What's the worst marine sanitation problem you've encountered? Was it the classic plugged-up head? Or perhaps the messy, leaking holding tank? Of course, the overflowing holding tank is also popular (and often a prelude to the leaking tank, as well). Describe your worst problems and your favorite solutions here, then vote in this week's Quick Quiz at the bottom of the home page.
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Manual pump diaphram rotted
And I had no tank level indicator (aluminum tank)on my old H28. Needless to say, flushing raw sewage into the bilge is not a pleasant thing to smell or clean up. Bruce. Neon Moon
And I had no tank level indicator (aluminum tank)on my old H28. Needless to say, flushing raw sewage into the bilge is not a pleasant thing to smell or clean up. Bruce. Neon Moon
This fits many categories
This one could apply to buying a boat that is in charter, bad charter company stories, etc. I was in the process of buying a boat that was in a charter company that was trying to build a cliental (i.e. had only been in business a few months)(translates to 'do not do anything to upset a new member'). The previous owner and I both stated to the charter owner 'Do NOT rent this boat out till we complete the transaction' (over July 4th weekend no less). Needless to say, when I showed up the boat had been rented out on july 4th for the fireworks party. They had been drinking (of course) and used the head a lot. When I bought the boat I knew that the holding tank had problems and the charter company had done an emergency tank replacement with a flexible rubber holding bladder stuck under the head's sink. Well, when I took possession, I found the bladder full and blown up like a baloon jammed in amongst the drain for the sink, the thru hull for the bladder, and, the real problem, jammed against the manual pump handle such that I could not move it. No problem I say, I will go and have it pumped at the local pumpout station. I go there and pump but can not get the pump to prime so I put the water hose into the outlet to fill the hose in hopes of priming the pump. No luck! After a couple of tries at this I come to the conclusion that something is wrong. The bladder is not connected to the deck outlet. Now i am in trouble. The only solution is to go back to the dock and replumb the bladder from the manual pump to the deck outlet. What a way to have to start owning your first boat and this is your first maintenance project. Needless to say, after this, all other projects have been 'a piece of cake'. I did manage to get it replumbed without too much mess and installed a permanent holding tank.
This one could apply to buying a boat that is in charter, bad charter company stories, etc. I was in the process of buying a boat that was in a charter company that was trying to build a cliental (i.e. had only been in business a few months)(translates to 'do not do anything to upset a new member'). The previous owner and I both stated to the charter owner 'Do NOT rent this boat out till we complete the transaction' (over July 4th weekend no less). Needless to say, when I showed up the boat had been rented out on july 4th for the fireworks party. They had been drinking (of course) and used the head a lot. When I bought the boat I knew that the holding tank had problems and the charter company had done an emergency tank replacement with a flexible rubber holding bladder stuck under the head's sink. Well, when I took possession, I found the bladder full and blown up like a baloon jammed in amongst the drain for the sink, the thru hull for the bladder, and, the real problem, jammed against the manual pump handle such that I could not move it. No problem I say, I will go and have it pumped at the local pumpout station. I go there and pump but can not get the pump to prime so I put the water hose into the outlet to fill the hose in hopes of priming the pump. No luck! After a couple of tries at this I come to the conclusion that something is wrong. The bladder is not connected to the deck outlet. Now i am in trouble. The only solution is to go back to the dock and replumb the bladder from the manual pump to the deck outlet. What a way to have to start owning your first boat and this is your first maintenance project. Needless to say, after this, all other projects have been 'a piece of cake'. I did manage to get it replumbed without too much mess and installed a permanent holding tank.
YIKES!! Plugged Vent!!
The holding tank vent exit on my Catalina 38 is cleverly hidden beneath a cupped stanchion pad. The vet clogged just this last weekend and the composite holding tank became pressurized!!! The vent hose began leaking at the tank exit (not too bad).. But when it came away from the nipple at the stanchion connection inside the port locker (aka liquor cabinet)!!! .... the sudden release of pressure and vapor and the aerosol effect ....... Details witheld to protect the squeemish !!! I am still considering solutions ... both of the corrective kind and cleaning formulas!!
The holding tank vent exit on my Catalina 38 is cleverly hidden beneath a cupped stanchion pad. The vet clogged just this last weekend and the composite holding tank became pressurized!!! The vent hose began leaking at the tank exit (not too bad).. But when it came away from the nipple at the stanchion connection inside the port locker (aka liquor cabinet)!!! .... the sudden release of pressure and vapor and the aerosol effect ....... Details witheld to protect the squeemish !!! I am still considering solutions ... both of the corrective kind and cleaning formulas!!
Dave, clean up...
Wet vac if you haven't already gotten up the worst of it. Then clean with detergent and water. Don't use any bleach! Leave everything open to dry completely. Then spray everywhere liberally with K.O. holding tank treatment. Don't rinse...just let it dry. And leave everything open for at least 24 hours--even put a fan on to blow air into places where air doesn't circulate--for at least 24 hours.. It won't be a fun job, but you won't have any odor when you're done and it won't come back. To prevent this from happening in the future: Pay more attention to what's happening when you flush--holding tank that's pressurizing will resist new incoming...you'll feel back pressure when you flush a manual toilet...get some back flow with an electric toilet DON'T use your vent as an overflow!!! Pay attention to how full the tank is getting, and pump out before it overflows. If you've had the boat for more than a month, you should get a feel for how long it takes to fill the tank...and if in doubt, pump out! Check your thru-hulls--all of them--regularly. Dirt daubers love to build nests in them, dust dirt and whatever can easily clog them. 99% of problems can be prevented by paying attention to what's going on on your boat.
Wet vac if you haven't already gotten up the worst of it. Then clean with detergent and water. Don't use any bleach! Leave everything open to dry completely. Then spray everywhere liberally with K.O. holding tank treatment. Don't rinse...just let it dry. And leave everything open for at least 24 hours--even put a fan on to blow air into places where air doesn't circulate--for at least 24 hours.. It won't be a fun job, but you won't have any odor when you're done and it won't come back. To prevent this from happening in the future: Pay more attention to what's happening when you flush--holding tank that's pressurizing will resist new incoming...you'll feel back pressure when you flush a manual toilet...get some back flow with an electric toilet DON'T use your vent as an overflow!!! Pay attention to how full the tank is getting, and pump out before it overflows. If you've had the boat for more than a month, you should get a feel for how long it takes to fill the tank...and if in doubt, pump out! Check your thru-hulls--all of them--regularly. Dirt daubers love to build nests in them, dust dirt and whatever can easily clog them. 99% of problems can be prevented by paying attention to what's going on on your boat.
Christmas-New Years Head Repair!!!!
Almost everyone I know has some form of winter holiday tradition. With some it revolves around the cellebration of their faith, with others it involves football on New Years Day. Well our tradition started about 10 years ago. It seems that every year on or about December 25th, our sanitation system breaks, gets fouled or starts spontaneously emitting objectionable odors. So every year, without exception, I find myself with my face in close proximity with the business end of the head. This year was no exception. It seems that we have the old version of the Jabsco (pre 1997) head. For some unexplained reason it started to shoot water up through the pump handle with each pull. The water had a very objectionable smell and consistancy. So I purchased the wrong repair kit and proceeded to take the pump apart. Of course I did not discover that I had the repair kit for Jabsco pumps made after 1997 until I had the pump apart. Much to my disappointment West Marine were not open Christmas Day. I ended up cleaning all the parts and putting the pump back together. To my good fortune, it seems to be working fine. I still don't know what was wrong, except that fixing the head is a Christmas tradition on our boat!
