Replacing Sanitation Hoses - CAT 270

[bawlmer]

Today I replaced the pump out and vent hose on my Catalina 270. It involved removing the floor in the center, the wood trim around the tank and the starboard cabinet. First I removed the head and macerator hoses on the back of the tank. The tank was then able to swing up from the rear. I pulled the tank out diagonally exposing the connections to the pump out and vent hoses. I was able to remove the old hoses and replace them with new ones. I used Trident 102 from Blue water ship stores in Foley AL. (thanks Peggy). It was 8.36 per foot and the whole price with shipping was 106.00 for 11 feet. I was happy with the deal. For the vent hose I used the white shields stuff from West Marine because I could not find another 3/4" hose with low odor permeation and I was in a hurry. That was a mistake as putting that on the barbed vent output of the tank was a royal pain. I would have used something else if I knew better. The hose routing was very straightforward and I started it in the forward locker. Both the pumpout hose and vent hose go to the deck behind the starboard cabinet.
If anyone has a 270 and is thinking about going on this adventure please contact and I will be glad to provide any additional info. Also glad I don't have to do this every year.

 

[LakeOntario270]

Was it hard to remove the tank? I have to inspect mine (as soon as I get the Winter cover off) because when I put antifreeze in my head last fall I noticed a little bit on the floor by the tank. So the question is where did that come from?

 

[Capt jgw]

I don't like that white hose either. It's cheaper, but doesn't last as long as the good stuff.
With any plastic hose, dipping the end in very hot water for a couple of minutes will soften it and make it much easier to slide over the barbs. Dish soap helps a lot too.

 

[bawlmer]

Once I got the rear hoses off the tank was very easy to remove. You may want to disconnect the pumpout and vent hoses from their deck fittings and push the hoses about a foot or two into the forward storage compartment. That will give you more than enough slack to pull out the tank. Just lift from the rear and tilt a little towards the interior and once it clears the rear fiberglass beam it it should pull right out. What I thought would be a miserable full day job turned into a slightly less miserable 3 hour job. The one thing that makes me nervous is the macerator pump is mounted directly to the tank. I hope that is not where your leak is coming from. Best of luck. Let me know if you need any more info.