How do I empty the tank?

[New owner old boat]

Feel free to laugh at me. I am slowly learning my way around my new (old) boat and I have come upon a smelly problem.

I have no idea how to empty my holding tank. In Canada we can still pump in to the ocean. I have a macerator which makes a whirring noise when I switch it on then goes slower and grinds to a halt.
Questions:
1. Should I be doing something more like opening a valve somewhere?
2. Does this mean there is something stuck in the macerator or the line?
3. What should I do? I have my first overnight cruise planned.

 

[timvg]

You should have a couple different ways:

1. When you operate the macerator, make sure that thru-hole valve is open. Otherwise you'll you'll be pumping your "stuff" though a hose with no where to go (as long as the hose stays in one piece).

2. You may need to replace the macerator. Like many things on a boat, if it hasn't been used for a long time, mechanical things stop working.

3. You should also be able to use a shore-side pump-out facility (if you know where they have one). On your deck, there should be a cap that is hopefully marked as "waste" or something like that.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Step 1:

Trace all the toilet/sanitation plumbing in your boat--find the toilet intake thru-hull...trace that hose to the toilet. Trace the toilet discharge hose to the tank, so you know where it's connected to the tank AND whether there's any y-valve in it that offers a choice between going into the tank or directly overboard. If there is such a y-valve, you also need to find the thru-hull and seacock that hose is connected to...and finally, the plumbing coming off the tank---the hose to the deck pumpout fitting, the tee, wye or y-valve in that line that goes off to the macerator pump and from the macerator pump to that thru-hull and seacock...and the tank vent line--from the tank to the vent thru-hull.

Once you know how the system is plumbed, it gets a lot easier to figure out how things work and what isn't working. For instance, there are several possible reasons why your macerator isn't emptying the tank: the thru-hull isn't open...the tank vent is blocked...a y-valve in the tank discharge line isn't open to the overboard side..or there could be a clog in the tank discharge line...but no way to trouble-shoot something if you don't know what what you have.

If you're short of time to learn how to pump out and flush out your tank before your first overnight, I suggest you enlist the aid of a knowledgable dockmate to show you how to do at least that much. Then spend some time learning your way around ALL the systems on your boat. 'Cuz you can't trouble-shoot or even properly maintain ANYthing till you know what you have, where it is and how it's supposed to work.

 

[Neil McDonald]

Vancouver Pumpout Facilities

What should I do? I have my first overnight cruise planned.

If like me you are moored in North Vancouver at Mosquito Creek Marina, they have free pump-out facilities on A dock for all tenants - just ask Security for access. If you are at Lynwood Marina, they now have the same ownership as Mosquito Creek, so you should be able to talk your way into using the same facilities. Otherwise there are public facilities in False Creek under the south end of the Burrard Bridge (quite a mooring squeeze for boats over 30') or at the Boat Welcoming station under the north end of the Granville St. Bridge.

 

[saylor240]

same question

can someone look at this diagram and explain it to me??
its the set up on my 28' irwin and i cant seem to get the valves turned right to get the proper flows, i keep playing with it but i need some input.

 

[Seattle Scott]

Re: same question

Saylor,

I think the hand pump is in the wrong location. The toilet pumps into the tank by itself ( or directly overboard depending on which way the 3-way valve on the bottom of your diagram is turned). Move the hand pump so it is "downriver" from the other 3-way valve.

 

[saylor240]

Re: same question

there in-lies the problem there is no room to relocate it....i will just have to keep messing with it to figure it out..