What's the pump for?

[Bob Brooks]

My 1980 Hunter 33 has a "Gusher" type pump mounted on the back of the Head wall, down there where the water heater is. It appears that it's intended use is to pump waste into the ocean...I know, beyond the three mile limit! My question is: Has anyone out there ever re-plumbed this system to pump out the waste holding tank to dock side? I'm trying to develope an inexpensive and simple "pump out station."

 

[Peggie Hall/HeadMistress]

You don't need an onboard pump at dockside

Pumpouts are equipped with their own pumps--usually electric, although portable pumpout carts can have manual pumps similar to the Gusher on your boat. Just attach the hose to the deck fitting, turn on the pump...and the pumpout pulls everything out of the tank via the hose connected to the deck fitting.What, if anything is the pump on your boat connected to? The same type of pump is also a manual bilge pump...that could be what yours was installed to be.

 

[Bob England]

Overboard pump removed

My '89 H30 had a similar arrangement. When I bought the boat, I had it removed and capped the thru-hull, since any capability for overboard waste discharge is illegal on the Great Lakes where I sail. The boat apparently sailed around for 9 years this way without ever being inspected by the Coast Guard, but I know they do spot checks because I was once boarded and inspected with a previous boat.