As a fall project I am going to add a manual pump for my holding tank. Currently, all crud goes to the tank, with no Y-valve option. The boat has a deck opening for pump out. Our cruising area does not have any pump-out facilities. Also, a macerator is in place in the aft locker which pumps the tank contents out via a thu-hull. I would like to have the manual pump-out option for the times when the macerator($150 a pop)quits or for when I don't want the drain on my batteries. I am thinking of having a dedicated pump and hose arrangement to stick down in the deck access opening each time it's needed. Or, a hand pump (similar to a Whale Gusher pump) permanently fixed in the aft locker that has the intake side connected to the hose just before the macerator and the output side attached to the hose just after the macerator. Any thoughts? I never thought I'd appreciate my home plumbing so much :>)
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Hand Pump
In emergencies I have used a hand pump and stuck it in the deck fitting - worked for me
In emergencies I have used a hand pump and stuck it in the deck fitting - worked for me
What I'd do...
Mount the Whale in the bilge. Tee the discharge from the Whale into the macerator discharge line. Make sure there's a y-valve in the tank discharge line ahead of it that's located to assure minimum spillage if you have to disconnect a hose from the macerator and attach it to the Whale, and that there's enough hose to simply take it off the macerator and put it on the Whale. IMO, that beats having a smelly hose--which it will be once you've attached it to the deck fitting and used it--sitting on the boat. And it gives you a manual backup bilge pump if you ever need one.
Mount the Whale in the bilge. Tee the discharge from the Whale into the macerator discharge line. Make sure there's a y-valve in the tank discharge line ahead of it that's located to assure minimum spillage if you have to disconnect a hose from the macerator and attach it to the Whale, and that there's enough hose to simply take it off the macerator and put it on the Whale. IMO, that beats having a smelly hose--which it will be once you've attached it to the deck fitting and used it--sitting on the boat. And it gives you a manual backup bilge pump if you ever need one.
Extraordinary
that no one in your cruising area has a pump-out. You might check with some local environmentalists to see if anyone goes around with a portable pump-out. College ecology departments in America are big promoters of this.
that no one in your cruising area has a pump-out. You might check with some local environmentalists to see if anyone goes around with a portable pump-out. College ecology departments in America are big promoters of this.
Manual pump
thanks for your replies. A few questions.... Nordsea: when you used the hand pump did you have to run a hose all the way into the holding tank from the deck fitting or were you able to get an air seal aroung the deck fitting somehow? What kind of hand pump did you use? Bill: there is a commercial pump out company but they are expensive(min charge $100)for simply pumping out a 20gal holding tank. There is very little demand in our area. Unfortunately, the few boaters around discharge directly overboard not to a holding tank. Peggie: I like your idea. Do you think the rubber part of the Whale will absorb the smell and stink up the place?
thanks for your replies. A few questions.... Nordsea: when you used the hand pump did you have to run a hose all the way into the holding tank from the deck fitting or were you able to get an air seal aroung the deck fitting somehow? What kind of hand pump did you use? Bill: there is a commercial pump out company but they are expensive(min charge $100)for simply pumping out a 20gal holding tank. There is very little demand in our area. Unfortunately, the few boaters around discharge directly overboard not to a holding tank. Peggie: I like your idea. Do you think the rubber part of the Whale will absorb the smell and stink up the place?
**It Happens
Why not just put a "Y" valve between your tank and macerator and have one side to the macerator and one side to the hand pump. Then you can have your choice of which one you want to use and how and where it will be discharged?
Why not just put a "Y" valve between your tank and macerator and have one side to the macerator and one side to the hand pump. Then you can have your choice of which one you want to use and how and where it will be discharged?
It will if you don't rinse it out
But that's no big deal because tanks should be flushed out at least 2-3x season to get rid of any sludge. Stick your deck wash hose into the deck fitting (you don't have to run it all the way into the tank), put about 4-6" of water in the tank...turn on the macerator and let it run while you continue to put water in the tank. Switch to the Whale, pump it a few times to rinse it out. If you don't have a deck wash, use a hose at the dock...just not the same hose you use to fill your fresh water tank.
