How to Test & Repair an Electric Boat Toilet

The toilet on a boat serves the same basic function as the one in a home, but -- unlike the toilet in a home -- the toilet on a boat is bolted to the deck. Both, however, use a wax seal around the toilet's discharge pipe. The one in a home uses a tank of water, while the boat's "head" uses a pump to push water through the system. While details between brands may vary, toilet malfunctions begin with failure to flush or a leak. This means that repairing an electric marine toilet typically requires plumbing and electrical work.

Things You'll Need

  • Toilet repair kit
  • Screwdrivers
  • Adjustable wrench
  • Gloves
  • Face shield
  • 5/16-inch box-end wrench
  • 3/8-inch box-end wrench
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Flush the toilet by pressing the "Flush" button. If the flush is strong enough to swallow a cat, but the waste refuses to leave the toilet bowl, move your boat to the fuel dock's pump-out station. Connect the hose to the marine sanitation device discharge ensuring the positive-connection hose locks make a firm connection. Pump the waste from marine sanitation device to the pumping station ashore.

    • 2

      Press the "Flush" button on the toilet and watch the water flow. If the flow does not border on violent, or at least strong, disconnect the battery cables from the battery, negative cable first.

    • 3

      Remove the three or four cover retaining screws from the pump cover, with a screwdriver. Inspect the pump visually for leaks and corrosion on the blade terminal connections between the wires and the pump. If the terminals on the wires are corroded, cut the terminals off the wires, strip a half inch of insulation from the wire and crimp new terminals on the wires, using a wire crimper.

    • 4

      Inspect the deck around the pump. If dampness is present, remove the three pump motor retaining bolts that hold the pump motor in place, using an adjustable wrench. Remove the impeller and seal from the pump head -- which remains attached to the base of the toilet -- and replace with the impeller and seal from the toilet repair kit. Clean up the deck.

    • 5

      Position the pump motor on the pump head and thread the three pump motor retaining bolts into place. Position the pump cover over the pump and secure with the retaining screws. Replace the battery cables on the battery, positive cable first. Flush the toilet to test.