The J/109 Class Association Forum

I have a work around for those of you that haven't decided what to do with your pump. If the pump stops in mid shower - with the pump running, angle the shower head up into the shower sump drain fitting in the sink, so the water dumps back down the plastic tube toward the pump. This helps the pump prime and the water starts to flow again. Works like a charm.

[Posted by: Joel Livingston
]

We've used Joel's work around with mixed success.

I bought a plastic turkey baster for less than USD $2. When the pump fails to prime, I pull up the grate, take a bulb full of water, turn the pump on, jam the end into the intake, and squeeze the bulb. Works every time.

[Posted by: Dan Grossman
]

I like the turkey baster idea- I'll have to try it. I ended up just buying a different brand of pump with a more solid connection (screw-on rather than a clamp) for the tubing. The Jabsco ones always seemed to develop air leaks at the connection of the tube to the pump.

In doing the troubleshooting, I was asked by other non J-boat owners why we need a sump pump anyway. On other x-brand boats the drain in the head just passively drains through a tube (pipe) in the subflooring and then into the bilge. Eventually pumped overboard by the bilge pump. What's the drawback to this system?

Is it just me - or does this problem seem to be something that should be addressed by J Boat or Pearson Composites? I suspect that Dan thinks about that every time he shoves the $2 turkey baster into the shower drain of his $200k+ boat.

[Posted by: Joel Livingston
]

Well there is a topic for debate. Usually when these pumps go out, they go after the warranty. SO, turkey baster OR make a big stink....um.... I realize that its a boat and there is always going to be something that needs fixing. I also understand your point about a $2 baster and 200K boat, b-u-t, I pick my battles. The shower pump wasn't one of them. Maybe being stinky is just better?

[Posted by: maya
]

Jerry,
You really, really, don't want to dump gray water in the bilge. It **will** smell bad, and it **will** be difficult to get the smell out of the boat and the hair and soap scum **will** clog up your bilge pump.

Joel,
Yeah, I'm with you on that, but it's one of those intermittent things that never seems to happen when the mechanic is there. The turkey baster isn't needed that much.

[Posted by: Dan Grossman
]

Good points. That's what I was looking for... a good reason not to. That's one of the reasons why we have the the 200K boat and the others are 100K

Thanks for the tips

I finally gave up on the Jabsco pump and replaced it with the Whale Gulper, and the new one works great.

[Posted by: Sam Mitchener
]

Sam:

Can you send me information on the Whale Gulper? My shower pump jsy failed. hull 310, less than a year old.

Dan etc. can you give a more detailed description on how to prime the pump? I have been cleaning my filter so its not that. My pump is mounted underneath the sink, making it not as accesible.

[Posted by: stephen
]

Steve,
I bought a plastic turkey baster at the supermarket. When the pump loses its prime, I remove the grate, turn the pump on, fill the baster with water, jam the end into the drain intake for a tight fit, and squeeze the bulb hard. This forces water into the intake line. Repeat until the pump primes (you'll hear the motor loading up).

[Posted by: Dan Grossman
]

Thank you Dan.
BTW My new email is Stephen@tdorg.com I lost yours

[Posted by: Stephen
]

I have #334 and it was delivered in May. Guess what. Same problem. I've tried the turkey baster and it didn't work. I've informed TPI and submitted it for warranty repair. I will REMIND them that this is still a wide spread problem for the 109 owners and they need to permanently fix the problem.

[Posted by: Gerry
]

Mine still doesn't work- I gave up since my boat isn't covered under warranty (second owner). I went with a different brand pump with better connectors. It's a winter project for me, I'll let you know if Plan B works.

Jerry
Shada #44

[Posted by: J Woodfield
]

Sooooo. Working a few 109s and we once again attack the shower pump issue. This time we took the bloody thing apart. Although by design the shower discharge pump IS a diaghram pump, the chamber houses 4 really small diaghrams, each with it's own o-ring, thus creating lot of possibilities for things to go wrong. The one we took apart had a mis-seated ring and was sucking air. I spoke to ITT/Jabsco and they recommended a change to a new pump, 50880-1000, which has a single large (REALLY LARGE) diaghram. He told me it would pass 1/2" marbles. I believe him. We put it in, and removed the strainer assembly as he suggested. This thing will suck your foot thru it if you aren't careful and has primed itself every time we tested it. There is a problem though. It pumps so strongly that when the water discharges from the vent fitting down into the sink it shoots right across the bottom of the bowl and sprayed out across the head compartment. We'll work on that issue next - will probably involve rerouting the discharge into a T fitting on the sink drain. But this pump is great.

[Posted by: Jon Udell
]