Unable to pump out at the marina pump out station.

T

tomkmac

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Joined
Nov 1, 2006
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24121
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My boat is a 1995 Carver 325 aft cabin. I bought it in October 2006. It is in salt water on the East Coast. We have been using the head fairly frequently over the last 6 months and last week I went over to the marina pump out station to have the holding tank pumped out. The operator could not pump it. He said that he could not draw a vacuum on it and either it is empty, or there is a valve in the wrong place. The head is still working fine. The set up is a Crown Head with electric flush and macerator. The pipe from the head goes to a Jabsco Par Y valve with is set to deliver the sewage into the holding tank. The valve handle has been removed. The other output from that Y valve goes to an overboard discharge. The holding tank is a 20 gallon tank, and the output from it goes to a second Jabsco Y valve which has an outlet for overboard discharge, and an outlet to the deck discharge fitting. The valve handle is set for the deck discharge. The holding tank is set way down in the hull below the generator and it is not easy to access or see how full it is. There is a vent pipe from the tank to the hull. Any ideas why the deck pump out is having this problem?
 
"We have been using the head fairly frequently over the last 6 months and last week I went over to the marina pump out station to have the holding tank pumped out"

6 MONTHS and fairly frequently? I"d re-check the positioning of those valves because you"ve probably got an empty tank.
 
Tanq is probably correct. put some dish soap into the head, flush a lot and look for bubbles around the boat.
 
The response may sound silly, but it is absolutely true. My very close friend bought a new Carver Yacht in 2005 and had the same problem with pump out. After research by the dealer, under warranty, it was discovered that there was no tube running from the deck cap to the bottom of the holding tank. Therefore suction was near impossible. A tube was installed and all was fine. I know this to be true because I was on the boat when this "repair" was done. Quality Control at it best!
 
A missing hose is certainly possible... Mine was delivered with no hose between the cockpit deck drain and the scupper!
 
You guys actually believe the boat was never pumped out since 1995? With only a 20 gallon tank? More than likely he has been pumping overboard.
 
"You guys actually believe the boat was never pumped out since 1995? With only a 20 gallon tank? More than likely he has been pumping overboard."

Thank-You.......THAT was my point.
 
I'd bet you a good cigar that the tanks's vent line is clogged. If air can't come INTO the tank, you can't pump anything out of the tank. Check the vent hose, especially where it exits the boat, at the through-hull. That's a favorite place for mud dauber wasps to build their nests. The next most likely place for the vent line to clog is at the fitting where it exits the tank - there may be a wad of toilet paper caught in it.
 
Thanks for the input. I'm sure the previous owner(s) pumped it out sometime over the last 11 years. I'll recheck the valve settings and look at the vent line through hull, and the hose to the deck fitting and try the soap suds test, and let you know.

Tom
 
Vic: Thats a mighty big tank to not have been pumped out after frequent use for a year. Got to get me one of those new fangled tanks.:D
 
As has already been mentioned, there's always the possibility that the tank is empty.
 
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