www.iFourWinns.com

Recently bought a 238 Vista with a porcelain head and a lot of new features I didn't have on my Bayliner. I have no idea how to drain the black water tank (or where it is for that matter). I know I can get it done at the marina but when should I have it done and where is the black water tank located? Is there any visual reference one can use to confirm that the tank needs emptied? I'd hate to pay to have it emptied only to find out it was only 25% full. Any assistance is greatly appreciated!!

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Fun2bethad
1999 F.W. 238 Vista
"Don't Panic!" (upside down of course)

Cant say for sure, but the black water tank is probably under the aft berth. In newer models there is a gauge in the head. if not, just get it pumped from the waste fitting on the hull, it should say waste on it. In the great lakes area it is only $5 bucks to get pumped out, so doing it more often is the way to go.

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Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

Hi, welcome to the forum. I have the same boat as yours, the black water storage tank is on the starboard side in the engine compartment side by side with the fresh water tank, the waste tank is the slightly smaller of the two, the one nearer the engine. Overboard dishcharge was an option I believe, mine has it and its via a seacock in the lowest part of the hull in front of the engine. The inlet seacock to the toilet is a couple of inches away. There is no indicator on mine, but you will know when the tank is full by the fact that you can't pump anymore waste into it.

To discharge overboard ( which I think is the wrong terminology being as it goes through the hull) is by pressing and holding the pump out switch on the sink cabinet in the head compartment until its empty. I can hear a change in the pump noise when it's empty, as again there is no indicator on mine. A word of warning!! if you have the discharge system, make sure you open the discharge seacock before pressing the switch as it will blow the fuse immediately.

I have lots of good photo's I can show you later today when I have transfered them to my new computer.

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Regards
Beyond the Blue

"If we improve with age I'm now excellent"


Ex 1998 238 Vista 5.0Gi SX DP
Lexus RX300

GREAT INFO! Thank you both. Couple things I noticed above. There is a seacock that goes through the bottom of the hull but there is a plaque on it that says something like "inlet for toilet water" so I think it is only to bring water up to the toilet and not to empty out. The switch your refering to in the head must be for a macerator pump but my boat didn't come with one. There is no outlet or switch in my head....just nice smooth walls. Hopefully a pump out isn't too pricey.

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Fun2bethad
1999 F.W. 238 Vista
"Don't Panic!" (upside down of course)

Yep! pump out's your only way.... or you could SUCK it out

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Regards
Beyond the Blue

"If we improve with age I'm now excellent"


Ex 1998 238 Vista 5.0Gi SX DP
Lexus RX300

wow! you guys have to pay for a pumpout!!!????? Around here it's free-- any marina from CT across the sopund to Long Island-- all offer free pumpouts! I wonder why--never heard of a charge before.......man, if I had to pay to pump w/ 2 kids on board filling it up every other cruise-- yikes!

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"For My 50th"
1996 238 Vista
5.7VolvoGL DP
Previous boats; 91 Cobia 19' Cuddy, 87 Starcraft 16' BR,
67 Winner BR, 65 Arrow 14'

Most marinas in our area charge a minimum of $10.00 a pump out. Sometime ago, some marinas would offer a free pump out if you took on fuel in excess of XXX dollars, but I don't know of any marinas in our area that still offer that.

Mike.

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Current Boat
- 2001 Four Winns 328 Vista "Hour Decision"
- 2010 310 Mercury Inflatable

Previous Boats
- 30' Doral Prestancia
- 25' Doral Citation

My marina doesn't have a fuel or pump out service but our neighboring marina does. Pump out is $5.00.

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-Tony
2016 Robalo R200 w/Yahama 200!

Previous boats:
2003 Four Winns 248 Vista - sold
1994 Sunbird Corsair 200 - sold
1980 Checkmate Predictor - sold

My marina doesn't have a fuel or pump out service but our neighboring marina does. Pump out is $5.00.

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-Tony
2016 Robalo R200 w/Yahama 200!

Previous boats:
2003 Four Winns 248 Vista - sold
1994 Sunbird Corsair 200 - sold
1980 Checkmate Predictor - sold

Same here, it's free, around Boston. But remember, were ocean boaters and most boaters on this site are on lakes. What I have also noticed, that we have yacht clubs and for what ever reason, most lakes don't.

We could go out to the 3 miles limit, than pump out.

Pump outs are free on all the Texas lakes I have been on.

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

We pay anywhere from $10-$20, up her eon Lake Erie. We are getting ripped!!!

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2001 328 Vista "Nauta Dream 2"
AB Inflatable 10AL "Little Dreamer"
2000 248 Vista
1997 225 Sundowner


Mike

I was just quoted $20 at a marina in central Ohio. Makes hangin the bum overboard quite enticing!

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Fun2bethad
1999 F.W. 238 Vista
"Don't Panic!" (upside down of course)

The world is your toilet.


Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

Memorial day weekend we put the boat to the test. We made it a day and a half before pump out became MANDATORY :0 The marina charged $5 which was a relief in as much as we had it done 2 more times. It was interesting watching the process as I couldn't imagine actually pumping out the waste but that is most definitely what happened. Still can't see the holding tank or have any idea how full it is but at least I have a time frame in my frame of reference now.

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Fun2bethad
1999 F.W. 238 Vista
"Don't Panic!" (upside down of course)