www.iFourWinns.com

Have a 2000 248 Vista. Since I bought it used in 2002, I have looked everywhere for a way to access the shower sump hose . Need to do this because the sump pump won't empty.
The float and pump work but discharge hose is plugged somewhere.
Have taken the hose off the discharge side and the pump does work. Have tried to run stiff wire from outside, and used high pressure water hose also. Nothing happens.
I know this hose is behind a wall or panel, but cannot find where.
Any and all ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks

Here is the link from Four Winns website for the download of the 200 248 Vista Users Manual http://assets3.fourwinnsmarketing.com/p ... //2000/248[SLASH]268%20Vista%20Cruisers/Manual%20(Complete)%20-%2015.4MB.pdf

Here is the link to the section on the water and wast system. They have a drawing showing it's path http://assets3.fourwinnsmarketing.com/p ... //2000/248[SLASH]268%20Vista%20Cruisers/Sections/13%20Water%20and%20Waste%20Systems%20-%20Sec%20J.pdf

Thanks, jvalich ,for the info. I can access the discharge hose ,from the pump, up under the floor for a short distance. But I cannot get to the thru hull in order to disconnect and clean out.
There must be a panel of some sort to be removed. Maybe the entire bulkhead has to be removed. If so, I will re-think the whole "fix".
Any ideas?

From the looks of the PDF diagram the only way to get to the through hull would involve removing the toilet. Can't tell for sure but unless there's a shelf or other cabinet nearby that's likely to be the only access. Send an e-mail to Four Winns and ask them how, they're usually good about answering questions like this.

I'd wonder if the hose has gotten crimped somewhere. Like if something shifted and dropped onto the hose? Some flexible plastic tubing shoved in from either end would let you measure just how far in it can go before hitting the obstruction. I wouldn't use wire as it might gouge a hole through the hose.

If you did have to replace the hose I'd wonder if it might be easier to run it out to a different exit point. No sense going crazy and cutting up or disassembling the entire head just to get at the back of the existing through hull. But ask the factory first, they may have a quicker way to get to it than seems obvious. I know that was the case when I had to replace my hot water heater...

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Thanks Bill,
Good idea to contact Four Winns. Will do that tomorrow. Yes I will redirect the hose to a new location if a lot of tearing apart is involved.
I have run stiff wire with the end wrapped in duct tape and can get in about 6 inches from the outside.. So there is certainly something blocking the discharge. A kink of some sort is what I think. Previous owner did not use the shower, nor have I. But I did fill the sump with water to see if it worked. That is how the problem was discovered.
Thanks for your input.

Hank Randolph

Hmmm, that close would make it seem like a kink. Like the hose got pulled tight at some point. I'd try pushing some tubing from the other end to see that there's not another kink elsewhere. If only to confirm that the repair would only have to be done at the through hull side of the hose.

If the previous owner never used it then it could be something hardened in the hose. Insect nesting, etc. It might come unplugged if you get it saturated for a long enough period of time. Stuff some hose into the through hull, enough to make a decent seal. Fill it and tape the end up so the water stays down into the through hull. Leave it that way "for a while". Meanwhile loosen the hose inside and put something under it to catch whatever might drain into it. You could be clever and put a couple of drops of food dye into the outside hose to be sure where the water came from. Given enough time the water would probably soak through any obstruction, leaving it possible to flush it more thoroughly.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

You know what? With all the "mud dauber" nests I find, I would not rule out that as a possibility. Have had them make a nest in my main battery switch before. Boater next to me had a nest in his bilge blower hose.
So I think your idea of a good soak may do it. Good hint on using the red food coloring.
Will make this my weekend project and report back.
Thanks

See my posts (aquamak) in the foloowing thread:

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=417&p=2611#p2611

Kinked hoses and a burnt-out pump were the culprit.

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2000 268 Vista

aquamark,
Thanks for the link. Float switch and pump work ok. From the information everyone has kindly sent to me, I believe the consensus is a clogged or kinked discharge hose.
Think I will try the hose soaking method first and ,if that does not work, trying to remove a few panels. Midcabin access panel does not give me a decent view of thru hull. Afraid if I try to get my head and shoulders up there it will result in a big problem.

Well the saga continues. Still no success in opening up the discharge hose.
Todays activities consisted of;
1. Unhooking hoses and removing sump box with pump.
2. Putting dischage hose end in a bucket and trying to get water into the bucket from the thru hull. No luck there.
3. Taking hose inside and trying to force water up through the hose to the outside. Nothing doing, well except for spraying water all over my face and shirt.
So now it's over. No more trying to unclog the hose.
My goal now will be to re-route the discharge hose and connect to another thru hull. Or just pump back to bilge and let that pump do the job.
Will ponder options for a few days. Four Winns tech service could not help. All they did is look at the schematic and said to follow the hose to the thru hull.
Too hot for this stuff anyway. I am going boating.
Thanks to all who offered ideas. Any more thoughts, I will be glad to try.
Thanks, again.

Hank

You don't want the water going into the bilge. If you can get the hose all the way off, just replace it!

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Brett DiMichele

I don't know if I was clear in describing my idea for clearing the end. My idea was to get a hose of a diameter suitable to wedge into the exit through hull connection. I'd guess it to be a 5/8" or thereabouts sized opening. Then get a couple feet of that hose. Jam the hose into the through hull and then lift the hose vertically. Put water into the hose and let it drain down into the through hull. Leave it that way "for a while" and see if the water level in the hose changes, topping it off as necessary. If insects have made a nest in the hose it may take a while to sufficiently loosen the material. I wouldn't expect results any sooner than a few hours.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Bill- oh, now I get it. Sort of create a standpipe.
Yes I can see how that may work. Will get some smaller hose this weekend and try it, with the red food coloring.
Into the tru hull and up to and tied off the mid ship cleat.
Sorry I did not read your first post correctly.
Will report back on Monday.

Hank

Did not read all the posts in detail but I would ram fish tape down from the thru hull and have somebody watch for it on the inside. It would have to knock whatever's in there loose; it's a fairly straight run..

Yes, that's the idea exactly.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista