Head Pump out effectiveness ?

2

250_money_pit

New Member
Mar 25, 2007
65
Pensacola / Destin Florida
My 250 Select is the first boat I've owned with a pump out head. Just wondering how thorough the typical marina pump-out process is - I guess the guy at the marina sticks a big vacuum gizmo into the access port and sucks out all the goodies. When this task is performed, does the equipment that they use rinse everything out as well as suck it out ? Just wondering how thorough of a job the pump out tools do.
 
It sucks out your tank. When they finish, rinse it with freshwater and pump the head some more and pump it out again until it's all clear. Then you are good to go.
 
I’m sure each marina is different, but for example, our marina will really only vacuum us out; arguably leaving some “goodies” behind and not really thoroughly flushing the system. I’ve found it easier and more effective to do it in house as I can really flush the system by dumping a few buckets of water in the top of the bowl while the vacuum is on. Sometimes we go a few weeks without using the boat and it sits in the Phoenix sun all day long. So as far as I am concerned, the cleaner the better, if that makes sense.

Regards,
Chris
 
And some marinas won't do it for you... the hand you the hose and you do the actual pump out.

Depending on how many boats are behind you, you can take your time and pump out, refill some water (say 5 gallons?) and then pump out again.

Esteban
 
And so we are clear the pump hose screws onto your boat it's not something they just stick in the whole.

We've not used the head on your 240SD because most of the ramps we use don't have a pumpout facility. Is this something you could buy for your house and like use a clean out whole in your sewer line to pump it into or something, I'm going to guess NO but thought I'd ask.
 
You really need to follow up and use a shopvac in the hole to get it right...
 
yes. Someone on an earlier thread talked about using their shopvac to empty out the holding tank... It was funny... well.. for me it was funny and that's all that matters.

I don't agree with people that stick the hose in the pump out fitting on deck to back flush the system or add cleaner. If you look at how these things are plumbed, putting a pint or quart of cleaner in there won't even make it to the holding tank and will get sucked out the next time you do a pump out. You are better off dumping multiple buckets of water and your cleaner in the toilets to clean the system out. That way you get the vacuum tanks as well as the holding tank and all the connecting hoses with clean water and/or chemical.

I also don't think it's that big of deal to leave some pooplets in the tank. The best way I have found to clean is put some Domitec cleaner in the tank, flush a bunch of fresh water in it to fill about half way up, then go out and get tossed around in some big waves and then do the pump out (or dump it out the bottom if you are offshore).
 
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Four Suns said:
yes. Someone on an earlier thread talked about using their shopvac to empty out the holding tank... It was funny... well.. for me it was funny and that's all that matters.
Click to expand...

That's more NASTY the Funny! :grin:
 
We irrigate things pretty thoroughly at pump out time during the cruising season. Before the boat gets put away for the winter we irrigate until clear water is pumped out. I'm convinced that hoses permeated with oder are caused by short cuts on this routine maintenance procedure. We keep our boats a long time (like 10 years) and I've never had to replace the hoses. Even duck bills seem to last about 5 years.
 
Morp... if you take your boat to the house it is real easy to just pull it out and dump. I bought some caps for the ends and we have done that for 2 seasons now. Doesn't take 5 minutes to do.

(and I think whomever was doing the shopvac had a 'dedicated' one soley for that purpose)
 
Larry&Leisa said:
Morp... if you take your boat to the house it is real easy to just pull it out and dump. I bought some caps for the ends and we have done that for 2 seasons now. Doesn't take 5 minutes to do.

(and I think whomever was doing the shopvac had a 'dedicated' one soley for that purpose)
Click to expand...

I guess I'm confused on how mine works then I thought it went into some kind of holding tank and used fresh water from the fresh water tank to rinse the bowl.

For me I have a hard probable even thinkin about handling sewage with #1 and #2 in it even if it was just mine I don't think I could do it.
 
Most of the time the water for the head comes from it's own source. If you have a fancy toilet, like a Vacuflush and some others it CAN use the water from your holding tank. There just has to be some kind of physical break so you don't contaminate your freshwater source with toilet critters. It usually has it's own seacock, so it's a good idea to locate that and exercise the valve periodically so it will work if your hose leaks.

Pumping out beats pouring a porta potty out ANY day! We used to flip coins to see who had to empty it. It was nasty. Getting the holding tank pumped out is soooo much nicer! We just pump, flush a bunch of water down the toilet and down the pumpout hole and then repeat the cycle until it's clear. When we're done, I pour some water down the hole to rinse whatever is in the hose and give the critters in the tank something to gnaw on until next weekend! We add Odorlos to our system since that works for the anerobic bacteria that help break things down and keep the smell down. It just depends on how much air gets to your tank that determines the enzyme to use, one for aerobic and one for anerobic. The chemicals kill everything but you always have that chemical smell. I guess it's personal preference?
 
Morpheus said:
For me I have a hard probable even thinkin about handling sewage with #1 and #2 in it even if it was just mine I don't think I could do it.
Click to expand...

I don't 'handle it' !!! It's an enclosed tank.. you just unscrew the back... flush it down... sheeshhh... ever changed a baby's diaper? It's easier than that.

and maybe we do have different systems. mine is basically the porta potty.. no vacu flush , etc
 
Ok, I guess I have to fess up. I've got a dedicated shop vac that I use to clean my system with. I've also got the porta potty system in my 240. Morpheus what type of system do you have. (Porta potty or Vacu Flush)
 
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