www.iFourWinns.com

Well.. I had a typical holiday weekend. Everything was going great until about 6:30pm Sunday night. We were getting on the boat about to leave the beach when I smelled that sewer smell.. I looked over at the waste cap and it was starting to bubble out. I was like.. "wtf!" It was too late to head to the marina for a pump out so we went back to the dock. I rarely use my head, but I had family and friends up all weekend and my toilet was getting a lot of action. By the way.. my waste meter doesn't work. According to it.. I'm always empty.

Once I got back to my slip I grabbed a beer and thought for a second. It moved from bubbling to leaking out now. I grabbed my shopvac and decided I had to do the unthinkable.... and suck some out myself. We have bathrooms right off my dock so I could dump the contents in the toilets. No biggie...

I started unscrewing the cap and OMG it shot straight up in the air about 4ft. It was a crap volcano! Turds were shooting everywhere. It was a solid stream and lasted about 3 seconds.. my cockpit and seats were covered... I just stood there in awe I couldn't believe what had just happened... a buddy was walking down the dock and said, "Hey man what's up!?" I said, "Walk away.. walk away!!!!" He didn't ask any questions and just did an about face.

I think I stood there and stared at my boat for about 10 minutes... it smelled so bad and crap and piss were all over the place.

I finally got everything cleaned up, but I'll never be the same again. I took a long shower after that... I headed over to the gas dock Monday morning and had it pumped out. I was so damn glad they were closed Sunday night or that would have happened at the gas dock.. it's a busy one too. They guy doing it said, "It's not that full and pretty clean" I was like, "Dude... you have no idea.." I was worried about the smell while I slept, but it never smelled in the cabin.

A lot of it went in my bilge. I went back up Thursday night and cleaned the bilge with Tide and change out the holding tank vent filter. It weighed like 20lbs. Ended up changing the oil and cleaning my AC strainer too.

No smell and everything is back to normal. Funny thing is my toilet never smelled or anything.. worked like normal before this happened. It was under some extreme pressure.

So moral of the story... never run out of beer.

I went to leave Monday and somebody backed into my truck and my driver side door is jacked now. Went for a jetski ride Monday and lost my Oakleys. Like I said.. typical holiday weekend!

Long story, but figured you guys would get a kick out of it.

I guess I should have posted this in Boating Banter.. not really Vista specific.

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2006 Four Winns 278

WOW!!!

How long had it been since the last pump-out??

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2007 278 Vista

I can't really remember, but not that long ago. I filled my fresh water tank the Thursday before the weekend and I filled it again Monday. So.. I wonder if the kids were playing with the toilet. It's kinda fun to flush it.. I rarely use the toilet or fresh water.

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2006 Four Winns 278

I feel bad for laughing, but that was funny!
Over the winter I keep my fresh water tank empty, and having not had the boat long, had a 'senior moment' and wanting to fill it, put the hose in the waste pump-out instead of the water inlet. I thought it was taking a long time to fill.. I don't have a waste tank, just overboard discharge, but I still had a nasty shock when I investigated a bad smell from the head days later - the bowl was almost full to the brim with sewage which I hadn't discharged (having not figured that out at the time).
I hope everything cleaned up ok.

How I understand the system, that should never have happened. There is a vent on the side of the ship that
vents pressure out. Mine is round and silver, look for it on the starboard side. I learned the hard way. One day while swimming around I get this "sewer" smell. Of course I investigate and see this round vent spraying liquid out.....hmmm whats that? Well a golden shower later, I race over to the marina and dump the tank. Learned the hard way. BTW, we have a rule NO BROWN TROUT ALLOWED IN THE TOILET.
Its bad enough that I have to empty the urine, they can wait till we get to the marina or home for that!

The pump WILL build up pressure, the vent relieves it. Check yours. My boat is a 26'8 Vista.

Jay

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2003 Vista 26'8"

A true shitstorm!

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2006 348 Vista
"some days you're the bug and some days you're the windshield"

I commend you for not lighting your boat on fire!

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2004 - 288 Vista
Twin - 5.0 Volvo Penta GXi DP

Parkrat, thanks for sharing an unfortunate incident and having the ability to provide the "entertainment value" aspect with others . I feel for you, considering the incident and the clean up work involved.

Like jaykris said, it sounds like the holding tank vent is plugged. If the vent is plugged, any additional flushes will build pressure. Removing the pump out cap will vent the tank, but that pump out line goes to the bottom of the tank giving the result you experienced.

I would start by verifying that the vent fitting on the side of the boat is clear. There should be a screen visible from the outside on the vent fitting. Spraying with water from the outside may work if it is not plugged too badly. Otherwise, you might have to disconnect and clean or replace the hose and vent components. Ideally the holding tank should never be filled completely because the contents will be forced out the vent, dry, and block the vent plumbing.

It sounds like you have graduated to the high rank of "Head Mechanic". While it may not sound like a promotion, at one time or another everyone will be desperate. They may not know who did what, but everyone recognizes the value of a properly functioning toilet.

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Surface Interval: A scuba diving term for that time between dives to relax and prepare for life's next great adventure.

Current boat: '02 FW 268 Vista
Previous boat: '95 FW 190 Horizon

Same thing happened to me except the sh!t stream shot up and covered the dock boy. That dude was so pissed and he always made me remove the waste cap after that.

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

I actually changed the holding tank filter the last Thursday. I honestly think it was the original because it was pretty heavy. I checked the vent screen and it's clear. I think that filter was clogged and not relieving pressure. I slept on in Saturday night and still no smell.

I'll be up there for 4 days this coming weekend so I'm sure I'll have another adventure.

I think I learned a long time ago with my first boat if anything goes wrong it's better to laugh instead of getting mad. Puts you in a better frame of mind to deal with it.

The gas dock kid did say he has seen them bubbling over, but never saw one erupt. He said he probably would at some point..

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2006 Four Winns 278

lol.. thanks.

I don't mind people using my toilet so it's got to work.

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2006 Four Winns 278

We have options on our boats, cars, trucks, and houses so we can use them. I could never understand why some people refuse to use these options. A little regular use is good for the equipment, and one's level of satisfaction.

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Surface Interval: A scuba diving term for that time between dives to relax and prepare for life's next great adventure.

Current boat: '02 FW 268 Vista
Previous boat: '95 FW 190 Horizon

I've learned the more you use things the better they work. They liked to be used..

I run my generator for a few hours every week just to use it.

Also, there is nothing worse than having to take a crap and no place to go... We have all be there so I don't mind.

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2006 Four Winns 278

Not that I particularly want to see what you ate 2 weeks ago, but a photo of the mess sure would be funny to see!

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2011 Four Winns H180 SS.
Aussie built Mustang 2800.
SOLD - 1997 Four Winns Horizon RS

This post will live on as an all time favorite!

I always caution the Admiral on the dangers of overfilling our tank. I've sent her a link to your experience. I think this might finally get my point across.

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2008 Vista 278 Volvo Penta 8.1 Gi 375 hp
1999 Horizon 220 5.7 GSi