Almost everyone I know has some form of winter holiday tradition. With some it revolves around the cellebration of their faith, with others it involves football on New Years Day. Well our tradition started about 10 years ago. It seems that every year on or about December 25th, our sanitation system breaks, gets fouled or starts spontaneously emitting objectionable odors. So every year, without exception, I find myself with my face in close proximity with the business end of the head. This year was no exception. It seems that we have the old version of the Jabsco (pre 1997) head. For some unexplained reason it started to shoot water up through the pump handle with each pull. The water had a very objectionable smell and consistancy. So I purchased the wrong repair kit and proceeded to take the pump apart. Of course I did not discover that I had the repair kit for Jabsco pumps made after 1997 until I had the pump apart. Much to my disappointment West Marine were not open Christmas Day. I ended up cleaning all the parts and putting the pump back together. To my good fortune, it seems to be working fine. I still don't know what was wrong, except that fixing the head is a Christmas tradition on our boat!
Pop goes the wizzhole
This happened to a good friend of mine, the boat I am looking at to purchase. Mud daubers had plugged the vent for the holding tank. When he pumped the head the pressure blew up the tank, emptying the contents into the bilge.
This happened to a good friend of mine, the boat I am looking at to purchase. Mud daubers had plugged the vent for the holding tank. When he pumped the head the pressure blew up the tank, emptying the contents into the bilge.
Non-boating head pumpers
Nothing worse than a broken head when you are on the water or out rafted up somewhere. My nightmare began with a boat guest who was told not to touch anything without asking how it works. Well, he didn't listen very well and used the head, pumping it to death without turning any valves. He of course broke it very badly and it was a very ugly scene. New head is a "push the button dummy" and it's pretty safe from most dummies! What a relief!
Nothing worse than a broken head when you are on the water or out rafted up somewhere. My nightmare began with a boat guest who was told not to touch anything without asking how it works. Well, he didn't listen very well and used the head, pumping it to death without turning any valves. He of course broke it very badly and it was a very ugly scene. New head is a "push the button dummy" and it's pretty safe from most dummies! What a relief!
Fountain of poo
I was finishing a week long trip with six people aboard, and was going to reward their good behavior by stopping at a very nice resturant. We docked right in front of the outside dining deck in front of many envious onlookers. Before going inside, some of the crew decided to use the head one more time. We apparantly left the head intake seacock open and the holding tank filled with water while we were under way. Just as we were about to go eat, a fountain of brown, STINKY water began to cascade on deck and the unlucky diners around us. The unknowing person in the head was pumping away, shooting the contents of the holding tank out of the stantion vent on deck. Needless to say, we ate the ham sandwiches left on the boat that night.
I was finishing a week long trip with six people aboard, and was going to reward their good behavior by stopping at a very nice resturant. We docked right in front of the outside dining deck in front of many envious onlookers. Before going inside, some of the crew decided to use the head one more time. We apparantly left the head intake seacock open and the holding tank filled with water while we were under way. Just as we were about to go eat, a fountain of brown, STINKY water began to cascade on deck and the unlucky diners around us. The unknowing person in the head was pumping away, shooting the contents of the holding tank out of the stantion vent on deck. Needless to say, we ate the ham sandwiches left on the boat that night.
Chip I doubt if the head intake seacock was...
,,,the culprit. I think the bowl would have overflowed before water filled your holding tank unless your joker valve so old it might as well not have been there AND it's a downhill run all the way to the tank. My guess is, your holding tank was just full...but why was the deck pumpout fitting open? Worst case, it should only have spewed out the vent.
,,,the culprit. I think the bowl would have overflowed before water filled your holding tank unless your joker valve so old it might as well not have been there AND it's a downhill run all the way to the tank. My guess is, your holding tank was just full...but why was the deck pumpout fitting open? Worst case, it should only have spewed out the vent.
