Waste Pump-Out Question

[mike]

At our new marina, one of the nice things is they provide a waste pump-out thing near each slip. I tried to use it yesterday, but was puzzled by the fitting on the hose that is provided.

My boat has what I assume is a standard waste pump-out deck fitting (looks pretty much just like my freshwater fill port... a 1.5" female threaded fitting). However, the hose, rather than the expected ~1.5" male end, has a quite large female end with a pair of clamps that look like they are meant to hold the hose onto something. This end also has a sight glass (I'm not sure I want to see what comes out of there) and a valve to activate the suction.

Anyway, clearly there is no way for this large female end to work with my boat's smaller female fitting (allright you people, get your minds out of the gutter). The marina personnel had already left by this time, so I wasn't able to ask. I'll ask them next weekend, but I was hoping for some insight as to what the standard for waste pump-out is before then... is my 1.5" fitting not normal? Is there an adapter I need to buy?

--Mike

[Catigale]

Marinas should have a bunch of fittings as there are several types..

At our dock, they use a tapered rubber fitting and the dock guys just presses and holds it against your open 1.5" fitting....it only takes a few seconds (15 or so) to pump out a Sanipotty, even the oversize one we have....

I have had marinas that had the screw in type, but it took more time to connect than to pump out....

[mike]

I'll ask them... I didn't see any adapters nearby, but perhaps they have them stashed away somewhere.

--Mike

[Rick]

Mike:

Your marina should have access to or sell "deck fill pump out adapters." If the marina is a self pumpout, it may require boat owners to have their own adapter because they cost $15 each and typically do not float.

I think the adapter you need threads into your waste deckplate and the pumpout hose slides over the adapter. You then snap the 2 levers in place and pump away.

An example of the various adapters can be seen at the following link. Its not a bad idea to keep one of these on board if you trailer to different facilities during the season.

See pumpout accessories at:

http://www.edsonpumps.com/store.html

Click on "deck fill pumpout adapters"

DECK FILL
PUMP OUT ADAPTERS
The Deck Fill Pump Out Adapter 273 provides the most secure connection of pump out hose to boat by using quick clamp adapters (male X male npt) and flat sealing washers. The male thread end of an adapter (1 1/4 npt or 1 1/2 npt) is screwed into the boat waste deck fitting and the pump out hose equipped with a 1 1/2" quick clamp female adapter is then clamped into place. Available for boats with waste deck fitting caps of 1 1/4" npt and 1 1/2" npt thread.

[mike]

Stopped by the marina today. The answer turned out to be quite simple... in the rack on which the pump-out hose hangs, there's a little compartment where the adapter is kept. I pumped out the sani-potty, and rinsed several times with water. The only problem I encountered was as a result of me not realizing that the small vent line did not allow enough air into the tank to handle the amount of suction being applied, which caused the tank to collapse inward. It looked bad at first, and I thought for sure I had destroyed it, but it gradually returned to its normal shape. I filled it up with water once again, and there didn't appear to be any leaks. Doh!

--Mike