Holding Tank Been Full for Years

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bobalong

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My daughter & son in law have rented a 80's Harbor Master house boat from an elderly gentleman. Boat has been for sale for several years and is overpriced.(or he just doesn't want it to sell) anyway. . . .
Several boaters in the marina have told us that the holding tank has had issues the last few years when trying to pump it out. I haven't had much time to go see first hand what the issue is, but consensus is, that the tank is FULL and has been for several years. I was told that the tank is not easily accessable.
So far they have tried pumping and then adding water over and over, not much headway.(no pun intended) :)
Anyone know of an enzyme or chemical that would help dissolve the poo and whatever else has solidified in there ?
 
Why play around with it? It's the owners responsibility to fix the problem. If it can't be fixed in a reasonable amount of time tell him you want your money back and look for another houseboat.

If you start screwing around with it and a major problem develops guess who's liable for the damages. It could get messy. No pun intended.
 
The reason for renting this particular boat, and their motivation for becoming live aboards would require a new topic. I may address that at a later date. Right now we're just looking for a possible solution to the sludge issue given there apparently isn't a easy way to access the tank. Last resort will be to cut an access panel in the floor and make or find a way to stir the sh**.
 
Are you sure all the requisite valves are in the correct position, and that the pump out hose is clear? Have you tried putting an enzime down the pump out fitting with some water and letting it sit? Could be a repetitive application would eventually loosen it up.
It could also be that someone rented it prior and put something down there that is never going to unstick itself without some serious effort.
 
quote:
Originally posted by BobV1

Why play around with it? It's the owners responsibility to fix the problem. If it can't be fixed in a reasonable amount of time tell him you want your money back and look for another houseboat.

If you start screwing around with it and a major problem develops guess who's liable for the damages. It could get messy. No pun intended.

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EXACTLY!
 
Just to add my .02c. I had a similar issue, where trying to pump out my tank (on a boat I just bought) the pump would only extract barely a trickle of "liquid" when I tried. I tried snaking it, adding water, nothing helped. I was convinced that the tank was a solid block of poo and nothing short of replacing it would help. Eventually I hired the marina to investigate it and they found that the float had broken off the level gauge (that hadn't been working anyway) and had jammed itself into the pumpout hose. They removed it and problem solved... Just FYI - it could be something you would not expect.
 
quote:
Originally posted by bobalong

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You need to do more than go on what you have been told. You need to either investigate yourself or hire someone familiar with marine sanitation systems to fix it.

Any advice here is speculation based on the speculation that you have been told.
 
Just as you cannot return a cooked egg to its raw state by "uncooking" (chilling) it, you cannot return a sun dried buffalo chip to is original condition by adding water.

Agree with Robyns Nest and BobV1.
 
I had a pumpout problem after installing the new tank, all hoses and the deck pumpout fitting. The problem was eventually traced to a loose hose clamp at the new deck fitting. The pumpout was drawing too much air at the fitting and couldn't get the proper vacuum to pull the liquids. It could be anything from a tank full of Buffalo chips to a clogged waste tank ventilation hose or a combination of any of the above. After I solved the problem I installed a inspection port on the top of the new Poly tank. So if this ever happened again I could use a wand to pump the tank directly. I do advise using Enzymes as a general rule they extend the life of almost every part of a marine sanitation system.
Bill
 
quote:
Originally posted by mchad

Just to add my .02c. I had a similar issue, where trying to pump out my tank (on a boat I just bought) the pump would only extract barely a trickle of "liquid" when I tried. I tried snaking it, adding water, nothing helped. I was convinced that the tank was a solid block of poo and nothing short of replacing it would help. Eventually I hired the marina to investigate it and they found that the float had broken off the level gauge (that hadn't been working anyway) and had jammed itself into the pumpout hose. They removed it and problem solved... Just FYI - it could be something you would not expect.

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Good thought, thanks for sharing that info. We'll investigate differently given your experience.

BillyIII, also a good piece of information. Maybe we'll think about applying some moderate pressure rather than vacuum at the pump out hole and see what happens.
 
I've heard that dumping a bunch of ice cubes into the tank and then driving the boat in choppy conditions will help to scrub and loosen gunk on the inside of the tank. I've used this method in an RV with success.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Flutterby

I've heard that dumping a bunch of ice cubes into the tank and then driving the boat in choppy conditions will help to scrub and loosen gunk on the inside of the tank. I've used this method in an RV with success.

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Flutter, What kept the RV afloat in the choppy seas?[:-dunce]
 
Update on the holding tank issue. Seems as though I received some mis information. The dock master who has been assisting my daughter with the holding tank problem (I am 300 miles away so I depend on boating friends for assistance) said that the tank had not been pumped out nearly as often as it should have been in the last few years.
When they pumped it out a few weeks ago, they could tell it contained an abundance of buffalo chips. So they repeatedly filled w water and pumped to get as much out as possible. Then they filled the tank half or more full of water and added enzyme holding tank additive. (the tank sensor always shows full). Hopefully they will pump it out this week again, and some of the poo / buffalo chip whatever will be begining to dissolve. We shall see, as usual I am optimistic.
 
sensors are frequently just simple floats. They stick often but will loosen up when soaked or if the tank contents slosh around.

The full indicator staying on may not indicate a full tank anymore. The pumping and stuff they are doing may help and after pumping if someone is adventurous they can snake a small hose down through the pump out fitting and turn on the water. It will snake all around and perhaps loosen more stuff.

How much water they can add after pumping will, at this point, be a better indicator of fullness.
 
quote:
Originally posted by jmas

quote:
Originally posted by Flutterby

I've heard that dumping a bunch of ice cubes into the tank and then driving the boat in choppy conditions will help to scrub and loosen gunk on the inside of the tank. I've used this method in an RV with success.

Click to expand...


Flutter, What kept the RV afloat in the choppy seas?[:-dunce]
Click to expand...


smartace! Driving my RV down the road was enough to juggle the ice cubes in the tank.
 
Plus, the ice eventually melts and turns into water, helping to dilute the contents of the tank.
 
So what ever happened here is there a happy ending? I would have loaded the tank up with Odorless and boiling hot water stir, shake, rattle and roll a bit let sit until the Odorless can do it's thing. Pump out and repeat a few times. I have to believe the waste lines would also need replacement but clearing the tank would be the priority.
Bill
 
BillyIII I am headed to the boat this weekend. We will pump out and try and determine if we are breaking up or disolving tank contents. What I think will happen is, we will pump out, flush several times, add additional chemical and a small amount of water. Hopefully consistent pumping this summer will help dissolve any remaining "stuff".
Because the boat is very near the marina restaurant they have been able to utilize those rest rooms and minimize on board head use (we are re opening the restaurant / bar this weekend).
 
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