Cracked macerator
Need I say more? Ok, well Rob was doing an offshore trip up the coast to Puget Sound. He decided it was time to macerate the contents of his holding tank. Unfortunately, the macerater chose that moment to crack open, spilling the contents of the tank into the bilge. He spent the next few hours sponging up the mess into a bucket in rolly seas - not a good combo but he did manage to keep his lunch down. I sure couldn't have! Lesson to be learned: Mechanical parts will always break at the worst possible moment so it's easier not to have them at all! LaDonna
Need I say more? Ok, well Rob was doing an offshore trip up the coast to Puget Sound. He decided it was time to macerate the contents of his holding tank. Unfortunately, the macerater chose that moment to crack open, spilling the contents of the tank into the bilge. He spent the next few hours sponging up the mess into a bucket in rolly seas - not a good combo but he did manage to keep his lunch down. I sure couldn't have! Lesson to be learned: Mechanical parts will always break at the worst possible moment so it's easier not to have them at all! LaDonna
Oh, Brother!
This didn't happen to be, but to my brother. Back when he owned a P26 and I owned a C25, we used to raft together frequently (we still do). Those boats only had Porta-Pottis. One hot day we pulled into an anchorage and rafted on our mooring. My sis-in-law went to use the head. After a few seconds a scream eminated from the head. When she had pulled the horizontal baffle for the hole in the potti, it released a large amount of pressure (methane?) and it acted like a s&*t cannon and sprayed everywhere on the bulkheads and as high as the overhead. Not a fun job to clean up after with everything plastered all over the place!
This didn't happen to be, but to my brother. Back when he owned a P26 and I owned a C25, we used to raft together frequently (we still do). Those boats only had Porta-Pottis. One hot day we pulled into an anchorage and rafted on our mooring. My sis-in-law went to use the head. After a few seconds a scream eminated from the head. When she had pulled the horizontal baffle for the hole in the potti, it released a large amount of pressure (methane?) and it acted like a s&*t cannon and sprayed everywhere on the bulkheads and as high as the overhead. Not a fun job to clean up after with everything plastered all over the place!
Tampedo
One Thanksgiving we had a group of people aboard our Tayana 37 for dinner. I had explained the differences between a toilet and a "head" to all concerned and had admonished the women aboard not to attempt disposal of feminine hygene products in the head. Needless to say, someone did, and the harder they pumped the old Groco, the higher the internal pressure rose. It took about two hours and complete disassembly of the unit to get things functional again. My present Catalina 36 has a LAVAC, which is dead simple and just about foolproof, but I am certain that sometime, somehow a guest on board will manage to break some part of the sanitation system.
One Thanksgiving we had a group of people aboard our Tayana 37 for dinner. I had explained the differences between a toilet and a "head" to all concerned and had admonished the women aboard not to attempt disposal of feminine hygene products in the head. Needless to say, someone did, and the harder they pumped the old Groco, the higher the internal pressure rose. It took about two hours and complete disassembly of the unit to get things functional again. My present Catalina 36 has a LAVAC, which is dead simple and just about foolproof, but I am certain that sometime, somehow a guest on board will manage to break some part of the sanitation system.
Brown and Foul Explosion
I had 6 friends aboard for a nice summer evening sail aboard "ComMonday". Before leaving, I discovered some unusual pressure on the flushing side of the hand pump. Right before dinner I mentioned this to my fellow liveaboard friend..."No problem!", he said as he darted through the main salon in the direction of "the sleeping beast". "Richie, all you need to do is give it some fast pumps to get it unclogged.", as he said, pumping away. Then silence fell upon the entire boat. The look on my friend's face told the tale. The sanitation hose on the back of the head had popped off under the pressure and the contents of the hose covered my friend from the knees down as well as the entire head! I've got pictures! Long story short, the plumbing was reversed in the U valve and was just stopping up for days. Dedicated to Rob Rall on s/v "Prime Rate"...Thanks in helping clean up the infamous S#$T Bazooka!
