Sanitary Pump-out didn 't Work

ANYTIME

New Member
Dec 3, 2006
345
Northern Virginia
Boat Info
Boatless
Engines
Boatless
We have had our brand new boat on the water for a little over a month, only leaving the dock a few times to practice docking, anchoring, etc.

Yesterday, we decided to take a trip to another Marina to practice docking, pump out our sanitary tank and top off the gas.

We traveled up the Potomac about 10 miles or so and stopped off at a Marina we had visited by auto the previous week. We docked okay and then proceeded to pump out the sanitary tank. I unscrewed the tank fitting cover, located and screwed in the marina's adapter, attached the nozzle, powered it on and then turned the valve to begin pumping.

I heard suction, but nothing was flowing through the transparent nozzle. I checked the fitting, then felt like the dumbest guy in town when I discovered that I was trying to pump out my rod holder, which is right next to the sanitary access.

After regaining my composure, I attached the nozzle to the sanitary tank this time, pumped it out and embarrassingly went on and completed fueling and then continued on our trip.

I guess that if this is my worst error I make while enjoying our new boat, it wasn't that bad after all. :smt043
 
That's pretty funny. :smt043

Hey..........don't feel bad........we have all done things like that. And some of those things have been a lot more embarrasing than what you did.........but I'll never tell. :wow:
 
Trying to pump out a rod holder is one thing. Trying to put fuel in a rod holder is something else again !! :grin: You would be amazed at how many times this happens. Gotta pay attention.........enjoy the boat :thumbsup:
 
That was funny.....I'm glad you were "big" enough to share that with us....it made my morning.....but...as FrankH said, you learned the lesson the easy way....it only cost you a little ego...a friend of a friend once put about 25 gallons of GASOLINE in his fresh water tank....then...to compound the problem....he tried to get the gas out by turning on the freshwater pump and pumping it out of his faucet..... :smt021 .....someone at the gas dock....luckily.....stopped that real quick....he had to have the boat towed, hauled and the Tank professionally pumped.....cost him ego and $$$$$$$..


glad to hear you are enjoying the boat......mark the entry in your log book, and get on with your boating season.....

good luck....
 
ssyates said:
I checked the fitting, then felt like the dumbest guy in town when I discovered that I was trying to pump out my rod holder, which is right next to the sanitary access.

Yes thank you for sharing that was great and like the others we all do stupid things from time to time.

But you owe me a keyboard now because I spit coke out all over it :smt043
 
Morpheus said:
ssyates said:
I checked the fitting, then felt like the dumbest guy in town when I discovered that I was trying to pump out my rod holder, which is right next to the sanitary access.

Yes thank you for sharing that was great and like the others we all do stupid things from time to time.

But you owe me a keyboard now because I spit coke out all over it :smt043

Morpheus...I have a replacement keyboard for you. Only catch is, you have to pick it up in Northern Virginia.

Thanks to all for the encouraging replies and welcomed advice.
 
Good one, brought back memories!
4 Seasons a go I got a phone call from my recently deceased boat partner. He says I f***ed up real bad. Topped off starboard fuel tank with water. Had enough sense to close the cross over valves at least. Had a friend who owns a marina and he agreed to haul boat and pump out tank for $250. Thought that was a deal.
Luckily all we went through was 1 additional fuel filter the rest of the season. I swear those old '89 big blocks will run on about anything that will come close to burning.
Thanks for the memory!
 
Good one :thumbsup: Did you put it in the log? :lol:
 
osd9 said:
...a friend of a friend once put about 25 gallons of GASOLINE in his fresh water tank....

I would much rather try and suck my rod holder than pump out fuel from the water tank. Six years ago my then-wife filled our starboard fuel tank for about 2 minutes with water before a passer-by smelled fuel. No, that wasn't the reason we got divorced!

I had a sore wrist after hand pumping over 45 gallons of fuel/water!

No harm other than an ego bruise!
 
ssyates said:
I heard suction, but nothing was flowing through the transparent nozzle. I checked the fitting, then felt like the dumbest guy in town when I discovered that I was trying to pump out my rod holder, which is right next to the sanitary access.

:smt043

OMG that was hilarious! Thanks for sharing this story as it had me laughing out loud while reading it! I truly hope its the worst thing that happens to you all boating season. :)

Mike
 
ssyates said:
We have had our brand new boat on the water for a little over a month, only leaving the dock a few times to practice docking, anchoring, etc.

Yesterday, we decided to take a trip to another Marina to practice docking, pump out our sanitary tank and top off the gas.

We traveled up the Potomac about 10 miles or so and stopped off at a Marina we had visited by auto the previous week. We docked okay and then proceeded to pump out the sanitary tank. I unscrewed the tank fitting cover, located and screwed in the marina's adapter, attached the nozzle, powered it on and then turned the valve to begin pumping.

I heard suction, but nothing was flowing through the transparent nozzle. I checked the fitting, then felt like the dumbest guy in town when I discovered that I was trying to pump out my rod holder, which is right next to the sanitary access.

After regaining my composure, I attached the nozzle to the sanitary tank this time, pumped it out and embarrassingly went on and completed fueling and then continued on our trip.

I guess that if this is my worst error I make while enjoying our new boat, it wasn't that bad after all. :smt043

ssyates,
you've made my day.......... :smt043 I hope there were enought spektators to share the moment with. Oh man, this is too good....

Thx for the entertainment,
Alex.
 
Alex,

Luckily, only my wife was there. I felt so stupid, and she was totally cool about it. It just goes to demonstrate that we all need to be totally focused on the task at hand. :cool: .

Have a fun boating summer!!
 
ssyates said:
Alex,

Luckily, only my wife was there. I felt so stupid, and she was totally cool about it. It just goes to demonstrate that we all need to be totally focused on the task at hand. :cool: .

Have a fun boating summer!!
It's when you actually get something besides your rod out of the rod holder you need to worry about. :smt018
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,950
Messages
1,422,886
Members
60,933
Latest member
juliediane
Back
Top