Thru hull for macerator, above or below waterline?

Rawidman, we empty boats all the time at RV dump stations. I have friends that do it. I've tried your method with the same macerator pump and I can't get enough suction to pull the waste out. I have a Jabsco Macerator and a PVC adaptor so I can screw it into the deck fitting. I attached teflon tape to remove any source of air and I just can't develop enough suction to suck it out. I really WANTED to use your method since we are only able to pump into the ocean one or two weeks a year.

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Sorry for the dirt on the boat! I should have washed and waxed it AGAIN after that dust storm!!!

At the dump station, our friend turns the macerator on and RUNS!!!!! Just kidding! Actually I turn on the macerator and he just jams some PVC pipe into the fitting and that is attached to a hose that runs into the RV dump. Rinse and we're done.
 
quote:
Originally posted by jtsmlarson

Rawidman, we empty boats all the time at RV dump stations. I have friends that do it. I've tried your method with the same macerator pump and I can't get enough suction to pull the waste out. I have a Jabsco Macerator and a PVC adaptor so I can screw it into the deck fitting. I attached teflon tape to remove any source of air and I just can't develop enough suction to suck it out. I really WANTED to use your method since we are only able to pump into the ocean one or two weeks a year.

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Click to expand...

The pump should have a five foot lift capability and that should be enough. One possibility is that your wire is too small ot too long and causing a voltage drop to the pump.

Otherwise, stick the pump in a small container of water first to wet the internals. This will provide a better internal seal to get the pumping going.

I'm assuming your tank vent is not plugged or restricted.

I used mine dozens, if not hundreds of times.
 
Thanks for the tips! If you look closely at the wires, they are LARGER than the wires that come out of the pump. I do have some connectors and there could be some loss there, I suppose. The wires are about 10 feet long from the pump out to the batteries themselves. I just clip them on. I have a Perco 12 volt source directly below the pump on the inside of the boat, but I haven't checked the wire size. IF I can get this to work, I'll look at a plug that fits the outlet. The vent works because I have no problem using a traditional pumpout station. I know the lift is 5' that's stamped on the pump itself. I will try getting the internals wet, that might help and I hadn't thought of that. I also thought about trying to prime it somehow, but I'll try getting it wet first.

Thanks for the tips!
 
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