Sanitation Lines Mainship Pilot 30

[datoshway]

Had to run new sanitation lines for the head system on my 30' Pilot yesterday.

The existing ones can't be replaced without taking out the gas tanks.

Had to run a new one. Anyone have any ideas on how to get the old one out?

I am hesitant abandon it in there. They are zip tied behind the tanks to what looks like the raw water hose.

Also I think I might just replace the raw water hose as well. Maybe I can pull them out together?? Anyone know if there is a vented loop in there? Hope not...

 

[Comodave]

Welcome aboard. Not familiar with your boat so I can’t say definitely but maybe just plug both ends permanently and leave it there until you have to rip the area up for some other reason. Hopefully you purged and flushed the old hose thoroughly before you cut it off.

 

[PM]

I don't like the idea of leaving the old hose in place. Wrap a section of the hose in a rag soaked with hot water. Let is sit for a half day and take the rag off and take a good strong smell of it. Chances are it will stink, bad. You want it out of there.

You may be able to strong arm it out of there. Old plastic Zip ties get brittle, you may be able to break it loose. Either they will break or the hose may tear into pieces, maybe you can retrieve it in pieces from both ends.

It is only a 30 foot boat, how long can the hose be? maybe 10 feet?

I don't envy you the job but I think you will be happier if you get the old one out of there.

pete

 

[HeadMistress]

Wecome aboard the Trawler forum!


I'd remove both hoses...it's highly unlikely there'd be a vented loop either line. The average working life of any hose is only about 10 years because rubber and plastics dry out, becoming hard, brittle and prone to cracking and splitting. Even if the raw water hose isn't that old, there has to be sea water buildup in it. It shouldn't be too difficult to reach the zip ties with wire cutters.


--Peggie

 

[datoshway]

Thanks for all the replies. The zip ties are impossible to get to without taking out the gas tanks. Might try a "pull a long" tool. Just concerned as to whats else they are zip tied to...

 

[rgano]

I have been puzzling over the original post because the run of hoses sounds so very different than what I have in my Mainship 30 Pilot II. I think the OP must have a different head with the sanitation hose running aft through the bulkhead over on the stbd side near the skin of the boat because my Vacuflush's sanitation line runs through the engine compartment bulkhead and aft along edge of the shelf the stbd fuel tank sits on. It is exposed for the entire dun through the compartment, and MS used a gazillion ties on it. If the same guys installed the hose in the OP's boat, it's staying there. I am assuming the raw water line in question is flushing water.... If so where is the through hull for it? Again ripping the hose out from behind that tank sounds like a non-starter because who knows what damage could be done.

 

[Comodave]

That is why I suggested leaving it in place. Hopefully he cleaned it out as best as he could before unhooking it. If he can plug up both ends I don’t think he will get much if any smell out of it if it is empty and plugged. Certainly better than using brute force to rip it out, and who knows what else comes with it.

 

[Irish Rambler]

Usually the hoses are so built up with calcium that they become rigid over time so even if you get the cable ties off it may not pull through.
You can try cleaning it in situ, reconnect the ends and either use hydrochloric acid (very carefully) to dissolve the calcium, or, buy 12% white vinegar from the supermarket and place a quart down the toilet at night, flush pump it next morning, if its badly built up you will need to do it each night for a week, then disconnect one end of the hose to check on progress, once its clean you can either pull it or block the ends.
Incidentally if you use the vinegar once a month down the toilet it will prevent calcium build up.

 

[datoshway]

Interesting. What year is your boat? Mine is a 2003, they are zip tied behind the starboard gas tank.

I cleaned out the discharge line, but haven't got to the raw water flush line yet which is what it is zipped to. I agree, I think I might try and cut out as much as possible and cap the ends off. Ripping them both out might take the fuel and waste lines with it..

I have been puzzling over the original post because the run of hoses sounds so very different than what I have in my Mainship 30 Pilot II. I think the OP must have a different head with the sanitation hose running aft through the bulkhead over on the stbd side near the skin of the boat because my Vacuflush's sanitation line runs through the engine compartment bulkhead and aft along edge of the shelf the stbd fuel tank sits on. It is exposed for the entire dun through the compartment, and MS used a gazillion ties on it. If the same guys installed the hose in the OP's boat, it's staying there. I am assuming the raw water line in question is flushing water.... If so where is the through hull for it? Again ripping the hose out from behind that tank sounds like a non-starter because who knows what damage could be done.

 

[Jgutten]

The prior owner of my boat didn't take out the old lines and almost caused the boat to become worthless. What happened is that there was bad stuff still in the lines when he cut them off and put wooden dowel plugs in each end.

Over the years, the lines became permeated and stunk up the entire boat. I removed the old lines, replaced carpeting and drapes, scrubbed and scraped to get rid of the smell. All because he didn't remove the lines when they were replaced.

Replace them. Even if you need to do some surgery on the boat.

 

[datoshway]

The prior owner of my boat didn't take out the old lines and almost caused the boat to become worthless. What happened is that there was bad stuff still in the lines when he cut them off and put wooden dowel plugs in each end.

Over the years, the lines became permeated and stunk up the entire boat. I removed the old lines, replaced carpeting and drapes, scrubbed and scraped to get rid of the smell. All because he didn't remove the lines when they were replaced.

Replace them. Even if you need to do some surgery on the boat.

I think i'm starting to agree. Mixed comments on the threads above but in the end, I think they need to come out.

 

[rgano]

Or consider cleaning the hose using maybe an extension to get to a point where cleaning solution can be poured in and let stand for a bit until drained into a bucket in the bilge. Rinse and repeat. Anything is better that pulling the engine and then the tank and then finally the hoses.

 

[Shrew]

I have a neighbor a few slips down with a 2003 Mainship 390. He told me he had to duct tape a Dremel tool to a stick to cut his zip ties when he replaced his sanitation lines last spring.

 

[Comodave]

The prior owner of my boat didn't take out the old lines and almost caused the boat to become worthless. What happened is that there was bad stuff still in the lines when he cut them off and put wooden dowel plugs in each end.

Over the years, the lines became permeated and stunk up the entire boat. I removed the old lines, replaced carpeting and drapes, scrubbed and scraped to get rid of the smell. All because he didn't remove the lines when they were replaced.

Replace them. Even if you need to do some surgery on the boat.

But this does not have to be the outcome of leaving the old hose in. If you clean out the old hose and then cap the ends there will be no sewage to permeate out of the hose. Your PO left it full of crap, blame the PO not the method.