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Not sure if this question has a right or wrong or makes no difference solution but here goes:

At pumpout times I prefill the bowl with water so that after the initial pumpout is finished, water can be run into the system and a secondary (or third) pumpout can be made to insure all waste is removed.

My question is... does it matter at all if my vacuflush system is on (and charged with vacuum pressure) when the actual pumpout is taking place, or should it be off and without a vacuum charge. I have done it both ways and the the full bowl of water for the secondary pumpout enters the system efficiently but not at the same speed as a regular flush, nor with the associated "sucking sound" as the contents gush into the system.

Thoughts anyone?

PS - for sanitary reasons our marina does not use their hoses at the pumpout station to introduce water into the holding tanks from outside the boat via the pumpout fitting. This is why I prefill the bowl.

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Ernie Follis
It'll Do II
Four Winns 348 (2005)

I'll chime in with the way I do. It does not matter if the the Vacuflush is on or off. The discharge from the holding tank is on the bottom end of tank. The dock side pump out is a suction pump that evacuates the tank until it starts sucking too much air. This probably leaves about 1/2 of waste water in tank. The way the Vacuflush works is there is a small secondary tank that has plunger pump with duckbill one way valves. When the pump cycled it does two things. It transfers the waste from the secondary tank to the holding tank. At the same time it builds a negative pressure in the secondary tank waiting for the next flush.

It does not hurt or have an effect on the pump out if the is on or off or pressurized.

The amount of water you can run down the toilet at any one time is limited to a quart or two. I would really recommend a option to get a good flush in the tank. I do two or three flushes of about 5 to ten gallons of fresh water. We run this through the dockside fitting. General the marina does not stock the hose in the fitting but hold it several inches above. I agree that you do not want your water tank filled with a hose that has been in the waste fitting. I do have a marina with a dedicated waste fill hose.

Don't drink the water and add chlorinated treatment to tank.

The secondary tank is an overlooked maintenance item. The duckbill valves should be replace every three years or so. I actually pulled the this out of the boat, replaced duckbills and then decided to tank the entire unit part and clean. Not for the faint of heart. Actually the manufacturer does not recommend this because after you remove the 17 screws it may not seal correctly. To my surprise there was a lot, and I mean a lot, of built up waste. Cleaned, resembled and it works great. Very import to flush toilet with lots of water a after use. I have been using bleach and cheap liquid laundry detergent as the holing tank treatment. Seams to work great.

Sorry for the long story to a simple question.

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2007 358 Vista