose.
Cut both ends to length, reinstalled the toilet with new hose clamps and attached the hose to the vac generator.
The section from the toilet to the head is about 8' long, I'd get 10' to allow some extra. If you don't have ratcheting hose cutters in your toolbox they are worth the investment.
Hope this helps.
Doug
The hose is in two parts, the first piece runs from the toilet under the head floor and shower then pops out in the Laz space under the lower helm floor, where it connects to the Vacuflush vacuum generator. The second piece runs from the vacuum generator down and forward to the holding tank.
Steven Cyr extensively covered the section from the Vac generator to the holding tank here:
Replacing the Waste Tank Hoses
Stella Blue is a Mainship 400 trawler. This site is devoted to information relating to this model trawler.
scyr.org
I followed his lead, though I cut a slightly larger hole under the water heater. I also used the limber hole that the original hose ran through. My holding tank has an elbow fitting where the hose attaches and if I tried to do it his way the hose would never fit. I tried, halfheartedly, to remove the elbow so I could change it to a straight piece but it would not budge and it seemed like I may break something getting it loose, which would be a disaster.
My main concern on the section from the toilet to the Vac generator was that the hose would be secured in an inaccessible spot below the floor with zip ties. Thankfully, it was not. I first removed the hose from the vac generator then I took off the toilet (easier said than done, it ALWAYS makes a mess) leaving the funnel attached to the hose. Using the funnel for a handle I was able to pull the hose forward enough to remove the hose clamps and the funnel. I then used a double male 1 1/2" hose fitting and eight small screws to attach the new hose to the old.
My wife fed the hose into the hole in the floor where the toilet sits while I pulled from down in the area under the helm. It took some twisting, pushing and pulling but the hose eventually fed through. If it was zip tied, I managed to break them free. That made me very happy as I was worried that I may have to do some surgery to get the hose loose.
Cut both ends to length, reinstalled the toilet with new hose clamps and attached the hose to the vac generator.
The section from the toilet to the head is about 8' long, I'd get 10' to allow some extra. If you don't have ratcheting hose cutters in your toolbox they are worth the investment.
Hope this helps.
Doug
