Need Advice on waste holding tank

al1026

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
May 17, 2007
Messages
101
My other boats had porta potty
Recent purchase of a cruiser that has masserator with holding tank
Pumping out is new too me and not sure what too look for . This is also a job not eager too tackle
While at fuel dock I use waste pump out when it reads full.
Gauge in bathroom showing level of waste in tank
When I empty gauge never goes below 1/2 on each pump out ????
Spending long periods of time with pump hose, attempting too empty waste holding tank bringing level below 1/2 . Priming often and no change, never goes below 1/2
Meter could be reading in correct but same meter has duel function , reads clean water level in clean water holding tank and seems accurate. When switched other direction it reads waste tank level which clearly works but after long period of time pumping out never drops below 1/2

If there was a blockage nothing would come out ?? Why does it not drop below 1/2 ?
Boat kept in a high & dry yard . When I want it put into water I call . Yard is open outside yard that I can work on boat.
I can get too sea **** and empty holding tank into buckets, and then dump into toilet , .
If I was too do this do I turn pump out key on in bathroom ??
Not familiar with how the entire toilet set up works from when I put masserator on , were the clean water comes from, cycle

Advice is appreciated

thanks
 

redneck joe

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 18, 2009
Messages
11,478
When pumping do you hear air sucking thru the toilet? If so you should be clear unless the solids have really solidified. When we first got ours i crawled down below with a flahlight and watched while they pumped out. Ours just had a full light no guage and i just wanted to know how it worked down there.
 

tpenfield

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 18, 2011
Messages
18,147
Knowing what brand/model of boat may help with responses, but generally boats use the same sort of system.

If you can get a look at the holding tank, you may be able to verify if it is actually emptying when you pump out. The sender in the tank could be faulty, giving you the false reading.

Also if your macerator has a thru-hull discharge (y-valve) make sure it is closed to the outside.

when I pump out, I find that the last bit of the tank is tough to get out, so it takes a while and the waste surges through the hose.
 

alldodge

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
42,572
Meter could be reading in correct but same meter has duel function , reads clean water level in clean water holding tank and seems accurate. When switched other direction it reads waste tank level which clearly works but after long period of time pumping out never drops below 1/2

As others mentioned there are ways to check. You use the same meter but different senders, my guess is your sender is hanging. The sender should be mounted in the top and can be removed/replaced. Don't know how much space you have
 

al1026

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
May 17, 2007
Messages
101
Why I can only empty waist holding tank 1/2 ?? Need advice

Recent purchase of a 2003 , Regal commodore 28.60

My other boats had porta potty

On this Regal it has Jabsco electric head
Regal book gives no info on trouble shooting my issue

Can not empty waist below 1/2 at pump out station

Starting the fun process , put those gloves on, attendant at gas dock starts pump

Can clearly see the waist pumping strong thru clear part of hose.
.
Have wife checking meter and she says she sees gauge dropping.
Then after quite some time we check meter and never drops below 1/2

Priming often with ocean water its pulling strong, Close sea **** on pump hose. Re- insert nozzle, looks like more waist is coming out but after a very long period of time nothing is coming out only air
.
Gauge never drops past 1/2

Meter is a duel toggle , one way is clean water in holding tank, other is waist
.
Pump out at gas dock every two weeks..

If blocked understand nothing coming out,
But only empties tank 1/2 way ?????


In bathroom there is a key and on / off button. It says sea **** in engine room must be open too ocean dump waist ? ,

In engine room a zip tie is on sea **** and understand if I was stopped within 3 miles without the zip on sea **** I can get a fine for dumping ? .

I cleaned air conditioning & generator filters by opening sea **** and watched water enter.

How does this process work with waist holding .?
If I open sea **** and boat is in water, water come in and if I don't put pump out on it will flood out engine room ??

Any fellow boaters had similar problems or know what I should be looking for

I am at a marina that pulls boat when I am done and put on a rack outside in a work yard. .
Will waist dump when I open sea **** without boat in water,
Can I dump waist into buckets just too clean out system
How can I flush system on land in water ?
Not the type too pollute environment

One occasion had wife with hose pouring water into toilet as I pumped out at other end hoping too clear out, but since toilet is electric had too keep it running and not sure if this accomplished anything

I am presently on boat working on this posting. .

two weeks ago I emptied head and I can presently smell head,
checking meter, says full , ( had grandkids other day and they use often ) but it fills up so fast


So would appreciate any info in this un pleasant chore
Thank you
 

GA_Boater

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
May 24, 2011
Messages
49,038
Both threads are together as one now. No sense to start a new thread when you haven't answered to questions in the original (this one now).


Do you know the size of the waste tank? Have you checked the sender?
 
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