1996 Ciera 2355 Toilet-gctid828244

[Buncrana]

Hi BOC I am brand new to boating at 66 years of age. Hope you will have patience with me as I don't know all the terms yet.I recently bought a 2355 Ciera and had to have a new 357 Merc engine put in it. Many other parts have now been replaced also. The head confuses me as it used to work before the new engine went in. Does this unit use sea water or does it draw water from the 13 gallon freshwater tank? Do they have to be primed in anyway?

I am not sure what make it is as it is not labeled. I was thinking of replacing the hand pump but without knowing make I am bit nervous. It looks like a Jabsco. Is there a macerator with this unit or does it all merely go into the holding tank as I can't find a macerator anywhere?

Thanks in advance guys.

[canoel]

Welcome to the forum!

There should be a gate valve of some sort that allows the head to draw water in from the sea/lake. Make sure this is open.

Sometimes when our boat has been out of the water for any length of time, a bucket of water poured into the bowl speeds things up.

I also pour a little fabric softener in the bowls once in a while. It helps with odour, keeps things lubricated, and minimizes streaks.

[Knot_Happy]

I owned a 1996 2355 for over 10 years loved the boat. The toilet uses sea water, the seacock is in the engine bay should be on the starboard side just fwd of the engine. It may have gotten closed when they did your engine work.

It is a Jabsco head. The hand pump can be rebuilt fairly easy. I don't recal the part number but you can get a kit for a reasonable price online. Or you can order the whole hand pump for a little more. Swap out is easy as all the screws can be accessed from the head.

Th boat does have a macerator. It is operated by two switches under the helm on the starboard side. It pumps overboard and is illegal in most inland US waters, so be cautious.

A small side tip for an enhancement to the fresh water tank. Unless somebody has already done it add an external fill cap. The OEM configuration requires lifting the engine hatch. The small fresh water tank runs out fairly quick and it is a pain to clear and lift the engine cover. You can buy a marine water fill fitting online and get sufficient fittings and tube from most hardware stores. I placed mine into the angled section of the side rail so it was higher than the waste water fitting and ran (if I recall) a 1 1/4 dia tube into a 90 degree elbow in the tank top. It just clears the hatch cover but worked excellent.

[simo]

Do your parts look like this one? If so, this is an easy job.

Jabsco Pump Assembly

[Buncrana]

Thank You so much for your quick reply I really appreciate it. I will take a look under the helm tomorrow. I dread this as it is like a hornets nest of wires that have been messed with by Sunday electricians. That does make sense then as it flushes out okay via the hand pump but just cannot get it to draw water in.

[canoel]

The macerator switches, and the not drawing water are two separate issues. First check the valve in the engine bay.

If you leave the boat in the water it is good practice to know where every through hull seacock valve is, and close them when leaving the boat for any length of time.

[Buncrana]

Thank You canoel I see two cocks in the engine bay and both appear to be open (handles in line with hoses). The boat is trailered right now. Can I disconnect the top pipe and place it in a bucket of water? to see if it draws water in? If not I can easily order a new head pump?

The reason I asked about the macerator was because the dealer who put the engine in said he couldn't find it. It does pump out the dirty water when I switch the switch to dry and pump several times. It just will not bring in clean water.

Thanks again I am sure glad I joined this forum you guys are saving me a fortune.

[canoel]

This site has some good reading. http://jabscotech.com/