She's Not Called MF Fer Nowt

hlb

hlb

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Got a call from the marina yesterday. They said, when they took her out the water, sewage was coming out of the bottom.:eek: So some one put a bung in the hole.

Then they said, when they put her back in, (bung removed) there were strange gurgling sounds.:confused:

Anyway they looked and said she was not sinking.:)

So presuming all this is right. What could have happened.
 
Never having had any dealings with pumped systems I couldn't possibly say, but it sounds as though there is some connection to the sea for pumping out when off shore. Is that likely? Is there a valve involved - and might it have been left open?

Thus you would get some leakage as she was lifted out (syphon effect) ang a gurgling as the sea pushed back until the pressure equalised. But what do I know? My boat (and me) is still in the C19th.
 
Could it be something to do with swaying in the slings as she was lifted? The 'motion' (geddit? :D) could possibly squeeze things out if the tank was reasonably full.
 
Well, if you remember, I've been having problems with the holding tank for a while. It always seems to be full. Kwackers took it out and said there was some sort of turd blocking the outlet, which he cleared. But I'm not sure the problem is solved. The holding tank rests right down in the hull, probably below water line. It seems sense to me that the pipes need to go up, then down to the pump and outlet, to avoid it filling. However the tank is where it always was, with no problems. The pump has been changed for a new one. There seems no way that the new pump can have been fitted lower than the old pump was. Have I got some sort of none return valve that has failled.
 
hlb said:
Got a call from the marina

Then they said, when they put her back in, (bung removed) there were strange gurgling sounds.:confused:

Anyway they looked and said she was not sinking.:)

So presuming all this is right. What could have happened.
Click to expand...

Oh ****e!
I haven't seen me mate Terry since we sent Im down the cellar to release MF's toilet blockage:eek:
 
carlton said:
Could it be something to do with swaying in the slings as she was lifted? The 'motion' (geddit? :D) could possibly squeeze things out if the tank was reasonably full.
Click to expand...

Yeah and they would have stood on a stool to reach the bung hole....:)
 
I think you have a vented loop fitted to the system and the valve is blocked/jammed.

This will allow sea water to enter the tank and fill it completely, as far up the overflow pipe as sea level. When you then flush the toilet, it will go to the tank, displacing an equivalent amount of the tanks content to sea, so in effect you don't have a holding tank.

When the boat was lifted out the tank began syphoning. When she was lifted back in, the faulty valve allowed sea water back into the tank to replace the amount syphoned out, hence the gurgling.

The pipes should not go up, then down to the pipe/outlet. They should go to the pump, then up, through a vented loop and finally down to the outlet. Best practice would dictate that a seacock be fitted at the outlet, which should be closed unless you're pumping out. The seacock would mask and largely cure your current problem. It would prevent the sea from getting in, the turds from escaping, the syphoning effect on liftout and a few reasons for sinking the boat.

In your current situation, it's highly probable that the only think that's stopping the boat from sinking is the seals in the toilet. I'd suggest you check for the presence of a seacock. If you have one keep it closed unless you're pumping out. If you don't have one, get one fitted yesterday. A failure of any component prior to the vented loop will sink the boat. Had you have had any dodgy seals in the toilet, the current failure of the vented loop valve (if that's what it is) would have already sunk her. Some of the above will of course depend where the toilet is situated, but you get the idea.

Follow the outlet pipe from the holding tank to the outlet and look for a vented loop, the valve in the top should unscrew. Here's what you're looking for :

http://www.force4.co.uk/706/Force-4...google&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=pid706

I'd suggest you check for a seacock first. Empty the tank, partly refill and empty again. If you have one, close the seacock. If no seacock then undo the valve in the loop before the tank fills back up. Should be able to get a new valve separately.
 
I've got a sea cock. Yes I see what you mean about it syphoning out if not closed when the boats lifted.

The pipes go as you describe, but there is no vent in the pipe, never has been. I'm not sure the loop goes high enough to be above the water line, but it's as high as it can be and the same as it's been for twenty years. It's just the last couple of years there seems to have been an odd problem.
 
hlb said:
Holding tank, maserator pump. Then pumped out the bottom.
Click to expand...

Oh! No, here we go again, first it was exploding bogs! Now it seems the whole boat is a bog!! I hope it doesnt explode!
Haydn's experience with bogs/tanks/holding variety takes a lot of understanding!
 
hlb said:
I've got a sea cock. Yes I see what you mean about it syphoning out if not closed when the boats lifted.

The pipes go as you describe, but there is no vent in the pipe, never has been. I'm not sure the loop goes high enough to be above the water line, but it's as high as it can be and the same as it's been for twenty years. It's just the last couple of years there seems to have been an odd problem.
Click to expand...

If you keep the seacock closed it'll be end of problem. You may well not have a vented loop, i thought you might have as you never mentioned the seacock. My boat seems to have the same setup as yours, tank below the water line, pump to through hull via a seacock, with no vented loop. As long as the seacock is kept closed there is not need for the loop.

If the tank is full and the seacock open when you lift the boat out, it will syphon.

If the seacock is open when you're in the water and no part of the system between the through hull and the tank is above the water line, the tank will fill up. Only way i can see to stop that is with a one way valve, or to have some part of the plumbing above the water line. So, if you've always left the seacock open and this is a new problem you either have a one way valve that has stopped one waying, or when the new pump was fitted it was fitted lower than the original. Again, keeping the seacock closed ends the problem.

IMO you ought to keep it closed anyway, a problem in the night could leave you in the poo, so to speak :) If you entered certain foreign ports with it open and they check the boat you'd get a fine.
 
Another thought; maybe the original pump acted as a valve and the new one allows a free flow? This might happen if the first was an impellor type with seperate mascerator & the second wasn't - eg. might the metal mascerator blade(s) act as a pump in the new set up?
 
Searush said:
Another thought; maybe the original pump acted as a valve and the new one allows a free flow? This might happen if the first was an impellor type with seperate mascerator & the second wasn't - eg. might the metal mascerator blade(s) act as a pump in the new set up?
Click to expand...


This is what I'm thinking. The problem started after the maserator pump was changed in Salcombe after the sinking do. I've been trying to solve the problem ever since. I had thought it was a blockage in the tank, not letting it empty.

Anyway a blokes been round and he's going to fit a valve. \i'd do it meself but me back wont let me.
 
hlb said:
This is what I'm thinking. The problem started after the maserator pump was changed in Salcombe after the sinking do. I've been trying to solve the problem ever since. I had thought it was a blockage in the tank, not letting it empty.

Anyway a blokes been round and he's going to fit a valve. \i'd do it meself but me back wont let me.
Click to expand...

I also had this thought as i was driving home, gawd knows why i was thinking about your bog on the way home lol
 
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