SAILING

Emptying Your Boat’s Holding Tank – Pump Out Station or Offshore

On February 4, 2019
By Kimberly

There are two methods of emptying your holding tank; one is to travel at least three miles offshore and empty there, and the other is to come to a fuel dock that has a waste pump out, and empty the MSD – Marine Sanitation Device – there.

Pump Out Station

If you are pumping out at a pump out station, these are modern times! There is no more having to put huge amounts of downward pressure on the exit tube, or much risk of the tube popping out.

Most facilities now have serval standardized caps that screw into the boat and are the correct size! This is wonderful! This is brilliant!

First, locate your waste cap. Make sure not to mix it up with fuel or water. These three fluids should not mingle.

When you’re sure you have the correct, remove it. There will not be a chain holding it to the deck plate, probably, because it is necessary to completely remove it in order for the exit line tube to be inserted.

The attendant is going to take care of just about everything. They will insert the nozzle, start up the pump, and run the machinery.

There is not a gauge on exiting fluids, like on a fuel fill up, so you won’t really know how many gallons you are just to sending. There is a sight window, however, so you can see what’s leaving the boat.

It’s quite acceptable to look at your holding tank gauge, if you have one, and give the attendant and idea like, “halfway there,” Or “3/4 of the way to empty.”

There probably are no funny jokes that you can tell at this time, as the attendant will have heard everyone of them at least 50 times each.

When it seems that the tank is empty, you might opt to pump more water through the toilet, and empty that as well, sort of “flushing it out.”

The attendant will remove the nozzle, they might possibly suck up a bit of sea water to flush out their own line, and their job is done.

A gratuity for performing this valuable service for you would be appreciated by the dock hands, especially if they helped you get to the dock.

Pumping Out Offshore

1. Gravity Fed System

We’ve only had one gravity tank in our fleet, and it was a pretty simple process of opening up valve, listening for “things “to fall out of the boat, and then closing the valve.

2. Electric Macerator System

For a more traditional macerator set up, you will need to open the macerator line’s thru hull fitting in the bilge or in a lazarette so the fluids can exit the boat.

On your electrical panel, there could possibly be as many as two buttons. One that is able to switch on and off, which supplies power to the pump.

Then a second switch, much like the bilge pump switch, that must be held in position, and once released, springs back to not running.

Think of this like a drill with a cord. It is plugged in, but not running. It requires your finger on the trigger to run, and when you let go, it quits running.

You’re going to turn on power to the pump, and then hold down the macerator button. The end of the button might turn red, indicating that it is performing its function, and you should hear a pump running noise.

In sailing class, everyone wants to know how will we know that the tank is empty. There are two methods.

One is for someone to position them self topsides, near the release valve, and watch. They will notice a lot of brown material in the water, then slightly more clear muddy material, then clean water flushing if you are running some water through the toilet to flush things out again.

As you rock and sail over waves, more material will flow out of the boat.

If that’s not possible, then listen. The macerator pump will sound like making a frozen drink, only not so violent.

First you will have more “rocky” type of noise, sort of like making a frozen drink and first grinding up the ice. Then, when the tank is closer to empty, the motor will free wheel and spin, like a frozen drink nearly completely blended.

3. Hand Pump Out System

If you are using the third system, a hand pump, you still must open the holding tank thru hall valve.

Go to where the pump is, and pump and pump pump until things run clear. It might take a bit of priming at the beginning to get the process started.

Whether you are using an electric exit pump, or a manual exit pump, when finished; absolutely definitely make sure that you close the thru hull valve.

The action of you sailing along can allow backflow to enter the toilet, boil over the lip, onto the head sole, into the shower – you get the idea.

Close the macerator thru-hull fitting when finished, and de-power the pump on the electrical panel.

We Don’t Go Anywhere Without:

Stream2Sea Reef Safe SPF 20 or 30 mineral, regular or tinted sunscreen, mask defog, shampoo, conditioner, rash guards and more reef-safe supplies. Use my code “DeepWH” for 10% off. The packages are biodegradeable – not just recycled and recyclable.
Crisis Medicine Tactical Casualty Care Course knowledge so we can help ourselves. With code “DeepWH” you save 20% on the TC2 course
MyMedic Individual Bleeding Control Kits, this link and my code “DeepWH15” will save you 15% on your purchase. We take ours everywhere.
North American Rescue CAT tourniquets. Use code “MAY25” for 20% off through midnight on 5/31/20. This is a huge savings!
Cycle Booty Citrus Cleanser and Post Ride Cream.
Airbnb, “Kimberly gave you up to $55 off your first trip.”
Airbnb says, “Deep gave you up to $415 off your first adventure.
Uber gives you $2 off your first three rides.
Travelex is our trip insurer – click for a free quote.
Girls That Scuba – members discount card for all things diving.
REI Co-op for great sports equipment and travel clothes.
Sailo for $100 off your next boat rental! Discount Code: “KimWa1”
PierShare to rent your dock out or rent a dock.
BoatUS for your boat towing insurance! Code: “HEWAF88”
RoadId for $5 off your cycling/running/kayaking/travel id.
Dazer Ii Ultrasonic Aggressive Dog Deterrent Repeller Dazzer – keeping dogs at bay while we cycle.
Guardline Security Wireless Driveway Alarm – alerts us when someone approaches. Less expensive directly from the company.
Thank you for using my links – your price does not change, but they may gift me a small percentage of your sale in return for my mention, which allows me to continue to bring to you fun content.
AD: affiliate links used.