about this holding tank?

[Ben Thomas]

I've got a few questions regarding cd30 holding tank pump out and am not clear on procedures for an uneventful draining of such.
I've been sailing a typhoon with portapottie, no problems there. this past week I've taken delivery of a 82 cd30 cutter #248.
needless to say I am extremely excited as my horizons have broadened dramaticly. after a week of refitting and small repairs. ive ventured forward to the holding tank and head, unscrewed inspection cap on tank, full to the brim. hmmm. everything seems to be in order, boat is being launched today(friday 24th.) so heres my question, is there a step by step procedure on pumping out the tank? position of valves, seacocks, venting is open dont want to cause vacuum first stop after launch is the marina po. station. any words of experience would be greatly appreciated. have checked past postings regarding holding tanks read most of the 124 items listed. no procedure listed, tons of other stuff though. thanks much in advance, ben



btlandscapers@imagina.com

[D. Stump, Hanalei]

Ben,

I don't know about a specific procedure for aligning valves if you are going to use a pumpout stations' facilities. All I do on Hanalei is open the deck pumpout port in the forward/starboard cockpit floor and the honey dipper inserts the probe and pumps it out! As an aside, the State of Connecticuts'pump out systems have a clear section just after the control valve that allows the operator to see the flow of material, if no flow in 2 seconds, they stop pumping so as not to damage your onboard system. One problem I did have with the system on Hanalei was a clogged vent line. Seems the previous owner had OVER filled the tank, and actually forced sewage out of the transom mounted vent. By doing that, he actually forced paper and whatever to clog the vent right where it exited the stern. Because of the clog, whenever I tried to pump the head a positive pressure was created in the system that eventually blew the hose from the head to the tank off at the tank top fitting. Once I replace the vent, no more problem! As far as overboard discharge goes, I just open the thru hull valve in the port lazzerette, man the whale bilge pump in the forward end of the cockpit, and pump till she's empty (three miles out of course!)

One of the things to do this fall is to replace all my large rubber hose with Sealands' "OdorSafe Hose" color white. Peggie Hall of Peal Products recommends it. You can reach her at the Cruising World/Sailing World web site (cruisingworld.com). She has a lot of info. available on marine sewage systems. I think she posts something called "Marine Sanitation, Fact versus Folklore". Enjoy your new vessel.....

Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30

[Craig Urquhart]

Some years ago,I read an article that suggested wrapping head discharge lines with Saran Wrap as a means of controlling odor. Wrapped only the length located(on my CD27) below the port berth and what a remarkable improvement it made.......

Ben,

I don't know about a specific procedure for aligning valves if you are going to use a pumpout stations' facilities. All I do on Hanalei is open the deck pumpout port in the forward/starboard cockpit floor and the honey dipper inserts the probe and pumps it out! As an aside, the State of Connecticuts'pump out systems have a clear section just after the control valve that allows the operator to see the flow of material, if no flow in 2 seconds, they stop pumping so as not to damage your onboard system. One problem I did have with the system on Hanalei was a clogged vent line. Seems the previous owner had OVER filled the tank, and actually forced sewage out of the transom mounted vent. By doing that, he actually forced paper and whatever to clog the vent right where it exited the stern. Because of the clog, whenever I tried to pump the head a positive pressure was created in the system that eventually blew the hose from the head to the tank off at the tank top fitting. Once I replace the vent, no more problem! As far as overboard discharge goes, I just open the thru hull valve in the port lazzerette, man the whale bilge pump in the forward end of the cockpit, and pump till she's empty (three miles out of course!)

One of the things to do this fall is to replace all my large rubber hose with Sealands' "OdorSafe Hose" color white. Peggie Hall of Peal Products recommends it. You can reach her at the Cruising World/Sailing World web site (cruisingworld.com). She has a lot of info. available on marine sewage systems. I think she posts something called "Marine Sanitation, Fact versus Folklore". Enjoy your new vessel.....

Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30

Satu@gwi.net

[Walt Bilofsky]

I second Peggie as a source of info. But there shouldn't be anything complicated about pumping out unless something's clogged or plumbed wrong. The vent line will take care that what ought'a suck does and what shouldn't suck won't.

My CD 30 powerboat did have a problem with pumpout - it had an electric macerator to pump overboard, teed off the hose to the deck fitting. During pumpout, air would suck back through the macerator to the deck fitting, breaking the vacuum and causing pumpout to take forever. The fix was to tee the macerator off a Y valve. Anyway, the moral of the story is that if you get air in the pumpout when the holding tank isn't almost empty, check for air leaks in the line from the deck fitting to the tank.

A common (and my only) source of head odor is sea water sitting in the intake hose to the head - it rots and smells sulfurous. It's a good idea before leaving the boat to close the seacock, pump the line as dry as possible, and rinse under the rim of the bowl with fresh water if you can. Peggie recommends fixing some way to flush the intake hose with fresh water.



bilofsky@toolworks.com

[John MacArthur]

I've got a few questions regarding cd30 holding tank pump

My CD-30 (#240)is just a few numbers away from yours, and the pumpout is on the starboard side of the foredeck. I gather that Dave's pumpout is in the cockpit, but that's where my freshwater fill plug is. I'd suggest being careful where you put that suckout nozzle until you're sure which is which.



jmac@laplaza.org

[D. Stump, Hanalei]

Ben,

John is correct, the pumpout port could be in different locations on different year CDs. Hanalei is hull #324, 1984, so it very well could be different than yours. Of course, the deck plate is usually labeled "WASTE", but I wouldn't want the honey dipper to but the probe in the "Fresh Water" port. Yeck! Yeck! Yeck!

Dave Styump, Hanalei

[D. Stump, Hanalei]

Ben,

John is correct, the pumpout port could be in different locations on different year CDs. Hanalei is hull #324, 1984, so it very well could be different than yours. Of course, the deck plate is usually labeled "WASTE", but I wouldn't want the honey dipper to but the probe in the "Fresh Water" port. Yeck! Yeck! Yeck!

Dave Styump, Hanalei

[ben]

I've got a few questions regarding cd30 holding tank pump out and am not clear on procedures for an uneventful draining of such.
I've been sailing a typhoon with portapottie, no problems there. this past week I've taken delivery of a 82 cd30 cutter #248.
needless to say I am extremely excited as my horizons have broadened dramaticly. after a week of refitting and small repairs. ive ventured forward to the holding tank and head, unscrewed inspection cap on tank, full to the brim. hmmm. everything seems to be in order, boat is being launched today(friday 24th.) so heres my question, is there a step by step procedure on pumping out the tank? position of valves, seacocks, venting is open dont want to cause vacuum first stop after launch is the marina po. station. any words of experience would be greatly appreciated. have checked past postings regarding holding tanks read most of the 124 items listed. no procedure listed, tons of other stuff though. thanks much in advance, ben

thanks everyone! pumped holding tank with no mishaps, very easy even the first time out. figured out seacocks, y valve, flushing head, etc. after much airing out interior smells a lot better as well. spent all day saturday on board getting to know the boat, what a dream!! I'am more questions will come up as I sail her more. thanks again ben



btlandscapers@imagina.com

[Peggie Hall/Peal Products]

DStump flagged me down on the CWBB and suggested I drop in to answer any questions about this holding tank and any others. And--as long as I'm here--ANY questions relating to sanitation systems.

One word of advice about THIS holding tank: Put a lot of water down the toilet during EACH pumpout to clean out the hoses...and flush out the tank pretty thoroughly with either fresh or clean salt water after every second or 3rd pumpout. I like to flood mine with clean water till it's overflowing the vent and let the water run till what's coming out the vent is clear.

