A Handy Device

[seasalt]

The parts depicted in this picture (once assembled) pulled my fat from the fire several times on my previous boat. Any guesses? It can be for the sink but that is not what I used it for.

Flush Parts.JPG

[jleonard]

Thru hull flushing

[seasalt]

Sorry. It would work for thru hulls but I did not make it for that.

Here is the assembled device.

One mini plunger sans handle
One female hose mender
One hose clamp
One hose nozzel with male threads on the business end

I used an Exacto knife to cut a hole in the bottom of the plunger.

Below is a set of steps one should follow to use it for blowing out a VacuFlush Toilet.

Unplugger.JPG

1. Turn off the boat's fresh water supply and purge the pressure.

2. Hopefully the flush that backed up got far enough down stream that the water in the bowl is reasonably clean. If not, use the latex gloves suggested below and a cup to remove as much as possible.

3. Bring in a dock water hose with the little dandy device screwed on the end.

Now for the three most important steps:

1. Turn on the toilet's breaker and switch. The pump must be running for this to work.

2. Depress the flush pedal with your knee and hold it down.

3. Use one hand to place the nifty device's cup very tightly over the open hole in the bottom of the bowl and start blasting the hell out of it with on and off bursts of water pressure. If the obstruction is not someone's cat it will move on and the the pump will continue to take water from the dock hose.

I don't think that I have left anything out, but who knows? This has always worked for me on a series of VacuFlush equipped boats

[RobS]

Looks like something from Doug's toolbox

[jleonard]

Do you have to wear latex gloves while using?

[seasalt]

Mystery revealed. See above.

[DougSea]

Looks like something from Doug's toolbox

A tool box without home built tools isn't a REAL tool box!!

[Serenity]

I like the thru hull idea. definitely give it a try