Carver Owners Forum

Hi! I’ve been researching all I can to solve my issue. I have a 1998 Carver 370 Vogayer with a Vacuflush system. After flushing the toilet, during its pumping cycle waste/poop comes out of the side vent. The tank looks like it’s empty to 1/4 full. I just purchased the boat and working through troubleshooting but hopefully someone here has some insight. I found out the hard way. Moored on a dock with people sitting next to our boat, flush, then waste all over the dock 2 feet away.

Any ideas on the root cause? I am thinking a clog of some sort ...

You must be assessing the tank content wrong as the only way this can happen is if the tank is full to the brim. That being said the vent line may have a filter which is now contaminated and must be changed. The vent line itself should be back flushed for a good while as it will stink. You really need to address the full tank. If you are going by the gauge, forget it as most are fouled and read incorrectly.

Welcome to the forum by the way.

I agree with Hans in that the tank may indeed be full. The other possibility is that your vent hose is full of waste from a previous overflow. If the hose isn't routed uphill all the way from the tank to the hull fitting, some will always remain in the hose. When the system pumps waste into the tank, the pressure will force air out the vent. If there is waste in the hose, the waste will be forced out the vent. As Hans mentioned, if there's a filter, you need to replace it but rinse the hose first before installing the new one.

This is a clear indication of how important it is to empty your tank before it's too late. If you're uncertain about the legitimacy of the reading you're getting from the level indicator, get it fixed so this doesn't happen again. An odour coming from the boat every time you flush is embarrassing, waste coming from your boat right next to your neighbours is even worse

Good luck with the repair and keep us posted.

Welcome to the forum......Do you have the OBD....overboard discharge system ?.....someone just went thru this same sort of thing with the "Y" valve settings. Not saying this is it, may just be a full tank as Vacuflush pressurizes the waste tank during its pumping cycle.

In any case get your system pumped out and flushed with fresh water, take your time doing this. Do a quick search here for the thread I am referring to.......good luck.

here.......viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4933

Man, that sounds like a crappy situation. Agree with previous, your tank is full. er

Thank you everyone for your feedback! I’m going to go today and try to pump out again. @bud27 I do have an OBD system at the holding tank. The valve is turned in off position. Someone said to open this when pumping but I don’t think that’s correct.

To flush the tank with water is it OK to just it a hose into the waste deck fitting then repump?

Adding water to rinse into the pump out port is very common and something most seasoned boaters do all the time myself included. I would try flushing with a lot of fresh water 2 or 3 times while at the pump out station.

Check your vent line for a filter......if there is none then you can back flush that vent line from the outside while the pumpout suction is on.

If there is a filter, the media will need to be changed if it has gotten wet.

The first step is to establish which is the waste tank vent line and fittings. Make sure you know the difference between all your vent fittings......waste, water tank, and the most important THE FUEL TANK vent fittings.

Generally, the attendant can hear the air being sucked in thru the vent line while the waste pump is sucking thru the pump out hose/fitting. Also put a paper towel against it, it will pull the towel in. Make sure you know which is the waste tank vent fitting first. This really is anal overkill so to speak.... , so long as there is air being pulled in then you are ok IMO.

If there is a filter then you can't flush it with the filter in place, but you can listen or feel the air being pulled in, that will verify the filter is not plugged.

Before any of this, you really will have to sort out which way the valving for the OBD system needs to be left during pump outs....etc....something I can't help with, never had a boat with a system like that, but I can see how it would screw with things.