I recently purchased a 1986 h28.5 after owning a h23 for many years. I am totally lost when it comes to marine heads. How difficult is it to pump out the waste tank on the 28.5? How do you monitor the tank level between pump-outs since there are no installed tank level indicators? Any and all tid-bits would be greatly appreciated.
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Easy to do
Just go to your marina pump out and fire up. You may want to buy your own connecting valve from West Marine to keep on the boat. It will ensure true vacuum. Good point about tank level. I put a bright flashlight on top of the plastic and look on the side for where it gets darker. That's the level.
Just go to your marina pump out and fire up. You may want to buy your own connecting valve from West Marine to keep on the boat. It will ensure true vacuum. Good point about tank level. I put a bright flashlight on top of the plastic and look on the side for where it gets darker. That's the level.
I, too, have an '86 H28.5. The holding tank pump out is simple and effective at my marina. Their pump out station has a variety of nozzles to fit most common pump out outlets. The procedure I use is to insert the pump hose, pump out the head, and then refill the holding tank with fresh water. Pump out again. I usually refill and pump out twice. The more often you pump out, and wash out the tank with fresh water, the better. I now pump the tank every time I use it (obviating the need for tank guage). Not a big deal and I have no unwanted odors coming from that area. If you let "material" stay in the tank until it is full before you pump it out, you are asking for stinky problems....
tank level
As I remember, the holding tank is molded into the hull under the aft cabin, so looking with a falshlight won't work. It's one of the quirks of this model. You'll just have to count flushes.
As I remember, the holding tank is molded into the hull under the aft cabin, so looking with a falshlight won't work. It's one of the quirks of this model. You'll just have to count flushes.
Use of the Manual installed pump
Thanks all for the information. I intend to add a tank monitoring system in the future but you guys' solution will do the trick until that time. However, there is still the question of the manual sewage pump. Do any of you ever have to use it?
Thanks all for the information. I intend to add a tank monitoring system in the future but you guys' solution will do the trick until that time. However, there is still the question of the manual sewage pump. Do any of you ever have to use it?
Manual Pump Out
John: I believe the manual pump for the holding tank on the H28.5 can only be legally used offshore (a place where I don't think you want to be in a H28.5....). Otherwise,and depending on how your boat is configured, my manual pump works by opening the large outflow seacock on the head, closing the small intake seacock, and pumping the pump located in the starboard lazarette. I further believe that, in most coastal waters, that it is legally required that you lock wire the pump or otherwise disable this system. If your boat were boarded or otherwise inspected by the local marine/natural resources police/and or USCG, you would be subject to fines if they found your system capable of pumping waste into your local waters. You may want to check this out with your local authorities, or the Head Mistress, Peggy Hall.
John: I believe the manual pump for the holding tank on the H28.5 can only be legally used offshore (a place where I don't think you want to be in a H28.5....). Otherwise,and depending on how your boat is configured, my manual pump works by opening the large outflow seacock on the head, closing the small intake seacock, and pumping the pump located in the starboard lazarette. I further believe that, in most coastal waters, that it is legally required that you lock wire the pump or otherwise disable this system. If your boat were boarded or otherwise inspected by the local marine/natural resources police/and or USCG, you would be subject to fines if they found your system capable of pumping waste into your local waters. You may want to check this out with your local authorities, or the Head Mistress, Peggy Hall.
Newbie question
I'm knew to this pump out stuff. How do you determine when the tank is empty, and when you do or do not have suction?
I'm knew to this pump out stuff. How do you determine when the tank is empty, and when you do or do not have suction?
Pumping out is easy...but there's more to it...
It's essential that the tank vent never become blocked...if it does, the tank will become pressurized, preventing the toilet from flushing--and can result in a burst tank, or if you're lucky, only a sewage bath in the eruption when you remove the deck pumpout cap. A blocked tank vent will also cause the pumpout or overboard pump to pull a vaccum, preventing it from getting anything out of the tank--and can also result in a cracked tank from the suction. So check the vent thru-hull regularly, backflush it each time you wash the boat and/or pumpout, especially if waste has spilled out the vent. Warren gave you good advice about rinsing the tank after every pumpout. To answer your questions: Most pumpout hoses have a sight glass...to know when the tank is empty, watch it to see when no more waste is going through. If there is no sight glass, listen for the pumpout to start sucking air. To legally dump a tank, you must be in open ocean at least 3 miles from the nearest point on the whole US coastline...which means a manual pump or macerator cannot be used legally in ANY inland waters (some states even require that y-valves and pumps be removed, not just closed and secured) or anywhere in the Chesapeake or any other Bay. Then there's the matter of maintaining your toilet...for that matter, just learning how to flush it to make sure the bowl contents make it all the way to the tank without filling up the tank with flush water...toilet paper...making sure nothing BUT TP and waste ever goes into the toilet. The link below includes all the information you need to use and maintain your toilet and tank properly so that you prevent problems...'cuz prevention is MUCH easier--and a lot more pleasant--than most cures.
It's essential that the tank vent never become blocked...if it does, the tank will become pressurized, preventing the toilet from flushing--and can result in a burst tank, or if you're lucky, only a sewage bath in the eruption when you remove the deck pumpout cap. A blocked tank vent will also cause the pumpout or overboard pump to pull a vaccum, preventing it from getting anything out of the tank--and can also result in a cracked tank from the suction. So check the vent thru-hull regularly, backflush it each time you wash the boat and/or pumpout, especially if waste has spilled out the vent. Warren gave you good advice about rinsing the tank after every pumpout. To answer your questions: Most pumpout hoses have a sight glass...to know when the tank is empty, watch it to see when no more waste is going through. If there is no sight glass, listen for the pumpout to start sucking air. To legally dump a tank, you must be in open ocean at least 3 miles from the nearest point on the whole US coastline...which means a manual pump or macerator cannot be used legally in ANY inland waters (some states even require that y-valves and pumps be removed, not just closed and secured) or anywhere in the Chesapeake or any other Bay. Then there's the matter of maintaining your toilet...for that matter, just learning how to flush it to make sure the bowl contents make it all the way to the tank without filling up the tank with flush water...toilet paper...making sure nothing BUT TP and waste ever goes into the toilet. The link below includes all the information you need to use and maintain your toilet and tank properly so that you prevent problems...'cuz prevention is MUCH easier--and a lot more pleasant--than most cures.
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