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Conference unifix::sailing

Title:SAILING
Notice:Please read Note 2.* before participating in this conference
Moderator:UNIFIX::BERENS
Created:Wed Jul 01 1992
Last Modified:Mon Jun 02 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2299
Total number of notes:20724

941.0. "Holding Tank Blues" by CADSE::MCCARTHY (Fixed in previous release.) Thu Aug 11 1988 08:17

    For the past two nights I have been in the bowels of a CAT-30
    trying to free up the clog that is someplace in the holding tank
    discharge lines.  The macerator pump will not prime anymore.  The
    line is 1" from the tank to the pump and ~3/4" out the thru-hull.
    
    Last night we took off the 1" hose that went to the deck plate
    dischage and placed a plummers snake down the line.  I felt a fair
    amount of resistance but could do nonthing more than shake it back
    and forth.  We tried the macerator again and it still did not prime.
    
    My father thought it might be the pump so that came off/apart. 
    That is fine.
    
    My conclusion is that there is some "sold materal" in the hose between
    the holding tank and the pump that is preventing enought liquid
    through to start the flow.  Does this sound reasonable?  If so how
    would one go about un-cloging this line (and keep most, if not all
    of the sh*t out of the boad and off of me :-) ).  
    
    The discharge line is clear also.
    
    Thanks for any help.  Doing this is not my idea of a fun night on
    the boat. 
    
    bjm

T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
941.1Memories of Boston HarborCBS::CARVERJohn J. CarverThu Aug 11 1988 11:3330
    Not knowing what the "solid substance" is makes things a bit
    tougher. Did someone put something into the head which hadn't
    been previously orally digested ?
    
    If the substance is biodegradeable, I would suggest pouring some
    liquid holding tank solution through the deck plate discharge or
    from the head. You can buy it at any chandlery. The solution may take
    a day or two to break the substance down enough to be able to pump.
    
    Another possible solution would be to disconnect the 1" pipe from
    the pump leading back to the head. Straighten the pipe and insert
    a wooden or PVC pipe to clear. You probably can't perform this 
    procedure from the head side due to the curve of the discharge pipe
    as it passes into/through the bilge.
    
    As a last resort, I would disconnect the head discharge pipe. Tape
    a "snake" to it and then plug the pipe (wooden plug, rag, tape,
    somthing you can throw away :>) ). Disconnect the other end of the
    pipe (at the pump ?), plug it too, and then pull the whole thing
    out. 
    
    This last suggestion risks the obvious mess, plus the fun of resnaking
    the pipe back in once you've eliminated the clog. The taped "snake"
    should help though.
    
    Good Luck !
    
    JC
     

941.2Look at the mascerator againCSSE::COUTUREAbandon shoreThu Aug 11 1988 12:204
    Double check the mascerator pump before you go through everything
    mentioned previously.  Catalina 30's are notorious for mascerator
    problems - maybe they just got a bad batch from Jabsco.

941.3SOME HELP ?LAGUNA::MILLMAN_JAThu Aug 11 1988 12:4813
    I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU MEAN BY "THE MASCERATOR PUMP WONT PRIME" THIS
    PUMP CAN OPERATE DRY, SO I WOULD DISCONNECT THE LINE AND SEE IF
    THE PUMP ITSELF WORKS.
    
    WE USE A MASCERATOR PUMP IN OUR GALLY SINK AS A GARBAGE DISPOSAL/PUMP
    OUT PUMP SINCE OUR SINK BOTTOM IS NOW BELOW THE WATER LINE.  WE'VE
    RUN THE PUMP DRY MANY TIMES WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS.
    
    GOOD LUCK
    
    
    JAY

941.4more info from the man with the closed noseEOS::MCCARTHYFixed in previous release.Thu Aug 11 1988 14:5114
    More defails:
    
     The pump does not start to pump anything out (no water ever gets
    to it)  The rubber "impellers" heat up and start to make a totally
    different sound.
    
    As far as I (and my father know) only biodegradable substances when
    down the head.  We just put converted the head from hand pump to
    an electric pump.
    
