When to pump out???

[mauruuru]

I have a (new to me) Hunter 28.5. My question is how does Hunter expect me to know when to pump out my holding tank? The obvious answer is when it is full but how can I tell. My marina does not have a pump-out station so I will have to take it to a different location and pay each time. I do have an access panel on top of the tank but I really don't want to open that each time and risk spillage. Has anybody else had to deal with this and come up with a solution to monitor the level?

There are a few tank monitors on the market that use externally mounted capacitance sensors. The one I used monitors three seperate tanks. Glue the sensors on though as the self adhesive pad doesn't stay stuck. Mounting three or more sensors on the side of a poly or fiberglass walled tank takes the guess work out of it

 

[ben solomon]

I have a legend 37.5. Fixing the gauges is on the list, but I use a headlamp on top of the tank to see the level. Also, I make it a point to pumpout after every weekend we spend on the boat. I have seen this product advertised called Noflex digestor. I will be giving that a try next season, as well.

Ben

 

[Greg Reardon]

On my 376 I suffered with a factory installed float sensor for too long. Had to remove it, soak it clean and reinstall it several times in a season. A really messy job. Never quite knew how full it was. I finally installed a SCAD Solo tank sensor that utilizes foil strips adhered to the outside of the tank. After calibrating I couldn't believe how much better it was to KNOW exactly how much waste was in the tank. I pump out less often now. Of course I'm fortunate to be in Mass Bay which is all no discharge and pumpouts are free at gas docks, and my marina has a pumpout boat

 

[centerline]

I'm fortunate to be in Mass Bay which is all no discharge and pumpouts are free at gas docks, and my marina has a pumpout boat

if the authorities and marinas actually care about the quality of the water in the area, all the pump outs would be free. and in some areas they are all free...
most states have programs that can be used by marina owners that will subsidize them for the cost of waste disposal from boaters, in an attempt to capture all the waste they can rather than having it be dumped into the local waters when no one is looking.

here in oregon the state has a program where a marina owner only has to provide/donate a place to install a permanent pumpout that is easily accessible, and free to the public with any size of pleasure boat, and the state will install the station and maintain it....
its spearheaded by the fish and wildlife commission and there are a couple other departments that contribute to the program with them.
understandably, the heavier use areas get more attention to this program/process than the remote areas do.

some areas even have mobile pump out boats that are subsidized.... all you got to do is call the operator of the boat.

when the pump out stations are free, there is absolutely no excuse to make a habit of discharging overboard....

 

[epat]

Waste Tank Gauge Not Working

I scanned old threads and did not see a fix for issues with the waste tank gauge in my H280... It shows full.. I pumped it after a few uses... flushed with fresh water etc... no change. Any Ideas?

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

It's time to replace the gauge...or at least the sender. If it's one that uses a probe inside the tank, replace the whole thing with one that puts the sender on the outside of the tank. Actually several people who replied to this thread included excellent information and suggestions for replacements...In about the 3rd post from the beginning of this thread, Alan Gomes included a link to the top rated tank level indicators...go back to it and read all about it. Then read reply # 23 to for another recommendation--the SCAD systems (which are actually the profile gauges sold under SCAD's brand name).