Ok, so I had to get my first ever pump out the other day. Been around boats forever but the bowriders I've owned didn't have the need and the ships I was on had a contract so my first experience with a pump out was not pleasant. I went to Lake Anna Marina, the only marina on the lake with pump out (I was told). Now I thought I had always seen the marinas I was around, pump out seemed free for residents and paying transients. I always thought the fee would be pretty nominal, if charged.... Well my fault for not asking prior I guess, had the boat pumped and got sticker shocked at the bill.... $45! Is this normal? Is it ok? or did I get taken for a ride? I verified their fee online.... lists it at $45. I guess its in the past but should I plan of fees like this in the future? Yikes! Or will better planning help me avoid this.
Taken for a ride?
- Thread starter cgpuddles
- Start date
Yes you got screwed. Yes they are the only game in town on Lake Anna which is why you got screwed. No competition.
Do you trailer or are you in a slip at Lake Anna?
If you trailer, many campsites have dumping stations as do many public ramps for portapotty disposal. You could make your own pumpout device and take that route. Some folks pumpout into the sewage clean out port in their driveway using a home made pump out. The highest I have paid is $10 on the ICW. If the marina is part of the Virginia Clean Marina Program where they receive money from the state for pumpout equipment, the max charge is $5.00. Some don't bother charging as the logging of pumpout events is more costly than the charge.
If you have no trailer and are in a slip at Lake Anna, you would be better suited getting with some dockmates and investing in a portable honey wagon for use at your marina.
Do you trailer or are you in a slip at Lake Anna?
If you trailer, many campsites have dumping stations as do many public ramps for portapotty disposal. You could make your own pumpout device and take that route. Some folks pumpout into the sewage clean out port in their driveway using a home made pump out. The highest I have paid is $10 on the ICW. If the marina is part of the Virginia Clean Marina Program where they receive money from the state for pumpout equipment, the max charge is $5.00. Some don't bother charging as the logging of pumpout events is more costly than the charge.
If you have no trailer and are in a slip at Lake Anna, you would be better suited getting with some dockmates and investing in a portable honey wagon for use at your marina.
Ah, that was my gut feeling. I am originally from the Great Lake state and SLWs take was my initial thoughts but the ‘only show in town’ thing I guess plays a part. Man 900% markup, they ought to be ashamed (and me too for not asking ahead). I am a trailer-boater, my job requires it. Coast Guard moves me too much! Lake Anna is not our main boating area, in fact it was just a possibility. I got moved to a station where my choices are Lake Anna, two hours south; Cheat Lake, two hours west; Raystown Lake, two hours northwest; and Potomac/Chesapeake two hours east. Now a homemade set up, would that just be like a macerator pump with a special fitting and some discharge hose? That would then let me dump at like flying J or anyplace else that just has a dump station and not a pumpout, right?
I don't know if that sounds right to me. I looked on thier web site, and the only reference to pumpout was on thier winterization page. Who pumed the boat out you or them. The person that billed you, are they new? I can see $45, for pulling your boat over, pumping out and returning it, but if you pulled up to the pump out $5-$15 sounds more in line.
Are there any other marinas in town. There are federal and sometimes state grants that would cover the cost of installing and maintaining pump outs, just to keep the water ways clean!
Are there any other marinas in town. There are federal and sometimes state grants that would cover the cost of installing and maintaining pump outs, just to keep the water ways clean!
If the pump out station is private they can charge what ever they can get by with. If the system was installed and paid for with funds from the Wallop-Breaux Act or the Clean Waters Act, the facility can only charge a fair and reasonable fee for utilities and any labor they provide, which generally ranges from free to about $10.00.
That's correct.
The one I saw had one of these:
PUMP
with an adapter on the end to seal at the pumpout port.
He fashioned a handle to the base that normally screws to the deck to make holding it in place easier. He places a discharge hose on the other end and pumps out.
If I ever find the picture, I'll send it to you.
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2001
- RO Number
- 3655
- Messages
- 1,800
Yes, you were ripped off.
A Whale "Gusher" manual bilge pump, some hose, and an RV "Tote Tank" should be all you need to pump it out yourself, take it with you and dump it anywhere convenient.
A "Tote Tank" is a portable holding tank on wheels. You push them in a similar manner to a hand truck, used for moving large parcels. They come in sizes ranging from 15 gallons to 30+ gallons. They cost somewhere in the area of $250.00, but you only pay for them once. They're usually blue in color and you see them in many RV parks where they don't have direct sewer hookups.
A Whale "Gusher" manual bilge pump, some hose, and an RV "Tote Tank" should be all you need to pump it out yourself, take it with you and dump it anywhere convenient.
A "Tote Tank" is a portable holding tank on wheels. You push them in a similar manner to a hand truck, used for moving large parcels. They come in sizes ranging from 15 gallons to 30+ gallons. They cost somewhere in the area of $250.00, but you only pay for them once. They're usually blue in color and you see them in many RV parks where they don't have direct sewer hookups.
Buy a porta-potti with a built in tank. I forget my brand, but it separates into the fresh water half and the waste half. I take it home when it's half full and just dump it into a regular toilet. It has a handle and an indicator on the tank to tell you when its full.
Ha, and I think I already made the comment here that NO MATTER WHAT, your parents ALWAYS know best somehow. Last year stationed in MI when I upgraded to the cruiser, my dad asked me, 'now son, you're moving in 2 months and have no idea where you're moving too. Are you sure buying a boat this size is a smart move or should you wait to see where you get moved to?' I replied by pointing to the USCG on my uniforms saying.... where can I go with out water??????
Father knows best!
Father knows best!