460 DA Owners Thread

The latches are available on flounder pounder and those guys know their stuff. Give them a call.
 
Mechanic at the boat today to fix a leak in the power steering cylinder. Hopefully last of the unscheduled maintenance items for awhile. Oil and filter changes scheduled for April and an electronics upgrade scheduled for April. Opting for a FLIR camera to help with nighttime docking instead of installing flood lights on the arch. Has anyone done this and do you have any feedback, positive or negative?

Holding tank pumped out this past week. The overboard discharge system was disabled by the previous owner as where he operated there was a daily fine for each day the system was operable. Decision now is to reactivate the system with new plumbing and a pump or just find pump outs along the way. My mechanic estimates about $1000 to get the system up and running. Has anyone else done this and do you think his estimate is realistic or is he lowballing me?

I find myself at the boat for several hours a day cleaning something or waxing something else. Not complaining mind you. If wasn't the boat, it would be my hot muscle car. I find this type of work therapeutic, aerobic, and satisfying. Also a great way to really know the boat.

The Raymarine E120 will be history in two months yet I am spending about an hour a day learning how to use and control this beast. Guess I will have it completely figured out by the time its ready for the upgrade. Thirty four years as an airline pilot and I have seen a more complicated navigation system...at least initially.

One last discussion. The guest head was pumping like crazy and cycling as seen on the electric meter. After about 10 or 15 cycles, it would pop the breaker. I told my mechanic I think its a pump gone bad and he thought it was the duck bill valves. He changed the valves and it did not correct the problem. He next adjusted the vacuum pump and still the problem exists. Seems to me that if there is electrical cycling and a popped breaker, the problem is electrical which leads me to think that the pump is ready to er...crap out. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
 
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One last discussion. The guest head was pumping like crazy and cycling as seen on the electric meter. After about 10 or 15 cycles, it would pop the breaker. I told my mechanic I think its a pump gone bad and he thought it was the duck bill valves. He changed the valves and it did not correct the problem. He next adjusted the vacuum pump and still the problem exists. Seems to me that if there is electrical cycling and a popped breaker, the problem is electrical which leads me to think that the pump is ready to er...crap out. Anyone have any thoughts on this?[/QUOTE]

Yes, it is the pump motor over-amping. It is tired and needs to be replaced. The duck bill valves could have been the culprit that led to its eventual demise.
This is a simple replacement and doesn't require a mechanic. A couple of wires and a couple of screws and it's done. When I got my boat the master head was over-amping and blowing the breaker. Due to other things I was doing (replacing all the waste hoses) I pulled the entire accumulator tank out and replaced everything...I had the time, so why not. It turns out each side of the pump only had 1 duckbill, and one of them was jammed with an unmentionable item.

Nonetheless, a simple fix and the pump should be fine.
 
One last discussion. The guest head was pumping like crazy and cycling as seen on the electric meter. After about 10 or 15 cycles, it would pop the breaker. I told my mechanic I think its a pump gone bad and he thought it was the duck bill valves. He changed the valves and it did not correct the problem. He next adjusted the vacuum pump and still the problem exists. Seems to me that if there is electrical cycling and a popped breaker, the problem is electrical which leads me to think that the pump is ready to er...crap out. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Yes, it is the pump motor over-amping. It is tired and needs to be replaced. The duck bill valves could have been the culprit that led to its eventual demise.
This is a simple replacement and doesn't require a mechanic. A couple of wires and a couple of screws and it's done. When I got my boat the master head was over-amping and blowing the breaker. Due to other things I was doing (replacing all the waste hoses) I pulled the entire accumulator tank out and replaced everything...I had the time, so why not. It turns out each side of the pump only had 1 duckbill, and one of them was jammed with an unmentionable item.

Nonetheless, a simple fix and the pump should be fine.[/QUOTE]
 
Thanks for the info. I have a Car Club meeting this morning and then will go down to the boat and check out the pump so I can replace it.

This is what I love about forums like this. There is always and knowledgeable person willing to share previous learning experiences. I greatly appreciate it.
 
There’s no reason to check it out. It’s a vacuflush s pump. Pretty expensive replacement honestly. If you are replacing the entire thing great but if you are rebuilding the one you have you need:

S pump motor
2 sets of duckbills
1 bellows
1 bellows o ring kit -2 o rings
4 1.5” hose clamps and I would replace the section of 1.5” hose from the pump to the waste tank while you’re at it

also, don’t mess with the vacuum switch it looks adjustable but it’s not made to be adjusted and it’s almost impossible to get it right once you screw around with it.

my overarching advice in this repair is to do a complete rebuild of the system and not try to save a dollar and mess with this crappy job more than once.
 
