Overboard Discharge

[Bob Meola]

Was out 32 miles or so and wanted to flush out head. Heard pump running but nothing coming out. Do you need to have both seacocks open or just the discharged one> Always pumped out at a station but due to Sandy they are closed.
Figured was out far enough. Boat is a 265 Express

 

[wspitler]

Mine only has one seacock since it uses fresh water to flush. I'd think you only need the discharge sea cock open to discharge. If the discharge pump is running and not leaking through the bellows, it is most likely the duckbill valves in the discharge pump assembly. There are two. They can be sucked backwards by pump out stations or can clog if not used routinely. Not too hard to replace, but messy. You can buy them on line from several places, as I remember about $20. The only other possibilities are a clogged discharge hose or bad vent. I found that the pump out cap on the deck must be on and closed for the discharge pump to work properly. The bellows or diaphram is pretty simple and you should be able to inspect it for holes. If it leaks you should see a mess around the top of the pump.

 

[reelserious]

Only the discharge seacock should be open. The saltwater intake seacock should be closed.

You didn't say if your level indicator light was on or not. If it was on and didn't go off after you pumped out then you probably have a "mechanical" issue. If the light was not on, then try pumping saltwater in until it does go on. Then try the pump-out again and see if it goes off. My point is that the fact you didn't see any "crap" when the macerator was running should not be grounds for pulling things apart, at least I wouldn't.

Good luck.

 

[eppem]

Unless you grabbed a mask and dove under the boat, etc, agreed, how would you see it? If you hear the macerator I would think its working.