I had 6 friends aboard for a nice summer evening sail aboard "ComMonday". Before leaving, I discovered some unusual pressure on the flushing side of the hand pump. Right before dinner I mentioned this to my fellow liveaboard friend..."No problem!", he said as he darted through the main salon in the direction of "the sleeping beast". "Richie, all you need to do is give it some fast pumps to get it unclogged.", as he said, pumping away. Then silence fell upon the entire boat. The look on my friend's face told the tale. The sanitation hose on the back of the head had popped off under the pressure and the contents of the hose covered my friend from the knees down as well as the entire head! I've got pictures! Long story short, the plumbing was reversed in the U valve and was just stopping up for days. Dedicated to Rob Rall on s/v "Prime Rate"...Thanks in helping clean up the infamous S#$T Bazooka!
My Turn..
..when I purchased my V32, I took a trip with friends for a weekend. Noticed blue water in bilge. It was back next day. Told my wife secret about tasting to see if salt or fresh water. Was a bit salty. Checked carefully following the stream. Led back to aft compartment. In it: holding tank with small hole at seam. Good news: the blue stuff did kill odor. Bad news: unlike KO, didn't get rid of nasty stuff. Yuk. And, my wife continues regarding that episode with great glee 10 years later. Of course, 10 years to near the day, in my new-to-me L40.5, I noticed the head handle being a bit hard to activate as we prepared to go to the pump out after a weekend of guests. Pump out in front of park. Great day, tons of people. Me, dressed up. Everyone admiring boat, I'm proud. Unscrew cap. BROWN FOUNTAIN And, it goes on and on. I wouldn't have believed those systems could have been pressurized to that degree without breaking something. This time, everyone got a good laugh at my expense. (The dinghy air pump disloged the vent obstruction). And to Peggy: some guys just never learn, huh?
..when I purchased my V32, I took a trip with friends for a weekend. Noticed blue water in bilge. It was back next day. Told my wife secret about tasting to see if salt or fresh water. Was a bit salty. Checked carefully following the stream. Led back to aft compartment. In it: holding tank with small hole at seam. Good news: the blue stuff did kill odor. Bad news: unlike KO, didn't get rid of nasty stuff. Yuk. And, my wife continues regarding that episode with great glee 10 years later. Of course, 10 years to near the day, in my new-to-me L40.5, I noticed the head handle being a bit hard to activate as we prepared to go to the pump out after a weekend of guests. Pump out in front of park. Great day, tons of people. Me, dressed up. Everyone admiring boat, I'm proud. Unscrew cap. BROWN FOUNTAIN And, it goes on and on. I wouldn't have believed those systems could have been pressurized to that degree without breaking something. This time, everyone got a good laugh at my expense. (The dinghy air pump disloged the vent obstruction). And to Peggy: some guys just never learn, huh?
Frozen Waste Cap
After reading all the postings...I feel lucky! My problem is only a frozen (locked-up) waste cap on the deck of my Cat27. We tried everything to loosen it up so we could pump out the holding tank prior to winter hauling, but to no avail. I was also starting to "enlarge" the key-way holes. Our thoughts are - in the spring, drill out the 'frozen' waste cap and install a new one. This cap has previously come off for pumping so I am perplexed as to why it now is 'frozen'. The cap was last removed prior to winter hauling 1999, so it was one season for us here in New England. Peggy, I would appreciate any suggestions you may have as to why this happened and if my solution to drill it out makes sense. This was our second season owning the boat. I keep reading about 'pressure' build up on previous postings. Also, the head does not get a tremendous amount of use, we use her mostly as a day-sailer right now. Thanks, Jim
After reading all the postings...I feel lucky! My problem is only a frozen (locked-up) waste cap on the deck of my Cat27. We tried everything to loosen it up so we could pump out the holding tank prior to winter hauling, but to no avail. I was also starting to "enlarge" the key-way holes. Our thoughts are - in the spring, drill out the 'frozen' waste cap and install a new one. This cap has previously come off for pumping so I am perplexed as to why it now is 'frozen'. The cap was last removed prior to winter hauling 1999, so it was one season for us here in New England. Peggy, I would appreciate any suggestions you may have as to why this happened and if my solution to drill it out makes sense. This was our second season owning the boat. I keep reading about 'pressure' build up on previous postings. Also, the head does not get a tremendous amount of use, we use her mostly as a day-sailer right now. Thanks, Jim