Our booklet "Marine Sanitation: Fact vs. Folklore" doesn't try to sell anything, but does answwer more questions about the laws, equipment, proper installation, operation, maintenance and odor than it ever occurs to most boat owners to ask. The link is provided...and I'm always glad to answer any questions it doesn't.

Peggie Hall


">Marine Sanitation: Fact vs. Folklore</a>

peghall@att.net

[Peggie Hall/Peal Products]

Some years ago,I read an article that suggested wrapping head discharge lines with Saran Wrap as a means of controlling odor. Wrapped only the length located(on my CD27) below the port berth and what a remarkable improvement it made.......

Saran Wrap does work! The hoses on my own boat permeated within only months of a complete refit after buying the boat (in abominable condition!) from an estate. Since I'd just barely made her habitable and didn't want to start re-doing what I'd already done quite so soon, I wrapped all the hoses in Saran with the idea that I'd rehose as a winter project. That was 3 years ago...the same hoses, still wrapped in Saran, are still on the boat! It does have to be the Saran brand though...no other seems to work.

Peggie

I don't know about a specific procedure for aligning valves if you are going to use a pumpout stations' facilities. All I do on Hanalei is open the deck pumpout port in the forward/starboard cockpit floor and the honey dipper inserts the probe and pumps it out! As an aside, the State of Connecticuts'pump out systems have a clear section just after the control valve that allows the operator to see the flow of material, if no flow in 2 seconds, they stop pumping so as not to damage your onboard system. One problem I did have with the system on Hanalei was a clogged vent line. Seems the previous owner had OVER filled the tank, and actually forced sewage out of the transom mounted vent. By doing that, he actually forced paper and whatever to clog the vent right where it exited the stern. Because of the clog, whenever I tried to pump the head a positive pressure was created in the system that eventually blew the hose from the head to the tank off at the tank top fitting. Once I replace the vent, no more problem! As far as overboard discharge goes, I just open the thru hull valve in the port lazzerette, man the whale bilge pump in the forward end of the cockpit, and pump till she's empty (three miles out of course!)

One of the things to do this fall is to replace all my large rubber hose with Sealands' "OdorSafe Hose" color white. Peggie Hall of Peal Products recommends it. You can reach her at the Cruising World/Sailing World web site (cruisingworld.com). She has a lot of info. available on marine sewage systems. I think she posts something called "Marine Sanitation, Fact versus Folklore". Enjoy your new vessel.....

Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30

">Marine Sanitation: Fact vs. Folkore</a>

peghall@att.net

[Peggie Hall/Peal Products]

I second Peggie as a source of info.

Thanks, Walt!

A common (and my only) source of head odor is sea water sitting in the intake hose to the head - it rots and smells sulfurous. It's a good idea before leaving the boat to close the seacock, pump the line as dry as possible, and rinse under the rim of the bowl with fresh water if you can. Peggie recommends fixing some way to flush the intake hose with fresh water.

A customer put us onto this...and I think it's the slickest idea I've heard in years:

His head sink drain was teed into his head intake line just ahead of the seaock (If it isn't, it's fairly easy to do on most boats). When you're ready to close up the boat, close the seacock...pump the head as dry as you can...then fill the sink with fresh water. Because the seacock is closed, the head will pull the water out of the sink...rinsing all the seawater out of the intake line, the pump...and especially the channel in the rim, which is impossible to flush out by just pouring anything into the bowl. He likes to add our bowl sump and drain cleaner C.P. to the water in the sink...vinegar is a good idea too 'cuz it dissolves the urine crystals in the discharge hose.

It's an inexpensive, permanent solution to the problem--a few feet of 3/4" hose...a tee or a wye fitting...and a shut-off valve. It's necessary to keep the sink drain line closed except when the sink is in use...otherwise, the head will suck air from the sink and won't prime very well.


">Marine Sanitation: Fact vs. Folkore</a>

peghall@att.net