Ok, I've been putting this off for ages...

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muminator

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Ok, I\'ve been putting this off for ages...

but it's time to bring it out in the open.

We have a tank full of diesel - IN OUR HOLDING TANK.

It wasn't me, it was HIM - really!

Point is, we have tried various pumps, (including something bought at LIBS from some bloke who sounded like he should be in a porn movie), but nothing seems to reach down into the tank itself. The marina (not surprisingly) will not pump it out - so what do we do???

Maybe this should be on the PBO forum, but I trust you guys, god help me.


Sue
 
Re: Ok, I\'ve been putting this off for ages...

Just ask jimi

Do I get another saucer of milk for that?
 
Re: Ok, I\'ve been putting this off for ages...

Try one of those pumps you put on a power drill, I guess syphoning is not an option.

How much fuel?
 
Re: Bit of a grunter was he?

"(including something bought at LIBS from some bloke who sounded like he should be in a porn movie)"

Man of few words. eh?

Can you not divert the "pump to sea" pipe into a container and use the toilet pump.
Not ideal, and likeley to damage the pump seals, but as long as you flush the system through with lots of detergent you may well get away with it.
 
Re: Ok, I\'ve been putting this off for ages...

Pela extractor .. failing that dump a gallon of detergent in it sail well offshore & dump (so to speak)!
 
Re: Bit of a grunter was he?

[ QUOTE ]
"(including something bought at LIBS from some bloke who sounded like he should be in a porn movie)"

Man of few words. eh?

No, many words. Most of them: "pump, pump, pump" (with a dutch accent). Somehow makes a difference.
 
Re: Bit of a grunter was he?

Told you jimi would know!

Pointy hat and into the corner for you Sue.
 
Re: Bit of a grunter was he?

I don't have enough money for all your stories unless you do 10 for 1p
 
Re: Ok, I\'ve been putting this off for ages...

put a wick in it and burn it off, should save on deck lights for a few months
 
Re: Ok, I\'ve been putting this off for ages...

well I have seen all sorts of crap in diesel but never diesel in some sort of crap !
 
Re: Ok, I\'ve been putting this off for ages...

Very amusing!

This is a fairly new boat and the holding tank has not been used (we hope!) although someone at LIBS told us there should be some water in there anyway. Thoughts, anyone?
 
Re: Ok, I\'ve been putting this off for ages...

Starting with the simple things first, have you tried the manual bilge pump? Most holding tanks have a removable panel on top which would allow a large diameter hose in. Discharge into a 45 gal drum.

Pump in time with the chant "Silly old b?gger - never again" /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Tony
 
Re: Ok, I\'ve been putting this off for ages...

Arent you coming out of the water for a scrub and re anti foul sometime? You could empty it into a waiting oil drum?

Other than that: Buy a used Henderson Chimp bilge pump (or chinese copy) off ebay (20 quid or less) and fit it out with a reduced bore long hose to go down the deck filler (emptying access). Then have a series of old 5 litre oil cans waiting sitting in polythene bags to avoid spillage on the deck. Also keep a few disposable nappies to mop up quickly, and finish off scrubbing down with Bilgex or some other bilge cleaner.

Clean the bilge pump through with fresh diesel a couple of times and keep the bilge pump for the odd occasion when you might want to transfer fuel from a drum into the boat or similar. Or you could put the pump back on Ebay reduced for quick sale. Buy it now! price of a tenner.

Also purchase a John Bull Printing set and write D-I-E-S-E_L and S-H-I-* on the plug fillers for HWMO


Jim
 
Re: Ok, I\'ve been putting this off for ages...

I guess the key question is what was in the holding tank before the diesel was added?

If it was empty or just had HFP (human for'ard product), then I'd suggest a Pela vacuum pump. If the suction pipe on the Pela pump isn't long enough (mine is around two metres), just extend it with a piece of narrow guage hose so that it reaches the bottom of the tank. This method very effectively emptied our diesel tank when it got filled with water. It did take 10 cycles of filling the 5 litre pump to do it = hard work. (I made the person who made the mistake do it and appointed them chief tanker filler as well.) Pour the result into jerry cans and and take them to your local recycling centre.

If your tank contained HAP before diesel was added, I'm not sure what to suggest other than hope diesel disolves/breaks down HAP, in which case proceed as above.

Good luck,

Ed
 
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