But that's no big deal because tanks should be flushed out at least 2-3x season to get rid of any sludge. Stick your deck wash hose into the deck fitting (you don't have to run it all the way into the tank), put about 4-6" of water in the tank...turn on the macerator and let it run while you continue to put water in the tank. Switch to the Whale, pump it a few times to rinse it out. If you don't have a deck wash, use a hose at the dock...just not the same hose you use to fill your fresh water tank.
I know.
But look how simple the plumbing is. All you do to use it is push a button. Gone. No smell either. And no valves and no tank. Did I mention no,,,,
But look how simple the plumbing is. All you do to use it is push a button. Gone. No smell either. And no valves and no tank. Did I mention no,,,,
Worked for me
In answer to your question I used a pump with a soft rubber end and did not need to insert it into the tank. I just pushed the rubber part to the deck fitting just as you would at a pump out station. I have had this pump for many years but recently saw new ones at the Boatus store. The body is brass and it is about 18" long 2" round.
In answer to your question I used a pump with a soft rubber end and did not need to insert it into the tank. I just pushed the rubber part to the deck fitting just as you would at a pump out station. I have had this pump for many years but recently saw new ones at the Boatus store. The body is brass and it is about 18" long 2" round.
Macerator Mystery
In the rush to get the boat to bed I had to pay to have the holding tank pumped out and flushed today. My macerator hasn't been working lately. I bought it new in July. The problem is that when I hit the switch, the voltage immediately starts to drop and the macerator motor power drops as well. Each time, I shut of the pump before it stops completely due to the drop in power. I have done the following: -Check that there is 12 volts at the macerator. -Turned the exterior bolt on the top of the pump to unstick the impeller. The screw turns freely each time. -I removed the macerator from the hoses, inspected the blade and the impeller. Both appear fine. With the hoses off, but wires connected, I hit the switch. It seemed to work fine with no voltage drop. However, it didn't seem quite as loud as when it normally runs (not sure). The macerator has a protective, automatic shut off so that if it runs dry for an extended period it will shut down, but I don't think this is what's happening. The voltage drop happens immediately, before it even has a chance to prime. (Time to get that manual pump hooked up, eh? And yes Fred, your LectraSan looks wicked good. :>)
In the rush to get the boat to bed I had to pay to have the holding tank pumped out and flushed today. My macerator hasn't been working lately. I bought it new in July. The problem is that when I hit the switch, the voltage immediately starts to drop and the macerator motor power drops as well. Each time, I shut of the pump before it stops completely due to the drop in power. I have done the following: -Check that there is 12 volts at the macerator. -Turned the exterior bolt on the top of the pump to unstick the impeller. The screw turns freely each time. -I removed the macerator from the hoses, inspected the blade and the impeller. Both appear fine. With the hoses off, but wires connected, I hit the switch. It seemed to work fine with no voltage drop. However, it didn't seem quite as loud as when it normally runs (not sure). The macerator has a protective, automatic shut off so that if it runs dry for an extended period it will shut down, but I don't think this is what's happening. The voltage drop happens immediately, before it even has a chance to prime. (Time to get that manual pump hooked up, eh? And yes Fred, your LectraSan looks wicked good. :>)
Scott,
Did you check wiring to pump? I have a same pump so read your description about the problem, it's to me that it could be electrical. I would measure the resistance of the wires from battery to pump(both posiitive and negative) This pump eat a lot current. A little bit of bad connection would cause voltage drop as you experienced.
Did you check wiring to pump? I have a same pump so read your description about the problem, it's to me that it could be electrical. I would measure the resistance of the wires from battery to pump(both posiitive and negative) This pump eat a lot current. A little bit of bad connection would cause voltage drop as you experienced.
Jung,
I did the calculation that determines the size of wire that is required. It worked out that I should have 6 AWG wire (mainly due to the length of the run--40 feet return). The wire that is currently in place is only 14 AWG. Also, I took the macerator pump and batteries off the boat for winter storage so for a laugh I attached the pump directly to the battery (1 foot run) and the pump sung like a charn. Thanks for your help.
I did the calculation that determines the size of wire that is required. It worked out that I should have 6 AWG wire (mainly due to the length of the run--40 feet return). The wire that is currently in place is only 14 AWG. Also, I took the macerator pump and batteries off the boat for winter storage so for a laugh I attached the pump directly to the battery (1 foot run) and the pump sung like a charn. Thanks for your help.
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