Carver Owners Forum

I have a 1996 Carver 355 with Vacuflush. My wife texted me today with this pic. Dark liquid, smells like pee seeping out from under v-berth. Does anyone have any idea where to start looking for the leak?

First thing to do , get the front holding tank pumped out and flushed good. . Where is the pumpout fitting on the deck?
Check the toilet fittings and check the holding tank to see if any damage from collapsing due to pumpouts if there is no tank saver fitting. Do you have overboard discharge ?

I can't remember where the black water tank is, and I could be wrong but I think there's only one. Look under the floor hatch by the galley to see if it's full of water/waste. Also look under the dinette table hatch, it leads to the same bilge area and I believe that's where the forward vacuum generator is. If I remember correctly, there is a tank in the bilge under the hatch close to the foot of the aft cabin bed. If the leak isn't obvious in any of these locations, you'll have to check all the hardware and fittings throughout the system including vacuum generator, pump, toilet, tank, hose, etc. See if there is any of this liquid in the engine compartment and aft cabin bilges. I think the bilges are all isolated from each other so this will help narrow down the problem area. If the bilges are isolated, the problem is forward of the engine room bulkhead where you step down from the solon onto the dinette area. Hopefully someone with the same model year will chime in with exact locations. Good luck and keep us posted.

I found the problem. My wife opened the hatch under the v-berth starboard side forward of the head. That’s where the poop explosion happened! Flat nasty!!!! The TW pump and accumulator tank are there. I did some research and Dometic says a TW pump is not to be used for vacuum. Only transfer. So, I found a couple of vacuum pumps that are $1000!! I cannot find anything that specs the original pumps for a ‘96 355. Anyone know what the original model number is? Can anyone with a 3607, 355 or 356 with Vacuflush look at their pump and tell me what model they have??

Betting you need the SW pump but if you go to marinesan.com they have all the parts and diagrams and very knowledgeable staff that can guide you.

This kind of clean-up job has to be the nastiest thing that can happen on a boat!!! I am sorry you and your wife have to go through this and wouldn't wish it on my WORST enemies!!

That said, finding out what actually occurred needs to happen after cleanup is done. THEN you can figure out the next steps in making it all work correctly again. Don't just guess at what the PO might have done.

I didn't see an answer to bud's earlier question ("Do you have overboard discharge ?"), but that could be a clue if the discharge pump got inadvertently activated into a closed discharge valve.

You should post some picks. The most probable cause is a ruptured belows in the SW pump. Normally you just need to rebuild the pump for about $200 in parts. I'm sure there are many boaters on this site that have been there and done that.
Trouble shoot the liquid level guage once you pump out the holdiding tank.