More Scoop on Poop! Pump Outs

What a week … the last week in the life of our inadequate holding tank/head system. After cruising for 15 years and rebuilding, then replacing our Passport 37’s head and hoses, we thought we knew alot about waste systems on a boat.  But when we discovered our trawler had a previous owner who brilliantly replaced the original 40 gallon holding tank with a 20 gallon water tank, and we opted not to do all the plumbing ourselves, we learned more scoop about poop!

First, a marina pump out system can never pump out 100% of any holding tank. The sanitation hose can’t be at the very bottom of the tank or it would clog.  So, at least 10% always remains in the waste tank. That means the 20 gallon tank we just took out was effectively reduced from 20 gallons to 18 gallons.

But it gets worse!  After we pumped out & fresh water rinsed multiple times preparing for the new system install, the old holding tank was still 1/3 full!  Our installer was not happy, but he managed to get the old tank out without spilling a drop – something I was very thankful for!  There could be several reasons for the tank not pumping out completely. In our case, a couple of hoses were cracked, screwing up the suction in the pump out system. The vent was so corroded it’s amazing ANY vent air could get in, effectively making it a blocked vent line.  The last factor, it’s possible the marina pump out system didn’t have adequate suction.

Whatever the reason, it’s no wonder our 20 gallon tank kept filling up so quickly – it was only pumping out 14 gallons, leaving 6 gallons in the tank.  So our 20 gallon tank was really only 14 gallons!  Coupled with the Raritan Sea Era’s 1 gallon a flush …

Speaking of which, we learned marine electric heads are not created equal. The Raritan Sea Era electric head that came with our new to us Mariner 40 used ONE GALLON of water for 14 seconds of flush. David’s logic was “well, only flush for 5 seconds thereby reducing waste going into the 20 gallon tank. The problem is that using a shorter time period will soon result in clogged hoses because the system doesn’t clear all the way to the holding tank after each flush.  Lots of head solutions are better, be sure to do your research before deciding on a new system for your boat.  Composting works well (and is “greener”) than our new VacuFlush system but so far we love our VacuFlush.

No matter what you expect … it’s a boat and more will be wrong than you know. I was struggling with eliminating the aroma and it turns out that not only was the waste tank a water tank with thinner walls, but the hose conducting the waste to the holding tank was cracked behind a wall, and leaking…. UGH, no wonder there was a stench!

At the end of the day, we have a new waste system using fresh water instead of salt water and a 36 gallon holding tank instead of a 20 gallon water/holding tank.  No cracked hoses and NO ODORS!!!

In the meantime, we have not one but TWO “extra” Raritan Sea Era heads sitting on the dock — really classy!

Countdown to resuming The Great Loop … 21 days and counting … in the meantime, a week at Disney with Gillian, Dane, Lincoln (and their parents), then drive Tommy the Toyota Tundra back to central Illinois and fly back to Florida!  Just a wee bit longer ….  🙂  Cheers!  Jan