36i/39i Holding Tank Blockage

[timturner]

Last year, we met some people in Cherbourg who were having some problems unblocking a holding tank on their 39i - poking bamboo canes down through the discharge deck fitting, etc. We sailed before we knew whether they ever succeeded! We just hoped that the same thing would not happen on our 36i. Well, in September this year, it did. We tried the same ideas from the top but we just could not line the discharge tube up so got nowhere. Then I got my inflatable pump, enlarged the nozzle with some insulation tape so that it was a tight fit in the overflow outlet on the side of the hull. With the deck fitting closed, I gave it it two good pumps and job done. No mess, simple. I had considered the implications of damage to the valves in the heads pump, but all seem OK. I was "flushed" with success.
Thanks for the tips about the stop cock lubrication, another job on the list.

[MalcolmP]

Tim

Noxious subject

The dinghy pump trick is well worth remembering, think that charter skippers often use it. I have "touch wood" not had a problem on our 39i, but on our 34.2 there was a bad elbow joint (that I later removed) that occasionally gave a problem due to too much tissue paper

I very successfully used the pump trick but by getting into the dinghy then blowing the air back UP the Outlet seacock (they are typically only 9" or so underwater and fairly easy to find) - this pushes any blockage back into the holding tank, so no risk of pressurising the Head pump and limited chance of unpleasant side effects in the Head compartment

As precaution I always use "Aqua soft tissue" - slightly more expensive but in my book well worth it as it rapidly dissolves

www.thetford.com/Home/Products/ChemicalsCleanersHome/AquaSoft/tabid/134/Default.aspx

Malcolm

[MartyB]

For the tissue paper routine, while one can go for te thetford product, spend more etc, it is not always the best paper. A way to tell if the paper you are using will dissolve quickly, is put a square or two into a bottle of water, shake it, if it dissolves right then if you will, great, if not, then do not use that tissue paper! Some brands are better than others.

This is a trick I learned when I had a septic tank, along with 12 yrs of owning land yachts here in N America.

marty