Poop Problem

JC3

JC3

Well-Known Member
Oct 6, 2006
1,336
Kentucky
Boat Info
N/A
Engines
N/A
OK GUYS, I need some help. Just got back from Key Largo and the boat was doing well after a
3 month sleep. Only problem was vacuflush system. Took the boat out and tried to discharge holding tanks.
Nothing. Nada. Got pumped out at slip and forgot about it. Right before we left I turned head on
to flush and then went down into engine room to close the seacocks. Noticed a bad smell and the holding
tanks looked like they were about to explode as they swelled so much. I turned off head and had
the marina pump out holding tanks. Any ideas? Thanks guys for your help, JC
 
Yeah, you didn't close the discharge seacock when you pumped out and they sucked a whole bunch of water into the tanks.
 
Correct……..and just order some new duckbill valves because leaving the seacock open usually snatches the duckbills wrong side out or completely out of the pump altogether.
 
Thanks Guys! You are the best. Just a few more ? Could my vacuflush have done this? Was in the engine room many
times over the 2 weeks and tanks looked normal. No smell. Then ran head for an extended time as stated and noticed and smelled the problem. Could the vacuflush sucked up the water in tanks? Thanks, JC
 
No, the vacuflush is pushing in the other direction. What probably happened like Frank said is when you pumped out, they sucked the duck bills inside out and over time, the weight of the boat forced more water into the tanks as the duckbills couldn't prevent backflow. I guess the moral of the story is, keep the seacock closed at all times unless you are actively discharging.

I had leaky duckbills and found out when I went to the boat and the tanks were full of sea water. This would also explain why your discharge pump wasn't doing anything.
 
Last edited:
Also, JC, the plumbing layout in the 450 also provided a ball valve at the outlet of each holding tank. You should also close those valves any time you are not pumping out the waste tanks in order to prevent seawater inflo and waste laying in the piping from the tanks to the pump out or waste pump all the time.

Also, when I bought the lesson on the 450DA waste system plumbing the year I bought my boat, I installed an additional ball valve in the waste line right ahead of the waster pump so I can isolate it and prevent damage in case someone who isn't familiar with the system pumps out the boat while I am fueling it.
 
Thanks Frank and Turtle! I really appreciate all the help. Going to do as you suggest. I wont be back at the boat till late July or middle of August. Thanks again for the help, JC
 
I find this interesting, and wonder if I am running my 460 system correctly.

I only turn the "flush to seawater" discharge valve closed when I lift the boat out of the water, otherwise it is open all the time. If leave it open while having a hull pressure wash, smelly water runs from the discharge port, although only a dribble.

If I try to have a dockside pump out with the seawater discharge valve closed, the pump out will not work.

Am I doing something incorrectly?

Many thanks

Graham
 
Frank & Turtle, What do i need to order and take with me to fix this or most of this problem?
I will hopefully be heading back down the end of July or August. Thanks guys alot! JC
 
A pair of duckbill valves….expensive little devils for a hunk of rubber, but I keep spares on the boat.

I'm using my back-up generator logic…..we get some occasional storms and Gulf Power isn't as reliable as I would like, so I bought a 10KW diesel generator at an auction for peanuts, got it set up, wired in a transfer switch……I'm ready! Well, wouldn't you know, the lights haven't even flickered since I hooked up the generator. So far, after lessons 1,2 & 3 on the 450DA plumbing system, I haven't needed the spares and they are now 10 ears old.

Waste pump takes 2…….vacuflush vacuum pumps require 4

http://www.jmsonline.net/duck-bill-valve.htm?gclid=CKP069y-pb8CFTJp7AodvhQAsA

This is just a quick google search…..I don't necessarily recommend JMSonline, this just popped up first.
 
JC3 said:
Frank & Turtle, What do i need to order and take with me to fix this or most of this problem?
I will hopefully be heading back down the end of July or August. Thanks guys alot! JC
Click to expand...

I'd take a cell phone and a checkbook with me. My duckbill days are over...sense of accomplishment, save a few bucks, ...nope, not happening. Spares for just the reason Frank states, to ward off the evil duckbill spirits.
 
Tim I hear you but my daughter is a junior in college and would like to continue her education so ole dad does what he has too. I thought we were prepared but in all honesty we were not. So duckbill poop fixing we shall go. Thanks guys for all your help. Frank and Turtle, you guys are really appreciated! JC
 
JC3 said:
Tim I hear you but my daughter is a junior in college and would like to continue her education so ole dad does what he has too. I thought we were prepared but in all honesty we were not. So duckbill poop fixing we shall go. Thanks guys for all your help. Frank and Turtle, you guys are really appreciated! JC
Click to expand...

Well, maybe there's a teaching moment here JC. She could learn firsthand how to replace duckbills. Give her a better appreciation of what good ole dad would go through just for her. The downside is, she may never come back.
 
bring some rubber gloves, some bleach, a roll of paper towels, maybe channel locks if the fittings are tight, maybe a dust mask with your preference of fragrance enhancer. The discharge line is going to be full of fun when you remove it from the pump.
 
Oh, also check your hoses for any cracks etc... I've been going through one by one changing out all the old hoses. the hose from the discharge pump to the seacock should loop up a couple of feet and then down to the seacock. This also helps prevent sea water backflow. Mine kind of wilted down and started to crack from age and heat in the ER. Might want to replace that as well.
 
Also, take the pump loose from the deck, hold it as high in the bilge as possible then remove the hoses and secure them high in the bilge. Be sure you close the ball valves at the tank. Wheneven I work on the waste system, I have my shopvac in the bilge running just in case I drop a line and some evil substance escapes. Then…….take the pump off the boat to repair it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,259
Messages
1,429,515
Members
61,135
Latest member
Gregger
Back
Top