Waste Holding Tank Discharge Valve Kaput.

[patrick33308]

The ball valve thru-hull that allows discharge from the waste holding tank has apparently got marine growth in it and will not permit discharge from the tank, ( to be done according to CG Regs). The boat was owned by a man who had dementia in his last year of ownership and did absolutely no maintenance, including having the bottom cleaned.

The Broker did have the bottom cleaned just before I bought it and soon after I noticed that the discharge handle is in the open position and cannot be moved , forcing it is a last resort and I am considering a diver to poke a sharp tool into it to break up whatever is inside the valve.

Anyone have a similar problem.

 

[31seahorse]

Hello patrick33308,

Interesting dilemna! Maybe the safest solution is a haul out for a few days to work on the solution without danger of flooding the interior. That would give you the opportunity to inspect the other fittings and the bottom & rudder since it sounds as though you did not have a haul out and survey prior to purchase.

OR...... Could you remove the tubing from the tank/pump at a level above the waterline and then do the "poking" from inside the boat? If the valve is open that might allow the growth to be chipped and be pushed out. (Just thinkin')

 

[thinwater]

That's the easiest way.

However, if you're getting into boat ownership and you're in FL (warm water), you may want to get used to doing simple things yourself.

a. Clearing the valves was was part of cleaning the bottom.

b. The valve may be stuck for other reasons (lack of lube, too long in one position).

It is also possible that the valve will need replaced, for which you will probably have to haul-out again (depends on the design). Check all the valves this time.

But you didn't give many details. Pictures help.

 

[Chris Patterson]

Ah, it ain't that bad. As disconcerting as this might sound, I would simply stuff a rag tightly into the thruhull from outside, bearing in mind the water pressure is going to hold it in to some degree, remove the valve and clean or replace it. I've seen and heard of any number of 'cures' to this, and they are all just 'patch fixes', and not repaired. You'll probably hear of the regimen of exercising the valves, and while true, you didn't get that chance. But now you risk 'catastrophic' failure of the valve to start banging on it or whatever. I trie for HOURS to explain this last year to another one of these 'cat lady live aboards' last year that had tapered cone thruhulls, which in itself are easy rebuilds, and no amount of logic or experience could sway this nut into believing that soaking the outside of the valve in P.B. Blaster would not help it. She had cleaned them, (the visible part), oiled them, and even went so far as to smear the recommended grease all over the valves. For the exception of having first very clean, and then very greasy valves, she still had stuck valves needing attention. After five very protracted phone calls of her cockamamy ideas about how to fix them, (other than the right way), I finally put her firmly on my nut list of customers, and quit entertaining her calls.

Sorry for all that, but you are going to get very lucky and free them like so, or remove them and fix them. As hard as it is mentally to get past the idea that you are about to open a hole from the bottom of your boat to the sea, it really is not that big of a deal. If the valves and or thruhulls look very bad, and there is even the remotest idea that you will break it requiring a new thruhull, at least plan ahead and have the travellift on standby for the insurance, which before I attempted this, I would do as a matter of course. In other words, this is not something I would try at sea, at night, by myself, etc. A plan "B" is in order here.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

What Precisely ...................

another one of these 'cat lady live aboards' last year

........................ is a 'cat lady live aboards' to which you refer ?

Can't say I ever remember meeting one but they sound ............ interesting.

Details, please.

 

[Benny17441]

I would not try to remove the valve with the boat in the water. Applying torque to remove the valve may break the seal on the thru-hull with leaking consequences. With the assistance of a diver it is possible to replace a thru-hull with the boat in the water but requires having all the fittings in hand and good coordination. More than likely the valve is stuck in the closed position because of lack of use. The position of the handle will indicate whether the valve is closed or open, Perpendicular to valve is the closed position and parallel to the valve body is the open position. Try removing the hose and replacing it with a short piece of hose to use as a receptacle and pour penetrating oil down on it and let the oil sit for a few hours. Without applying excessive force, try moving the lever slightly back and forth. If it does not yield let the penetrating oil sit overnight. The problem with trying to force it is that you may twist the shaft until it snaps. The shaft is weakest at the insert point for the lever and if it snaps the valve will need to be replaced. If you can get it to move little by little, back and forth, it should eventually release. If it does not release after a couple of days in oil then you will need to haul out. It may not be pretty when you remove that sanitary hose so have a couple of rags handy to plug that hose and the valve should water start coming in.

 

[patrick33308]

I thank all for the replys to date, good info. What happened was I sold this boat 3 years ago and bought it back in October. The gentleman had come down with dementia and crashed every single system on the boat, no zinks, sold the a/c compressor, dinghy and motor, anchor, abused the interior, plumbing leaks,........U name it.
And now I discover the valve doesn't work due to oysters/muscles whatever.
And the survey dude missed most of it.

Again, I thank U all................

 

[Chris Patterson]

The gentleman had come down with dementia and crashed every single system on the boat, no zinks, sold the a/c compressor, dinghy and motor, anchor, abused the interior, plumbing leaks,........U name it.-quote-

If it's any consolation, it seems that a lot of that is going around...