As bad as it gets
We had just purchased our 1980 Hunter 33 from a MA dealer and taken her our for her first "sea trials" The boat was equipped with a "bag" style Holding Tank and a macerator pump. The Holding Tank was fairly full and we know the boat had sat for at least two years before we bought it. A test of the macerator pump revealed it worked just fine. We pumped the entire contents of the "bag". A few seconds later the helmsman started to complain that his eyes were burning. I followed the macerator pump discharge hose led out of the sail locker, through the deck and where disappeared. Further examination revealed that it had nothing attached to it and we had just pumped the entire "aged" contents of the bag into our bilges. Enough said. http://www.99main.com/~elmergw/
We had just purchased our 1980 Hunter 33 from a MA dealer and taken her our for her first "sea trials" The boat was equipped with a "bag" style Holding Tank and a macerator pump. The Holding Tank was fairly full and we know the boat had sat for at least two years before we bought it. A test of the macerator pump revealed it worked just fine. We pumped the entire contents of the "bag". A few seconds later the helmsman started to complain that his eyes were burning. I followed the macerator pump discharge hose led out of the sail locker, through the deck and where disappeared. Further examination revealed that it had nothing attached to it and we had just pumped the entire "aged" contents of the bag into our bilges. Enough said. http://www.99main.com/~elmergw/
Oh, this was a horrible thread to start!
ACK! And me trying to eat breakfast. Well, that's not happening. Garry, I can't believe the previous owner/broker didn't pump that head before selling the boat! One thing is for sure, this thread will have me checking my head vent a litte more frequently. bleck! LaDonna
ACK! And me trying to eat breakfast. Well, that's not happening. Garry, I can't believe the previous owner/broker didn't pump that head before selling the boat! One thing is for sure, this thread will have me checking my head vent a litte more frequently. bleck! LaDonna
LaDonna, I asked Phil if this thread was...
...my punishment for posting a Rules scenario in which the sailboat was one in the wrong.
...my punishment for posting a Rules scenario in which the sailboat was one in the wrong.
What you SHOULD have learned from this experience:
It's a VERY good idea--especially if the boat has been laid up for a while--to check all the hoses and thru-hulls before running anything. Sewage in the bilge is bad enough...but imagine what could have happened if the boat had a gas engine and you'd filled the tank, only to discover that the fuel fill hose had rotted (Example based on a true story). It would be even smarter to make your offer "subject to survey" and have the survey done before the sea trial...'cuz you never know what might be wrong that could result in an unplanned swim--or at least might result in making a sea trial totally unnecessary. That it's a dealer who's selling the boat is no guarantee that he's ever even opened a hatch or a locker or tested any of the equipment...in fact, the odds are that all he's ever looked at were the exterior and interior cosmetics--no more than a used car dealer does to decide whether the trade-in value is "high," "average" or "low."
It's a VERY good idea--especially if the boat has been laid up for a while--to check all the hoses and thru-hulls before running anything. Sewage in the bilge is bad enough...but imagine what could have happened if the boat had a gas engine and you'd filled the tank, only to discover that the fuel fill hose had rotted (Example based on a true story). It would be even smarter to make your offer "subject to survey" and have the survey done before the sea trial...'cuz you never know what might be wrong that could result in an unplanned swim--or at least might result in making a sea trial totally unnecessary. That it's a dealer who's selling the boat is no guarantee that he's ever even opened a hatch or a locker or tested any of the equipment...in fact, the odds are that all he's ever looked at were the exterior and interior cosmetics--no more than a used car dealer does to decide whether the trade-in value is "high," "average" or "low."
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