Our 1985 Catalina 30 has an electric macerating head that pumps directly into the OEM holding tank. Do direct discharge, no macerator pump overboard. (We sail on a fresh water reservoir and black water discharge is NOT allowed and by law must be made impossible.) All hoses were replaced except the hose to the pump-out fitting 3 years ago.
Up to now the pump outs have been as you would expect. Our marina's pump out station experienced issues holding a vacuum recently and had to be repaired. Now when I go there, it does not seem to empty the tank. I pumped out one day and the next afternoon the tank overflowed. Yesterday I pumped out twice, and each time the flow seemed to stop after several minutes. (Pump still running but I could see particulates floating in the effluent not going up or down.) I had checked the vent, it seems clear and I could hear the air being drawn in. I closed the fitting, took it off, hooked it back and nothing came up. I usually get at least a small splash. The second time I used the dock hose to put in several gallons of fresh water. I stood on the gunwale a few time to shake the contents. When I ran the pump again only clear water came up for a minute, then suddenly back to the usual effluent until it again eventually just stopped as before.
I asked the marina personnel about it, they say no one else has reported any issues since the pump was fixed.
Just to be sure, I'm going to replace the 10' vent hose. Is there anything else that may cause such odd behavior?
Up to now the pump outs have been as you would expect. Our marina's pump out station experienced issues holding a vacuum recently and had to be repaired. Now when I go there, it does not seem to empty the tank. I pumped out one day and the next afternoon the tank overflowed. Yesterday I pumped out twice, and each time the flow seemed to stop after several minutes. (Pump still running but I could see particulates floating in the effluent not going up or down.) I had checked the vent, it seems clear and I could hear the air being drawn in. I closed the fitting, took it off, hooked it back and nothing came up. I usually get at least a small splash. The second time I used the dock hose to put in several gallons of fresh water. I stood on the gunwale a few time to shake the contents. When I ran the pump again only clear water came up for a minute, then suddenly back to the usual effluent until it again eventually just stopped as before.
I asked the marina personnel about it, they say no one else has reported any issues since the pump was fixed.
Just to be sure, I'm going to replace the 10' vent hose. Is there anything else that may cause such odd behavior?