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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Holding tank pump out

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gop711
1st Mate

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Armenia
83 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/12/2007 : 12:19:42

Hello,

I have a 1990 C25 wing keel and I was wondering how do most people pump out their holding tank. I sail on an inland lake lake, for now and there are no pump out stations.

I have seen these guzzler pumps as well as some battery power pumps that I think would work. If you use these pumps are the mounted permanently or are they portable?

I was thinking about pumping into a 5 gal bucket with a lid and then dumping it into a porta potty.

I just didn't want to reinvent the wheel and I was trying to see what others did.

As always thanks

Greg

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2007 : 12:36:01

Hi Greg, I don't know how you would do that, but I would suggest getting a portapoty and not using the head. It seems like a lot of hassle. Cheers.

Edited by - on

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2007 : 13:38:22

I like my marine head, but if we didn't have a pump out facility on my lake, I'd put a portapotty in really quick. I had to manually pump out the unpleasantness a couple years ago when the marina removed the pump out earlier than anticipated in preparation for winter. That was a nasty, disgusting job.

Edited by - on

farrison
Navigator

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USA
166 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2007 : 14:21:14

Greg;

One option might be to use a wet-dry shop vacuum if you are very careful to get a good seal at the pump-out fitting. It should have enough suction to lift the "stuff" that high. But then you still have to empty the vac in the rest-room, and rinse it out. Still a less than pleasent job.

Paul

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2007 : 16:09:13

Greg,

There are commercially available pumpout tanks with wheels for just this situation.
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However, when you see the prices you may decide you can make something similar yourself. A waste-rated manual diaphram pump,
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a used holding tank, some hose, plywood (epoxy coated to prevent absorbing odors), a couple lawnmower wheels or a 'RadioFyler'-type 4-wheeled kids wagon, and you could be hauling your

in style.

-- Leon S

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Renzo
Admiral

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USA
621 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2007 : 16:59:30

Only had the problem once (similar situation to Ben) used a portable bilge pump to do the job UGH!! If your boat is trailarable try bringing it to a camp ground an siphoning it into their tank or see if a local septic tank service would be willing to do the job on a regular basis. Good Luck

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Jack Heaston
1st Mate

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48 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2007 : 20:26:37

Hi Greg
Used to subscribe to the belief that a "proper boat" needed to have a marine head. After rebuilding a couple, I became less of a believer.
My used 83 C25 came with one that leaked at various places after several years under a tarp. It took four different Philips head screwdrivers to disassemble the commode - a regular, a stubby, a long blade and a ratcheting or flexible blade. After cleaning and lubing, it still leaked. The holding tank had a leak at its inlet fitting. Tried to get a 1" hose shoved down into the tank via the deck cleanout, but no joy. There was something that prevented it from making a sharp bend. Now use the Whale pump to empty the water tank for winter storage.
Half of the pumpout stations in Puget Sound are out of order and I wondered what I'd do if the one at the haulout was inoperative. Siphoning seemed inelegant, even if one cold fish a hose from the deck fitting into the tank. Some have suggested installing a clean out port on the tank, and although I consider that an invitation to disaster, I wish them well.
Anyway, I wrecked out the marine head and holding tank, using a Dremel tool to cut away the fiberglass tabbing that secured the tank. Glassed over and painted the hose cut outs in the head and set the 5-gallon SeaLand Sani-potti where the old commode was mounted. Happily, my boat had enough of a flat shelf to mount the two exhorbitantly priced stainless holddown straps without having to build something for the commode to sit on. I couldn't be happier. The extra storage under the portside settee is very much appreciated, as is the lack of odor.
One word of caution. The 5-gallon SeaLand model has fittings via a pickup tube to allow the unit to be connected to a pumpout fitting. Trailering the boat from sea level to 4100 feet at home resulted in the tank becoming pressurized and its contents being pumped up the tube that connects to the outlet fitting, which no amount of tightening seemed to prevent from leaking. A hole drilled in this tube solved that problem, but the pressure can still offer an unpleasant surprise. Best to carefully crack the flush valve to let things equalize, or one will wish they had.
Hope this helps.
Good luck.
Jack
83 C25 Oak Bay FK/SR #3944

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2007 : 21:45:17

This is an excellent discussion and a recurring one as well. I am a porta potty guy and really appreciate the storage that a self-contained head allows, I also pulled out my freshwater holding tank for additional storage. Our little boats can be much more comfortable with the gained storage. Greg I have a boat like yours and love storing my table under the starboard settee where the fresh water tank used to be.

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gop711
1st Mate

Members Avatar

Armenia
83 Posts

Response Posted - 03/13/2007 : 07:51:56

Thanks for your suggestions.

I may switch to a porta pottie, but I am going to try the fix head for now. I will let you know what I come up with if it works.

Greg

Edited by - on

David Scott
1st Mate

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USA
74 Posts

Response Posted - 03/15/2007 : 23:18:59

My C25 has a marine head with holding tank under the "V" berth. My previous C25 had a "L" shaped dinette with the holding tank under the port seat. Both take up valuable space but I do like the holding tank idea especially for extended live-aboard sailing. My current system allows for direct flushing overboard when in open ocean waters which solves the hassle of finding a place to dump your porta potty. On other occasions I will pump into a 12gal RV tote. The tote has wheels and a handle and works well.

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gop711
1st Mate

Members Avatar

Armenia
83 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2007 : 14:16:21

Dave,

Thanks for the infomation. I will look at some RV stores on line.

Greg

Edited by - on

KD4AO
Navigator

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USA
202 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2007 : 08:23:15

Check out www.campingworld.com they have several sizes.

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