My pump out station is not electric, i.e. mechanical. Has any one ever rigged an electric pump out? Corky
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Peggie Hall/HeadMistress
I'm not sure what you mean...
Are you talking about the dockside pumpout in your marina...or an onboard pump to dump the tank at sea?
Are you talking about the dockside pumpout in your marina...or an onboard pump to dump the tank at sea?
C
Corky
further explaination
I am refering to pump out at the marina. Ours is low tech with a manual pump out station. They had pormised an electric one. I am thinking of connecting a pump to my outlet on my boat and pumping into the top of the marina septic tank. It has to be a 12 v system off my battery as there is no electricity at the pump out station. I don't want to pump out into the lake. Anyone tried this? Corky
I am refering to pump out at the marina. Ours is low tech with a manual pump out station. They had pormised an electric one. I am thinking of connecting a pump to my outlet on my boat and pumping into the top of the marina septic tank. It has to be a 12 v system off my battery as there is no electricity at the pump out station. I don't want to pump out into the lake. Anyone tried this? Corky
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Peggie Hall/HeadMistress
Never heard of a manual dockside pumpout before!
However, your problem can be solved fairly easily, if not necessarily inexpensively. There's only one "kicker"... Install a macerator in your onboard pumpout line...the same kind of pump used to dump tanks at sea. Put it very close to the tank (but don't attach it to the tank), so that it primes quickly. Since the macerator is 1.5" in, but only 1" out, and your deck pumpout fitting is 1.5", you'll need a foot of 1" hose and 1" x 1.5" reducer unless you want to replace your pumpout fitting--which you don't. You're also gonna need a length of hose that reaches from your deck pumpout fitting to the marina's tank inlet (without seeing it, I have NO idea how you're gonna connect to it), and a fitting on one end of the hose that threads into your deck pumpout fitting...you can get that from SeaLand (not necessarily inexpensively though). Attach the hose to your deck pumpout fitting...stick the other end wherever it has to go...and turn on the pump. The whole project will cost you about $200--which may be the "kicker" to you, but this is one I was referring to: You're gonna have to find a place to store that hose, which will inevitably become a wee tad (?) "ripe" in the summer heat (you can keep that to a minimum by making sure to rinse it out VERY well after each use). Until your marina puts in an electric pump, a more affordable Alternate Plan B may be to just seal off the tank and replace your head with a portapotty you can carry off the boat and dump. The 5-6 gallon models hold as many flushes as a 12-15 gallon holding tank connected to a manual marine toilet, 'cuz manual marine toilets use so much more flush water. Alternate plan c: tell your marina owner that he can get a federal grant to pay for a REAL pumpout. Plan D: move to another marina that has one.
However, your problem can be solved fairly easily, if not necessarily inexpensively. There's only one "kicker"... Install a macerator in your onboard pumpout line...the same kind of pump used to dump tanks at sea. Put it very close to the tank (but don't attach it to the tank), so that it primes quickly. Since the macerator is 1.5" in, but only 1" out, and your deck pumpout fitting is 1.5", you'll need a foot of 1" hose and 1" x 1.5" reducer unless you want to replace your pumpout fitting--which you don't. You're also gonna need a length of hose that reaches from your deck pumpout fitting to the marina's tank inlet (without seeing it, I have NO idea how you're gonna connect to it), and a fitting on one end of the hose that threads into your deck pumpout fitting...you can get that from SeaLand (not necessarily inexpensively though). Attach the hose to your deck pumpout fitting...stick the other end wherever it has to go...and turn on the pump. The whole project will cost you about $200--which may be the "kicker" to you, but this is one I was referring to: You're gonna have to find a place to store that hose, which will inevitably become a wee tad (?) "ripe" in the summer heat (you can keep that to a minimum by making sure to rinse it out VERY well after each use). Until your marina puts in an electric pump, a more affordable Alternate Plan B may be to just seal off the tank and replace your head with a portapotty you can carry off the boat and dump. The 5-6 gallon models hold as many flushes as a 12-15 gallon holding tank connected to a manual marine toilet, 'cuz manual marine toilets use so much more flush water. Alternate plan c: tell your marina owner that he can get a federal grant to pay for a REAL pumpout. Plan D: move to another marina that has one.
How long does this take?
Corky: How long does this take to pump your head. 4-5 minutes? Our pump out is also manual. We pump it out, rinse with a few gallons of fresh water and pump it out again. I doubt if this takes more than 5 mintues. It takes longer to tie up to the dock.
Corky: How long does this take to pump your head. 4-5 minutes? Our pump out is also manual. We pump it out, rinse with a few gallons of fresh water and pump it out again. I doubt if this takes more than 5 mintues. It takes longer to tie up to the dock.
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Peggie Hall/HeadMistress
Another manual pumpout???
I never know when my education is gonna be expanded! The same thought crossed my mind, Steve...but how practical it is depends upon the size of the holding tank and the efficiency of the pump. Lots of sailors install manual diaphragm pumps to dump their tanks at sea, and it only takes 4-5 strokes of a high volume Whale or Henderson to empty a 20-30 gallon tank. As you said...it takes longer than that to tie up the boat. But if the pump at his marina is weak...and/or doesn't offer a threaded connection to the deck fitting, I can see why he'd want to find a better way.
I never know when my education is gonna be expanded! The same thought crossed my mind, Steve...but how practical it is depends upon the size of the holding tank and the efficiency of the pump. Lots of sailors install manual diaphragm pumps to dump their tanks at sea, and it only takes 4-5 strokes of a high volume Whale or Henderson to empty a 20-30 gallon tank. As you said...it takes longer than that to tie up the boat. But if the pump at his marina is weak...and/or doesn't offer a threaded connection to the deck fitting, I can see why he'd want to find a better way.
Peggie, now I must reveal my secret.
This is what the love of my life is for. I hold the fitting on the deck fitting while she pump. Makes her arms and shoulders stronger for hauling the sails. gotta go, she is comming into the room
This is what the love of my life is for. I hold the fitting on the deck fitting while she pump. Makes her arms and shoulders stronger for hauling the sails. gotta go, she is comming into the room
C
Corky
Thanks
Thanks for the input. I will let you know what I decide. Tho' the manual does not take too long if doesn't completely empty the tank. I have thought of ways to lean the boat or the tank to help that. Corky
Thanks for the input. I will let you know what I decide. Tho' the manual does not take too long if doesn't completely empty the tank. I have thought of ways to lean the boat or the tank to help that. Corky
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