The weather has not been very nice to us this winter with unusually strong and gusty winds, rainy days and nights, etc. Gives me time to work on my boat. My dock neighbor had his 44 bridge cruiser professionally washed yesterday. The outside of my boat was spotless so I was working on the inside doing such exciting things as polishing the cabinets, buffing the inside of the shower, cleaning and waxing the faucets, etc. This morning when I came back to the boat, it was covered in grass clippings as was all the boats along the slips at the dock. Seems the grass that runs the length of the dock was cut and someone with a blower decided to blow all the clippings into the water and thus onto all the boats...aggravating. Not surprised tho as I have a running commentary with the management company at my community when the lawn people blow dirt, clippings, and other garbage into my garage thru the vents. Doesn't take a lot of common sense to blow that stuff the other way but I am digressing. Since I had to hose down the boat, I decided to clean the canvass, scrub down the decks, and wax as much as I could before the heat got to me or my back gave out. Got in a couple of good hours of work. It may sound strange but I really enjoy doing this type of stuff. It gives me some exercise, fresh air and sunshine. I'm at my most dangerous being alone with my thoughts...and its all good therapy. Had a boating weekend planned along with squeezing in an Intra-Club Car Show on Sunday. Forecast is for a strong chance of rain both days. My wife and I have stuff we can do on the boat Saturday if it rains...meanwhile we have invited several people to join us but warned that rain/wind will keep us from going out to the Ocean. I spent the early part of the week detailing my car for the car show (different venue but the same therapy) and now the show is in doubt due to weather. Monday is looking like the weather improves. Hope so....I can't clean anymore, at least for several days and my engine room is already spotless. I've had my boat since mid December and have only put 30 hours on it...16 of those hours were accumulated running it from where I bought it to my dock.
 
I love your updates! 30 hours in a month is pretty impressive actually. Most of these ole’ boats barely get 100 per year!

I finally got all the fuel and oil lines rerouted on my generator as well as the electrical all coming out the left side so I can order my sound shield with proper cutouts. Also got the motor mounts replaced. Just want to clean a bit more and paint before I do anything else with it. Also replaced the exhaust hose clamps on the overboard discharge line. Those clamps were NOT in good shape so I can recommend everyone checking theirs.
The most fun job I did last week was replacing the tank savers in the holding tank. It was smelly but I ended up using a camco wand off amazon and the tanks are almost spotless now!
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Tomorrow is our annual Yachti-Gras parade so we have a full boat for that. We don’t really decorate our boat but we love to tie up or anchor and just watch the boats go by and throw out beads.
 
I see many mentions of Duckbills, but other than knowing they can spoil a trip, where do I get them and is it a big job to replace them.

My 2002 460 has been in my ownership for 8 - 9 years and I have never had them replaced, but the Guest head does run more often than the forward one, so maybe they are leaking.

Planning a six-week trip this summer, so I would rather get the parts and do the job now than when they fail.

Looking forward to some advice

Thanks

Graham
 
Marinesan.com is a great place.

if you see my post above I really recommend you do the bellows and o rings at the same time so you’re not doing a crappy job twice. On our boats you have to remove the pump anyway so you’re half way there.
 
Marinesan.com is a great place.

if you see my post above I really recommend you do the bellows and o rings at the same time so you’re not doing a crappy job twice. On our boats you have to remove the pump anyway so you’re half way there.
Graham,
+1 to marinesan.com and doing a full rebuild while you have it out. They have NoFlex Digestor there as well...

I assume they ship to England...
 
Guest head problem behind me only to discover a fresh water leak that apparently is somewhere behind the washer/dryer. Cowabunga. Mechanic says the electric sofa has to be removed to the salon in order to get the washer/dryer out of its space in order to get to all the hoses back there. Anyone else encountered this problem and is there there a simpler, less expensive solution. Mechanic estimates a full day.
 
Guest head problem behind me only to discover a fresh water leak that apparently is somewhere behind the washer/dryer. Cowabunga. Mechanic says the electric sofa has to be removed to the salon in order to get the washer/dryer out of its space in order to get to all the hoses back there. Anyone else encountered this problem and is there there a simpler, less expensive solution. Mechanic estimates a full day.

I have replaced 99% of my freshwater connectors as several were failing so I just replaced as many as I can see and that included going over the top of my fridge into the void behind it, the washer and the galley cabinets...
 
I see many mentions of Duckbills, but other than knowing they can spoil a trip, where do I get them and is it a big job to replace them.

My 2002 460 has been in my ownership for 8 - 9 years and I have never had them replaced, but the Guest head does run more often than the forward one, so maybe they are leaking.

Planning a six-week trip this summer, so I would rather get the parts and do the job now than when they fail.

Looking forward to some advice

Thanks

Graham

I had an issue with the forward head cycling and the duckbills had just been replaced so I knew it wasn't that. I poured NoFlex Digester down the system and let it sit there for 4 months over the winter and in the spring I started up the waste system and it has not cycled once unless you are flushing it...
 
Is there an easy (?) way to get behind the washer/dryer combo other than pulling out the sofa in the aft cabin and then pulling out the washer/dryer? Do the steps from the main deck down to the salon come apart? Or lift up or some way to get behind them?
 
I think you can access the hoses by pulling out the refrigerator. The steps don't come apart without a saw!
 
You can get the washer dryer out far enough without removing the sofa. I’ve had mine out to replace a door latch. I’m sure it’s one of the sea tech fittings leaking. They are readily available at fisheries supply.
 
The holding tank cleaner is a Camco tornado. Works pretty well actually. Frank Webster turned me on to it. Got mine on Amazon and have been using it after the holding tank gets pumped out.
 
After an abundance of research on my part and independent research on the part of my mechanic, we have concluded the aft stateroom sofa must come out and the washer/dryer pulled out in order to get at all the hoses back there. Since the boat is 20 years old and a fair guess that all the hoses are original, we will change as many as possible.

Thus far my mechanic and I have changed most of the hoses on the engines and generator and have replaced the seals on the heads.

As far as I can determine, the last electronics update was accomplished in 2006 with all analog Raymarine gear. The game plan is to replace all of that this April with all new digital Garmin 8600 series Chartplotter, radar, tri-data gauge, vhf radio, autopilot and infrared camera.

Aside from routine maintenance, I'm hoping that's it for awhile.
 

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