Bertram33 User Forum

Does anyone know how to get to the underside of the deck fitting to change the holding tank pumpout hose? Mine is foreward of the head, just aft of the water fill inlet on the starboard side. Maybe I am not the sharpest tool in the shed, but I would like to change the odoriferous oldie for a new version without dismantling the whole boat in the process. thanks. Scott.

Having never removed mine, I don't know that fitting by heart... but could you not undo the deck fitting screws from the top, then pull it (and the hose attached to it) up enough through the gunnel, so that you can get at the hose clamp from there? If that doesn't work, I think you need really looooong arms

I don't see any screws or means of attachment. I assume from this that the SS through hull is bolted from the underside. Maybe I just change all the others and leave this one, hoping that most of the funk goes away. Scott.

Hmmmm... now I'll have to go look at that when I go back down to the marina. I've never used mine once in over four years... We generally use the marina facilities at port, and I always go offshore and pump out the holding tank there. So I don't know that fitting very well - never even opened it. At the minimum you could replace the accessible length of hose by splicing into the old one. I've always been skeptical of that theory about odors penetrating through the hoses anyway. I can't smell antifreeze through those hoses, or fuel through the fuel lines, or even exhaust thogh the rubber exhaust lines. Why should the poop tubes be so different?

I installed a deck pumpout fitting when I added a holding tank to "Phoenix". There were no screws used to hold it to the deck, instead the neck that went through the deck was threaded and a large nut screwed up from below the deck was used to hold the fitting in place. My fitting had a hose barb connection on the neck, so if I ever want to replace the hose it is a simple "remove the hose clamp and pull the hose off" deal. I will admit you might need to be a contortionist to get under the deck to get access though. Sean.. As far as the odors from various liquids penetrating the hose are concerned.. I suspect it is a molecule size issue. The H2S molecules which are probably the main gas released from poop degradation are most likely much smaller (and therefore more able to penetrate the hose) than antifreeze or exhaust molecules. On maybe not! It sounds good anyway!

allright Frank... there's no need to start laying your inner nerd on me now

Sorry Sean... Every once in a while it escapes!

Scott, My '72 didn't have a holding tank when I purchased it. So I added one and had to add the deck fill. I routed the hose out on the stb-side aft of the FW fill. This place the access to the underside of the deck fill where it was accessable through the sliding door on the stb side in the salon. If your's is in front of the fw fill up by the front windshield then look for access from the head or at worst behind the electric panel. Good luck.

Don't know about the 35, but on my 33 it feeds up behind the Stb. cabinets. I replaced it when I had them out for the repower. I couldn't even get within a mile with the cabinets in. If you can detach at the holding tank and pull the deck fitting to pull it all the way out is the only way. Gene Dugan Boca Raton, Fl. "Nauti Marie" 1989 33 FBC 2007 8.1 Crusaders

I replaced mine which is located behind the starbord cabinets, just forward of the refrigerator. I pulled the refrigerator out and had access behind the cabinets to loosen hose clamp and replace.

Brian, How'd the floor come out? Not to steal the thread, but I wanted to ask you a question about your generator. Have you ever replaced the on engine fuel filter. Frank and I winterized my boat the other day and while we changed the fuel filter for the gennie's racor, we could not figure out a way to get the on engine fuel filter off with the tools we had on hand. Any hints?

Doug, I'm not sure if we have the same diesel generator, but I changed mine recently while winterizing for the first time and just about crushed the filter with the strap wrench untill I noticed a bolt on the top of the filter conection (I think it is a 9/16), unscrewed it and the filter drops off. The really strange thing about my generator is that it has 2 fuel filters. I thought they were the same so I ordered 2 but the one closest to the engine has a 5/8 bolt for it and is a FF something 31 the other is a FF something 32. It's always something, don't know if this helps at all.

Cliff, I have a Westerbeke 7.6 BTD. I'll take another look. Thanks.

Doug, I have only changed the racor and had forgotten about the on-engine filter. I will need to figure out the same thing. Floor is 90% - 95% complete. The balance will have to wait for warmer weather in the spring. I took a bunch of pictures that I will have to post on line soon.