2007 310DA -- pump out hose replacement

[mobocracy]

As it turns out my recent pumpouts haven't done anything because my pump out hose (between tank and deck fitting) has either pinhole leaks or has a loose connection at the deck fitting. Discovering this was gross and involved sewage in the bilge.

In terms of replacing this hose, my question is whether the hose can be removed and replaced by removing the deck fitting and pulling out the old hose and pulling up the new hose attached to it. It doesn't seem possible to get to the back side of the deck fitting from the underside/inside.

Has anyone done this replacement and can comment on the ability to remove the hose this way? I'd probably use Raritan SaniFlex as the replacement because it appears to be well made and flexible enough to handle the bending associated with pulling it up.

I would have already checked this myself by removing the deck fitting, but I don't have great access to the deck fitting in my slip (besides reaching over the gunwale). If it can be pulled up/out this way it would save a ton of money as getting at the back side of the pumpout fitting from the inside looked well nigh impossible without a bunch of disassembly.

 

[romanservices]

oh man that's terrible, don't have an answer for you just sympathy.

 

[mobocracy]

oh man that's terrible, don't have an answer for you just sympathy.

Well the good news at this point is that the marina has a spot I can tie up with dockside access to the fitting, so I can at least remove the fitting and see if there's any way to fish the hose out from the outside.

Edit: Just had a conversation with the marina's service guy, he said this is unlikely. One, the cutout is likely only to be as big as the hose fitting, not big enough to pass the hose and the clamps, and two it's probably through-bolted to the hull.

Now my optimism has shifted as to whether it's accessible from behind the cockpit wet bar somehow, the question being if the back panel of the wet bar can be removed at all for access. In photos it looks to be high enough on the hull to be had there.

 

[Jmac572]

Hi... Do you have a refrigerator? I know that when you remove that the entire area behind it is exposed. Im not at my boat now so I don't remember exactly where the pumpout is in relation to the fridge, but either way its a WIDE area of access and you should be able to get a couple feet in either direction from where the fridge is mounted. Hope this helps, good luck

 

[mobocracy]

Hi... Do you have a refrigerator? I know that when you remove that the entire area behind it is exposed. Im not at my boat now so I don't remember exactly where the pumpout is in relation to the fridge, but either way its a WIDE area of access and you should be able to get a couple feet in either direction from where the fridge is mounted. Hope this helps, good luck

That's now my current thinking, either the space behind the cockpit fridge or the space to the left of it (we keep a trash can in there) will be the path to it. My question is whether there's an access panel behind the fridge or whether the wet bar is one giant fiberglass tub.

 

[Jmac572]

That's now my current thinking, either the space behind the cockpit fridge or the space to the left of it (we keep a trash can in there) will be the path to it. My question is whether there's an access panel behind the fridge or whether the wet bar is one giant fiberglass tub.

I have removed the fridge before and I can confirm that it is wide open behind there, I dropped the speaker wire when replacing that speaker and the only way to retrieve it was by removing the fridge. I was pleasantly surprised how much access there is behind the fridge. Also, its extremely easy to take out, I believe its only 8 screws then you lift the bottom front off and it slides/pulls out. Just be careful of the wiring to the fridge and make sure the breakers are off for both the 120v and 12v fridge power. The fridge wiring sticks out to the side a bit and you need to rotate it a little at the very end, having a second person to help lift and rotate is probably advisable. Its not that its too heavy, its just an awkward spot and size.

 

[mobocracy]

I have removed the fridge before and I can confirm that it is wide open behind there, I dropped the speaker wire when replacing that speaker and the only way to retrieve it was by removing the fridge. I was pleasantly surprised how much access there is behind the fridge. Also, its extremely easy to take out, I believe its only 8 screws then you lift the bottom front off and it slides/pulls out. Just be careful of the wiring to the fridge and make sure the breakers are off for both the 120v and 12v fridge power. The fridge wiring sticks out to the side a bit and you need to rotate it a little at the very end, having a second person to help lift and rotate is probably advisable. Its not that its too heavy, its just an awkward spot and size.

Is it direct access to the hull fittings behind the fridge or is there an access panel?

 

[mobocracy]

Well success! Pulled the fridge out and there's an access panel that leads right to the back of the pump out fitting.

It actually helps to have the Kenyon electric grill, as with that out you have better access yet.

Now I just need some replacement sanitation hose.

 

[bahamabreisus]

I think it would highly unlikely that a 10 year old hose was bad. I would make sure your vent line is not clogged, preventing proper pump out.

 

[Jandcinok]

Hopefully you will find where the bilge sewage came from. I feel your pain, I did mine 2 yrs ago. You can rest easy on the saniflex choice, thats a good call. Ive used it and Trident and its a lot easier to work with. Just a word of warning, as you know, that hose is expensive, dont change your mind and go cheap, you would regret it. Good liuck!

 

[stephenm27]

FWIW, you can introduce clean/fresh water into the pump out fitting (and thus down into the tank). This should easily identify if it was indeed this section of hose that is/was leaking and where...just look (feel) for the moisture along the hose path and fittings.

Clearly this has advantages over attempting same while pumping sewage in the reverse direction...don't ask me how I know.

 

[Jmac572]

Well success! Pulled the fridge out and there's an access panel that leads right to the back of the pump out fitting.

It actually helps to have the Kenyon electric grill, as with that out you have better access yet.

Now I just need some replacement sanitation hose.

Good to hear you got to it... Once you figure the issue out keep us posted.

 

[mobocracy]

I think it would highly unlikely that a 10 year old hose was bad. I would make sure your vent line is not clogged, preventing proper pump out.

The pump out hose hissed with drawn air with the pumpout on even when the septic tank was vented to the atmosphere by removing the macerator connection fitting (I don't have the macerator pump, which made it easy to do).

It could be a loose connection, but the hissing sound was closer to the deck fitting than the septic tank. I figure half the work is just getting access to the deck fitting side of the hose, so I might as well go all in for hose replacement while I'm at it. It's less than 10 feet of hose and then it's one more thing I won't have to worry about.

 

[mobocracy]

Hopefully you will find where the bilge sewage came from. I feel your pain, I did mine 2 yrs ago. You can rest easy on the saniflex choice, thats a good call. Ive used it and Trident and its a lot easier to work with. Just a word of warning, as you know, that hose is expensive, dont change your mind and go cheap, you would regret it. Good liuck!

When you work on the septic system it's one of those things you want done right and done once, so I bought the Saniflex hose. Glad to see your endorsement, I went back and forth between it and the Trident.

 

[mobocracy]

Success!! Hose replaced and new Raritan Saniflex and new hose clamps installed and it pumps like a champ. The old hose had a ton of dry rot cracks.

It was a ***** getting the old hose off the fittings. Hacking with an old knife until I hit the spiral wire, prying the wire up, clipping it, repeat until the hose came off. Deck fitting side was the worst due to the access opening and lack of reach/access. Getting it out of the hose support in the bilge above the gas tank was tough, too, as the screws on that support needed about a 3 foot screwdriver to reach them. Fortunately it was loose enough to work the hose out into the engine room.

The Saniflex was sweet to install. Lots of flex and it glided onto the fittings with ease.

Hopefully this is my last sanitation fix of the season. Of course now I have to worry about the head to tank hose, but so far so good.