They Prematurely Winterized the Pumpout!!!

[seadoggie]

We missed the pump out of our holding tanks by a day! Now, they are filled with that blue Westmarine deodorizing fluid, and too little room for the Pink stuff. Has anyone had any luck emptying the holding tanks via another route such as a Shop Vac? Any ideas would be appreciated, just don't give me too much s-it! Thanks, Eric

 

[MLampner]

Wow that stinks and I am not trying to be funny. In our area there are multiple pump outs at other marinas, before I tried the desperate measures like the shop vac I would check to see if there are other pump outs in proximity.

Barring that the shop vac seems like an option, but would consider not trying it from the deck level but by building a direct connection near tank level. The less height between tank and the vac the better.

 

[Don Crowther]

What about a local mobil truck service. Someone who does septic tanks.
Or another marina that's close by? Do you lhave inspection ports/holes in the top of you tanks?

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

There are mobile pumpout services in your area

It'll probly be a bit expensive if you're not a customer, but if you can't find a marina that still has a working pumpout, I suggest you bite the bullet and pay one to come to your boat to pump out AND flush out the tank.

Check with your marina and/or the yard where your boat will spend the winter for the names and contact info.

 

[Rich Stidger]

You don't say if your boat is hauled or in the water. If it is in the water, the above suggestions are all good.

If however, you are now hauled with a full tank, then I have a solution for you.

Disclaimer: I personally have not done this, but a good friend at my yard was hauled for hurricane Irene and never re-launched. Thus he had a half-full tank. Here is how he emptied it-

He got a 5 gallon bucket, a good pair of rubber gloves, and a rock. He stood under the over-board outlet thru-hull and holding the bucket close to the hull, he tapped on the hull with the rock. His wife turned on the maserator pump. When the bucket was nearly full, he tapped on the hull again with the rock and his wife shut off the maserator. He then transferred the bucket contents to another container and continued the process until the tank was empty. He then flushed the tank with a few gallons of water and winterized per his normal procedure.

There was one point where the process nearly turned into a disaster. After the maserator was started and the bucket was filling, he dropped his rock. Fortunately his wife heard the frantic pounding on the hull and shut off the maserator.

I suggested that if he needs to perform this feat another time that he get a better means of communication. I only wish I had been present- a picture and the story would have been great to have for our power squadron newsletter!

 

[CHARLIE STAGE]

I have used a raw water pump purchased at a tool store for around $200 gas powered and make sure you get one that can take small chunks use correct hose and have a place to dispose of the sludge. It worked great and the pump has come in handy for several other projects so the investment was a wash.

 

[rickk31]

This all sounds like a bunch of crap to me.

 

[Tom-in-Annapolis]

There is a mobile service that operates out of Rock Hall. I know they service Annapolis but I am not sure how large of service area they have.

Safe Harbor Sanitation
5924 Lawton Avenue
Rock Hall, MD 21661
Phone: 800-292-3894
Email: safeharborsanitation@comcast.net

 

[Ian McGain]

If you are still in the water, Tolchester maria was operational this past weekend.

 

[Sailm8]

Since we are several hours away from a pump out several of us chipped in and formed a poop club. Bought one of these: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...toreNum=50632&subdeptNum=50653&classNum=50656

 

[HernandoBeacher]

http://www.sandkleen.com/products.htm

You could make a version of this using a shop vac and a bucket

 

[seadoggie]

Your reply was priceless, and shows why I return to this forum! It won't work for me however because 1) our boat is in the water, and 2) my coowner brother is not as "sharp" as the rock, and there is always a significant lag time in response. I guess I could get him to hold the bucket.... Many thanks, Eric

You don't say if your boat is hauled or in the water. If it is in the water, the above suggestions are all good.

If however, you are now hauled with a full tank, then I have a solution for you.

Disclaimer: I personally have not done this, but a good friend at my yard was hauled for hurricane Irene and never re-launched. Thus he had a half-full tank. Here is how he emptied it-

He got a 5 gallon bucket, a good pair of rubber gloves, and a rock. He stood under the over-board outlet thru-hull and holding the bucket close to the hull, he tapped on the hull with the rock. His wife turned on the maserator pump. When the bucket was nearly full, he tapped on the hull again with the rock and his wife shut off the maserator. He then transferred the bucket contents to another container and continued the process until the tank was empty. He then flushed the tank with a few gallons of water and winterized per his normal procedure.

There was one point where the process nearly turned into a disaster. After the maserator was started and the bucket was filling, he dropped his rock. Fortunately his wife heard the frantic pounding on the hull and shut off the maserator.

I suggested that if he needs to perform this feat another time that he get a better means of communication. I only wish I had been present- a picture and the story would have been great to have for our power squadron newsletter!

 

[Rich Stidger]

......... It won't work for me however because 1) our boat is in the water, and 2) my coowner brother is not as "sharp" as the rock, and there is always a significant lag time in response. I guess I could get him to hold the bucket.... Many thanks, Eric

Yeah, Eric, it does sound like your brother is a candidate for the "bucket holder" end of the team.

 

[Ed H]

There is nothing as embarrassing as a premature winterization ..... or so I've been told. Ed H

 

[Tom J]

I have used a raw water pump purchased at a tool store for around $200 gas powered and make sure you get one that can take small chunks use correct hose and have a place to dispose of the sludge. It worked great and the pump has come in handy for several other projects so the investment was a wash.

They don't call them "trash" pumps for nothing!

 

[CHARLIE STAGE]

As I previously stated and for half the investment a "trash pump" worked great and had multiple other uses. Sometimes it pays to think outside the box and shop around.