    I wanted to put in some liquid plumber!
    
    bjm

941.5Metal tank?AYOU17::NAYLORPurring on all 12 cylindersFri Aug 12 1988 06:279
    Can't add any suggestions - except that a Jeaneau owner friend had
    a blockage from his tank because the tank was metal and a chunk
    of corrosion on the inside bloked the tank exit. Had to remove the
    inspection plate and go in from there ....  Nuff said.
    
    On a lighter vein. the charter company I hired from in Greece last
    summer said they pulled a pair of women's panties out of a blocked
    outlet hose!

941.6I think I can rule out panties :-)CADSE::MCCARTHYFixed in previous release.Fri Aug 12 1988 07:1913
    re:-1
    	Plastic tank.
    
    re: back_a_few
    	My father has had this boat for two years.  He moved from a
    Pearson 26.  The previous owner said "I replaced the macerator pump
    at the beginning of the season".  From the looks of the motor, I
    don't think he did.  My father also heard that the Cat 30's do have
    problems with the pumps but noone seems to be able to say specificly
    what the problem is.
    
    bjm

941.7diet fix?MTBLUE::HALL_MERRILLMon Aug 15 1988 16:193
    Until you can clear up the problem, I suggest a switch to a low
    roughage diet.

941.8collapsing hose?GRAMPS::WCLARKWalt ClarkWed Aug 17 1988 09:5110
    Since many of these hoses are multi-ply it is possible that the
    inner layer of hose has separated from the reinforcement and 
    collapsed. Since the reinforcement ply supports the outer layer 
    of hose it is not visable from outside. 
    
    This is a very common problem in other applications, perhaps worth
    looking "into".
    
    Walt

941.9re:-1 god I hope not!CADSE::MCCARTHYFixed in previous release.Wed Aug 17 1988 17:432
    

941.10You may want to change the hoses long-termOBLIO::STONEWed Aug 17 1988 18:159
    As with Walt's reply, if you have to do some extensive rework to
    the plumbing, you may want to replace the flex hose with one that
    has smooth insides.  Many times the ribs in the flex hose trap
    particles and will continue to build up a blockage (also causing
    odors).
    
    JS
    

941.11already smooth CADSE::MCCARTHYFixed in previous release.Thu Aug 18 1988 07:5510
    I think the only piece of ribbed hose is from the head to the Y
    valve and from the Y valve to the thru-hull or holding tank.  "Smooth"
    hose is used from the bottom of the holding take to the macerator
    pump/deck-plate.
    
    My next effort to clear this problem will be Friday, a great way
    to start the weekend.
    
    bjm

941.12It ain't funAKOV12::DJOHNSTONThu Aug 18 1988 10:369
    We replaced all of our plumbing hoses last weekend for the reason
    that they were four years old and we just couldn't get the stench
    our of them.  It was not a job for the meek.  LOTS of lemon scented
    Lysol, a few dips over the side, and plenty of fortitude.  I feel
    for you.
    
    Dave
    

941.13The lesser of two holding tanks!CADSE::MCCARTHYFixed in previous release.Thu Aug 18 1988 20:0112
    
    >>    Lysol, a few dips over the side, and plenty of fortitude. 
    
    	A few dips!  My God I better get the boat out of Quincy Bay
    then, the water outside the boat could be worse than the stuff sitting
    in the tank for two weeks :-)
    
    	I hope to hold off till its back on land this fall before something
    like replacing all the hoses is necessary.
    
    bjm

941.14Twice is two too many.SNOC01::SMITHPETERFri Aug 19 1988 02:4110
    I have had two pipe blockages on separate boats.  The cause was
    similiar in each case.  I solved it by putting a neat brass plate 
    with strong wording in the head advising crew/passengers not to place
    foreign objects in the head.
    
    Whilst this might not the problem in your case, mine related to female
    passengers.  Good hunting.
    
     

941.15GRAMPS::WCLARKWalt ClarkFri Aug 19 1988 13:358
    RE: -.1
    
    A rule on a friends boat...
    
    Nothing goes into the head that hasnt been eaten.
    
    Walt

941.16Temporary SolutionCADSE::MCCARTHYjust call me MacMon Aug 29 1988 07:2513
    We finally decieded that the best way to deal with this was to wait
    until the boat was on land for the winter and then replace the hoses.
    
