Emptying water tanks at seasons end

jack Kelley · Post by **jack Kelley** » Sep 21st, '10, 16:16

How can you avoid the labor of simply standing and using your foot pump to empty two tanks of water. This may seem simple - but would appreciate any input.

Paul D. · Post by **Paul D.** » Sep 21st, '10, 16:54

If you can get a wet dry vacuum nozzle in there you can remove it that way. I use that to get rid of extra anti-freeze after flushing it through the lines. Problem is you need to empty it if you have a lot.

Otherwise you could use a drill pump to pump it out.

Jeff and Sarah · Post by **Jeff and Sarah** » Sep 21st, '10, 17:50

I suppose you could allow it to siphon to the bilge and let the bilge pump do it's thing. That might not be ideal if the tanks are 100% full though.

Al Levesque · Post by **Al Levesque** » Sep 21st, '10, 18:14

Siphoning to the bilge has the added advantage of getting out the water in the lowest corner of the tank if you direct the hose there.

Neil Gordon · Post by **Neil Gordon** » Sep 21st, '10, 19:56

If the boat is going on the hard, you can siphon from the tank to the ground.

Jim Davis · Post by **Jim Davis** » Sep 21st, '10, 22:46

Cut the hose at its lowest point. Put a "Tee" in it with a valve on one leg of the "Tee". The water simply drains into the bilge and gets pumped overboard.

winthrop fisher · Post by **winthrop fisher** » Sep 22nd, '10, 07:59

go to a pump out station at the docks and do it the right way...

mahalocd36 · Post by **mahalocd36** » Sep 22nd, '10, 09:22

winthrop fisher wrote:go to a pump out station at the docks and do it the right way...

EWWW I would not put a head pump out hose in my WATER tanks.
Gross.

Steve Laume · Post by **Steve Laume** » Sep 22nd, '10, 09:48

mahalocd36 wrote:
winthrop fisher wrote:go to a pump out station at the docks and do it the right way...
EWWW I would not put a head pump out hose in my WATER tanks.
Gross.

That gives a whole new meaning to backwash!

Maybe he was thinking that you were talking about draining your holding tank into the bilge and then pumping it overboard. Non of the above suggestions would be very good for that task.

I use a hand pump and shop vac on my water tanks, Steve.

Oswego John · Post by **Oswego John** » Sep 22nd, '10, 09:59

I go along with Steve. I also think that he was talking about the holding tank.

Oh well, whatever.

O J

winthrop fisher · Post by **winthrop fisher** » Sep 24th, '10, 07:25

sorry i was thinking of your holding tank

Phil Shedd · Post by **Phil Shedd** » Sep 25th, '10, 18:30

I with the vacuum group. I can get the tanks and supply lines dry and remove any dirt that may have got into the tanks. I use antfreeze only in the pump and the pressure lines. The great thing about doing it this way is there is little antifreeze taste in the spring.

I also antifreeze the gray water pump.

Phil

drysuit2 · Post by **drysuit2** » Sep 26th, '10, 21:43

What if I still have the anti freeze from last winter still in my tanks?

Can I just leave it for this winter? Or does it go bad?

Ron M. · Post by **Ron M.** » Sep 27th, '10, 07:45

Frank, if you are talking about the cheap rv antifreeze it will probably be ok for another winter but I found out the hardway that it does lose it's capabilities after a while......especially in cold climates where it gets down to 0 and below.
________
Vt750

drysuit2 · Post by **drysuit2** » Sep 27th, '10, 10:14

Ron M. wrote:Frank, if you are talking about the cheap rv antifreeze it will probably be ok for another winter but I found out the hardway that it does lose it's capabilities after a while......especially in cold climates where it gets down to 0 and below.

Yikes! I guess it's worth it to buy another 6 pack of the pink stuff; just in case.

The Cape Dory Board

Emptying water tanks at seasons end

Emptying water tanks at seasons end

Cut the hose

Emptying Tanks