Sludge Sucker, does it work?

[landingzone]

I am looking for a way to DIY manually empty my holding tank. I can't easily get to a marina pump out. I see a product called the "Sludge Sucker Basic" which looks like it it is made for that. I don't see much comment anywhere on how well they work. Does anyone have experience with these? .... or other ideas?

 

[electricaldoctor]

Call a septic tank dude and they will suck'r out.

 

[tdappleman]

I looked at various ways and ended up buying a macerator pump, hose and wiring since there are no pump outs near me. The macerator pump will thread directly into your waste fitting which gives a nice seal and also supports the pump. I bought some cheap jumper cables and cut the alligator clips off one end and wired a switch into the positive line. Hook the other end alligator clips to your battery when you are ready to pump out. On the pump outlet, I connected 1.5" clear tubing which gets put into the outlet of your home septic/sewer cleanup fitting. Works like a champ.

 

[landingzone]

That's a good idea tdappleman. I didn't know that a macerator pump would pull up like that. What brand pump did you use? I wonder about different size boat fittings and macerator inlets.
Thanks for the help.

 

[tdappleman]

I bought a Shurflo and the threads were spot on for the fitting on my 270.

Here's a link: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...toreNum=10111&subdeptNum=10687&classNum=10692

 

[Gofirstclass]

LZ, before you jump up and buy a macerator, keep in mind that you're in fresh water and pumping out in the lake may be highly illegal and very expensive if you get caught. tdappleman is in NC; it's not illegal to pump out in many coastal areas.

 

[tdappleman]

I don't pump out on the water - I use the sewer clean out in my yard. Even with going out 3-4 miles I don't like doing it when I can easily do it at home.

 

[Bama Boater]

Reviving an old thread here. I did not know an impeller style macerator pump would pull waste from the thru hull deck plate above the tank. I thought impeller pumps had to be below the fluid level to prime. Does anyone have experience with the Sludge Sucker Basic - a diaphragm pump?