Last weekend I pumped out the holding tank for the first time in our new (1988) Cat 30. I followed all the instructions it appeared to pump out fine. When I went to use the head later that day I found the Groco HF head bowl 1/2 full of waste water. When I flushed it, water was pumping out the stanchion vent. All of the plumbing looks OK and valves were set properly. What did I do wrong?
- Status
Plugged vent.
Rick: It sounds like your problem is a plugged vent line. When you pump you are pushing waste into the tank from the head and need to displace the air in the tank. I really do not like this setup on the Catalinas. This vent is NOT large enough and if it get plugged you can have bad results. I may make an assumption here that if the vent is plugged solid that you could possibly collapse the tank! I would think that it would be prudent to put a "T" in the vent line or just re-route the line completely. This will allow your K.O. or whatever chemical to help digest the waste properly. If you re-route the vent make sure you put a loop in the line to prevent seawater from getting into your holding tank . Regardless of what you do, you need to get the vent cleared and keep it clear.
Rick: It sounds like your problem is a plugged vent line. When you pump you are pushing waste into the tank from the head and need to displace the air in the tank. I really do not like this setup on the Catalinas. This vent is NOT large enough and if it get plugged you can have bad results. I may make an assumption here that if the vent is plugged solid that you could possibly collapse the tank! I would think that it would be prudent to put a "T" in the vent line or just re-route the line completely. This will allow your K.O. or whatever chemical to help digest the waste properly. If you re-route the vent make sure you put a loop in the line to prevent seawater from getting into your holding tank . Regardless of what you do, you need to get the vent cleared and keep it clear.
One thing is certain:
You didn't succeed in pumping out the tank. However, if you were able to overflow the tank out the vent, I doubt that it was blocked--or if it was, the overflow was under enough pressure to break it open. One way to know for sure: SLOWLY & CAREFULLY loosen the deck ftting cap...you'll either experience an inrush of air (because the pumpout pulled a vacuum)...or--if the tank is pressurized, an outrushing of air...or even a geyser...so have the hose handy.
My best guess is that you only THOUGHT the y-valve in the pumpout line was in the "right" position. Check your y-valve to make sure which way the handle is supposed to point to open the discharge line to the deck pumpout fitting. "Conventail wisdom" says that flow should be in the same direction the handle points...but I've seen a lot of y-valves that were just the opposite. Other possibilities include a clog in the pumpout line...most likely that would be inside the tank, right at the fitting, but it could be in the line itself. Once you solve this problem, you have another one: if the joker valve in your head discharge were working the way it's supposed to, you would not have seen any backflow into the bowl...it obviously needs replacing. Since your toilet has prob'ly never been rebuilt, I wouldn't replace only the joker valve...I'd replace all the seals and gaskets in it. If you decide to modify the tank vent, I wouldn't put a tee in the vent line...I'd either install a second vent in the tank or re-route the existing line. And I would not put a loop in it because a loop prevents any exchange of air with the air/gasses inside the tank. Unless you sail with the vent thru-hull buried, you won't take enough water down it to notice.
You didn't succeed in pumping out the tank. However, if you were able to overflow the tank out the vent, I doubt that it was blocked--or if it was, the overflow was under enough pressure to break it open. One way to know for sure: SLOWLY & CAREFULLY loosen the deck ftting cap...you'll either experience an inrush of air (because the pumpout pulled a vacuum)...or--if the tank is pressurized, an outrushing of air...or even a geyser...so have the hose handy.
My best guess is that you only THOUGHT the y-valve in the pumpout line was in the "right" position. Check your y-valve to make sure which way the handle is supposed to point to open the discharge line to the deck pumpout fitting. "Conventail wisdom" says that flow should be in the same direction the handle points...but I've seen a lot of y-valves that were just the opposite. Other possibilities include a clog in the pumpout line...most likely that would be inside the tank, right at the fitting, but it could be in the line itself. Once you solve this problem, you have another one: if the joker valve in your head discharge were working the way it's supposed to, you would not have seen any backflow into the bowl...it obviously needs replacing. Since your toilet has prob'ly never been rebuilt, I wouldn't replace only the joker valve...I'd replace all the seals and gaskets in it. If you decide to modify the tank vent, I wouldn't put a tee in the vent line...I'd either install a second vent in the tank or re-route the existing line. And I would not put a loop in it because a loop prevents any exchange of air with the air/gasses inside the tank. Unless you sail with the vent thru-hull buried, you won't take enough water down it to notice.Problem Solved.
Thanks for your input. I went back to the pump-out station yesterday and Peggy was right. It was never pumped out in the first place. It's working fine now. Rick
Thanks for your input. I went back to the pump-out station yesterday and Peggy was right. It was never pumped out in the first place. It's working fine now. Rick
Good Question.
Peggy: I don't think I had a good seal. I thought it was pumping out, but apparently the waste was just spinning in the sight glass. I could tell a difference in the pumping when it worked properly. Thanks! Rick
Peggy: I don't think I had a good seal. I thought it was pumping out, but apparently the waste was just spinning in the sight glass. I could tell a difference in the pumping when it worked properly. Thanks! Rick
- Status