We have a 2001 Hunter 260. At the end of the season the marina's pump out was not working so, unfortunately, we had to bring the boat home with waste in the holding tank. It is probably 1/2-2/3 full, should be all liquid. We tried to pump it out ourselves at home but it doesn't seem like I can get the tubing/hose to pump it out into the holding tank. There is a good 90 degree bend in the sanitation hose right before it enters the tank. When I put the hose down from the deck there is a stopping point but then when I twist it and jiggle it around I can get it to go just a bit further so I thought I was making it around that bend but then when we started the pump we don't get any discharge. The pump is functional, we tested it pumping out a bucket of water. Is there a valve of some sort between that sanitation hose and the tank? Any other ideas how to get this emptied? I called a porta potty company to see if they could do it and they said no. I had a septic company come out and he said his minimum charge is $250 (!!) which would be okay if he could also do my septic system but he can't because of the absurd steepness of my gravel driveway. If worse comes to worse it can probably sit all winter because we keep the boat in a pole barn and it shouldn't freeze in there but obviously that's not the ideal solution here. Thoughts?
Marina pump out broken when hauled out--help to pump out at home
- Thread starter Eileen14284
- Start date
Does the tank have an overboard pump-out? If so, put a 5 gallon bucket under the discharge and run the pump until the bucket is 3/4 full. Then empty the bucket into your own septic tank. Repeat as required. Flush with fresh water a couple times afterward.
If the tank does not have an overboard discharge, then get a more flexible hose- maybe something with a flexible spring on the end to help getting around the 90 degree turn.
Or buy a bellows-type emergency bilge pump and fit a screw-in fitting to the deck port and use large diameter PVC tubing to the pump. Pump into a 5 gallon bucket and dispose.
Worst case, use a shop-vac on the discharge deck port. But then you have a nasty cleanup job with the shop-vac.
I had a friend who had the same problem. So standing under the boat, he held a 5 gallon bucket under the overboard discharge port and had his wife switch the maserator pump on and off. He used a rock to tap on the hull to signal the switching of the maserator. The first couple of bucket-fulls went well. Then as he was filling the third bucket, he dropped the rock.
His wife finally stopped the pump thinking that it was long enough. Very fortunate action on the wife's part.
If the tank does not have an overboard discharge, then get a more flexible hose- maybe something with a flexible spring on the end to help getting around the 90 degree turn.
Or buy a bellows-type emergency bilge pump and fit a screw-in fitting to the deck port and use large diameter PVC tubing to the pump. Pump into a 5 gallon bucket and dispose.
Worst case, use a shop-vac on the discharge deck port. But then you have a nasty cleanup job with the shop-vac.
I had a friend who had the same problem. So standing under the boat, he held a 5 gallon bucket under the overboard discharge port and had his wife switch the maserator pump on and off. He used a rock to tap on the hull to signal the switching of the maserator. The first couple of bucket-fulls went well. Then as he was filling the third bucket, he dropped the rock.
His wife finally stopped the pump thinking that it was long enough. Very fortunate action on the wife's part. Assuming your pump has the appropriate lift you should be able to make an adapter to screw on to the deck pump out fitting and give an air tight seal. You can then connect your tubing/hose to the adapter in a way that will again give an air tight seal. You should then be able to pump it from there where ever you need it to go.
I made an adapter using standard household abs fittings that I then have connected to either a macerator pump or a whale diaphragm pump using suction hose. Outlet from either can be pumped into a container of your choosing. I used a rv portable waste tank that I could then empty into a toilet. (You may need to prime the pump - particularly the macerator)
For the deck pump out fitting I used a abs trap adapter - don’t remember if it was a 1-1/2 or 1-1/4” and used it with 1-1/2 abs pipe - you could do with pvc as well. If using a macerator pump you can use a garden hose to transfer to the final destination.
I made an adapter using standard household abs fittings that I then have connected to either a macerator pump or a whale diaphragm pump using suction hose. Outlet from either can be pumped into a container of your choosing. I used a rv portable waste tank that I could then empty into a toilet. (You may need to prime the pump - particularly the macerator)
For the deck pump out fitting I used a abs trap adapter - don’t remember if it was a 1-1/2 or 1-1/4” and used it with 1-1/2 abs pipe - you could do with pvc as well. If using a macerator pump you can use a garden hose to transfer to the final destination.
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I am assuming there is a good reason you're not using your macerator pump?
This is the idea of what you want but don't pay a fortune for one.
I have a very simple soft rubber conical fitting which jams into the deck pump out and attaches to a 1" hose. All part of the macerator standby. It was way back when I bought it, but I think the cost was under $20.00.
This is the idea of what you want but don't pay a fortune for one.
I have a very simple soft rubber conical fitting which jams into the deck pump out and attaches to a 1" hose. All part of the macerator standby. It was way back when I bought it, but I think the cost was under $20.00.
OP doesnt say, but I am assuming a 26-foot on Lake Erie (my guess) does not have a macerator or overboard discharge.
I would say his options include:
1) Remove pumpout hose from tank (carefully), and use a fluid transfer pump of some kind to pump into a bucket or something. If it is just liquid, you don’t need a big hose.
2) Remove the toilet discharge house, and see if he can get a smaller-diameter hose threaded through the hose to the tank. Lower chance of success getting into the low part of the tank I would expect.
3) Pull a vacuum with shop vac at the pumpout fitting…I really doubt a shop vac is going to have enough suction to get this to work. I guess it depends on the distance and lift to overcome.
4) Last resort, I would dump some antifreeze in the holding tank and wait until spring.
Greg
I would say his options include:
1) Remove pumpout hose from tank (carefully), and use a fluid transfer pump of some kind to pump into a bucket or something. If it is just liquid, you don’t need a big hose.