    We did drain the tank as much as possible by using one of those
    drill-pumps and stuck the suction end down the vent hole of the
    holding tank.  
    
    I'll let you know if replacing the hoses turns out to be a real
    pain in the butt or not.
    
    thanks,
    bjm

941.17holding tank configurations?UNIFIX::BERENSThe ModeratorMon Jul 06 1992 15:2669
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Note 941.17                    Holding Tank Blues                       17 of 19
MAST::SCHUMANN "We've met the enemy, and he is us!"  59 lines  28-MAY-1992 13:05
                       -< holding tank configurations? >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My head simply pumps over the side right now, and I'd like to put in a holding
tank. I'm not sure what is the best arrangement?

The Boat US catalog shows an arrangement like this:

                                    Deck
                                    Plate
                                     ---
                                      |
 Thru   +------+      +---------+     |            +-------+
 hull   | PUMP |      | Y-VALVE |     |            | head  |
   \----|      |------|---. .---|-----'            |       |
        +------+      +----|----+                  +-------+
                           |        +----------+       |
                           `--------| bladder  |-------'
                                    +----------+


Here's another possible arrangement:

  Thru
  hull
   \----------------------------------.
           |                          |
        +------+                +-----|----+            +-------+
        | PUMP |                |  Y  |    |            | head  |
        |      |                |Valve >---|------------|       |
        +------+                +-----|----+            +-------+
           |       +----------+       |
           `-------| bladder  |-------'
                   +----------+


Pump is a manual diaphragm pump, e.g. Whale gusher.

Questions:

Which of these is a better configuration? What other configurations are in use?

How big should the bladder be, for a 29-foot boat, typically with 4 people
aboard? (Boat U.S. has a 16 gallon and a 25 gallon bladder.)

Is a hard tank better than a bladder or vice versa? 

In the Boat U.S. config, can I replace the Y-valve with a simple Y pipe?

What does the coast guard look for when checking for compliance with
discharge laws?

Does the bladder vent need a check valve?

What are the merits of having a deck plate (in New England waters)?

Is it better to put two 1 1/2" fittings on the bladder, or a Y off one fitting?

Any recommendations on specific Y-valves to buy or avoid?

--RS

941.18New head hookups are easyUNIFIX::BERENSThe ModeratorMon Jul 06 1992 15:2630
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Note 941.18                    Holding Tank Blues                       18 of 19
HOTWTR::SASLOW_ST "STEVE"                            20 lines  29-MAY-1992 11:56
                         -< New head hookups are easy >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    I recently went through this and researched it with a store called
    Marine Sanitation who's only business is heads and systems. Their input
    is:
    
    Avoid the PAR Y-valve, it clogs a lot.
    
    Avoid a bladder, they leak and are not big enough. Size depends on how
    many people you want to service, not boat size. I went with 40 gallons.
    
    Vented loops are necessary if the head is below waterline or the tank
    is below waterline.
    
    Keep your run from the head to the tank as short as possible. It
    depends on how far your head will pump effectively. Six feet or less is
    probably OK with most heads.
    
    Make sure your vent line has no low spots for water to collect.
    
    Good luck. Do it right while you are dealing with new unused parts
    because later, it will be unpleasant.
941.19Tee in place of YUNIFIX::BERENSThe ModeratorMon Jul 06 1992 15:2633
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Note 941.19                    Holding Tank Blues                       19 of 19
SUBSYS::CHESTER                                      23 lines  10-JUN-1992 13:18
                             -< Tee in place of Y >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Here is simpler solution without a "Y" valve.
    
    
    
                           Deck pump out
                              |
                              |
                              |
                              |
    Head------- Tank -------"Tee"-------Inline-----Pump----Thru hull
                                        valve
    
    
    Arrange the "Tee" so the straight through portion is the most likely
    used path.  Around Boston  the best is to plan on many 3 mile off shore
    trips.
    
    I put all the stuff in when new.  Not a big problem.  Just the hose is
    hard to bend and cut.  Use double clamps.  No leaks allowed here.  
    
    Ken C