2) Remove the toilet discharge house, and see if he can get a smaller-diameter hose threaded through the hose to the tank. Lower chance of success getting into the low part of the tank I would expect.
3) Pull a vacuum with shop vac at the pumpout fitting…I really doubt a shop vac is going to have enough suction to get this to work. I guess it depends on the distance and lift to overcome.
4) Last resort, I would dump some antifreeze in the holding tank and wait until spring.
Greg
Your manual emergency bilge pump might be able to do the job, they are often the same as a manual pump out pump. Get a fitting that screws into your tank pump out and put it on the inlet of your bilge pump. Run the discharge to a 5 gallon bucket.
Depending on your level of squeamishness, at this point you might realize your bilge pump needed replacing anyway.
Pro tip: Organic Vapor Respirators are great! They are also useful for changing diapers.
Depending on your level of squeamishness, at this point you might realize your bilge pump needed replacing anyway.
Pro tip: Organic Vapor Respirators are great! They are also useful for changing diapers.
Out of the box thought - try a local company that rents porta-potties. They have to pump out their rented crappers and may be willing to pump you out. Not sure they'd have the right fitting for a deck pump out, but maybe they have a solution. I'm sure it wouldn't break the bank, and it sure would be a lot less trouble than doing it your self.
I can just envision this now.
Father/mother bent over the changing table and the baby screaming bloody murder at this black headed monster
.
This is what we have for a standby holding tank pump for when the macerator pump fails. Once so far.
Plenty of suction head to lift from the tank. Best to let it feed into a large bucket to reduce the inlet suction head.
Any way you look at it, the materials cheaper than having a pumper truck come out. And you now have a standby pump WHEN this happens again.
Plenty of suction head to lift from the tank. Best to let it feed into a large bucket to reduce the inlet suction head.
Any way you look at it, the materials cheaper than having a pumper truck come out. And you now have a standby pump WHEN this happens again.
I like Greg's idea of going into the toilet discharge port on the tank. Typically, that port is on top of the tank and (if the vent isn't plugged) no liquid should come out when you remove the toilet hose at the tank and insert the pump suction hose.
Lots of good ideas here for us to try. As Tally Ho said we don't have overboard discharge or a macerator pump. I'll run these ideas past my other half and see what we can come up with. Just wanted to see if I was missing something obvious or some component of the system I didn't realize was there. Thank you to all--quite of few of these made me chuckle.
I know nothing about your boat's holding tank.. size, location or installation details. But, if it is as simple as my Cat 27's... a rectangular plastic box with requisite access for hoses and a large one for cleaning... it can be removed pretty easily. So.. I suggest you add that option to growing list of suggestions before you go spend a lot of money on special pumps or tools.
That said, if I felt compelled to purchase a new tool, I would want add a nice hand operated bilge pump that you can use if you find yourself in an area that doesn't have pump out service. The diaphram pump Ralph Johnstone pictured is really nice. Rotary pumps are even more powerful and work quite well when mount on a board that can be slipped into the hatchway slots. Manual operation rather than electric is the key feature.
That said, if I felt compelled to purchase a new tool, I would want add a nice hand operated bilge pump that you can use if you find yourself in an area that doesn't have pump out service. The diaphram pump Ralph Johnstone pictured is really nice. Rotary pumps are even more powerful and work quite well when mount on a board that can be slipped into the hatchway slots. Manual operation rather than electric is the key feature.
One piece of advice if you go with a shop vac which would be my second choice if it were my boat. Use enough hose so that you can leave the vac in the cockpit rather than try to lift it through the companionway with three or four, maybe more gallons of "stuff" sloshing around in it at eight pounds per gallon.
My first choice would be to leave it but add several pounds of salt or calcium chloride so that it does not freeze, maybe. Not sure what kind of winter is expected.
Another option is to bring it south and enjoy it for a week or so then pump it out before heading north again.
My first choice would be to leave it but add several pounds of salt or calcium chloride so that it does not freeze, maybe. Not sure what kind of winter is expected.
Another option is to bring it south and enjoy it for a week or so then pump it out before heading north again.
Hunter 260 had an option for a marine head with a 20 gallon holding tank. The tank has a vent. No macerator was installed. Suggest looking at the vent for blockage which I saw bees for example blocked the vent line.
The marina pumpout was broke down the day he hauled out…that is the dilemma…
Greg
I sold nearly 20% or more of the 260’s and pumping out with a clogged vent was more difficult based on experience. Yes the marina pump out didn’t work did not help.
It turns out I found a septic pump out company who could manage our steep driveway so he came and pumped out our septic and the boat. When I initially called the septic company and asked if they could also pump out the boat they said no but I had a sneaking suspicion that when the actual guy came to do the job that maybe he would be able to do it and that turned out to be the case. Figured I would post the solution in case it helps someone else. He did have to use a smaller hose and we jury rigged a connection using a part of our shop vac (a nozzle sort of thing) and he was able to pump it out no problem. That tells me that a porta potty company could almost certainly do the same but the problem is getting them to be willing to come out and do such a small job. I'm sure if I wasn't having my septic pumped also it would have been an absurd charge but I suspect maybe if you were willing to take your boat to a porta potty company or septic company that might be willing to do it for a reasonable charge.
Thank you to all again for the many good suggestions.
Thank you to all again for the many good suggestions.
I just saw this thread now. I had a similar issue last year. We poured some West Marine ExterminOdor in the head. It did an excellent job through the winter. There was a small amount of pure urine (head is broken and due to be replaced) at the end of the season. I poured the same stuff in there about three weeks ago and it still has a minty smell