The type and size of your pumpout equipment will depend on your needs. Below are 5 things to consider when designing your pumpout system.
1. Usage. The type of boaters you have will determine your usage. Do you have liveaboards or long term transients that will need regular pump outs?
This may cause you to need a central vacuum system with hydrants (suction ports) spaced near the finger piers to accommodate the use of a portable hose reel.
If there are only few occasions when boats are occupied in slip and for short duration, or a pumpout boat is available, then slip-side pump outs are not needed. In that case, a dock-side, point of pump out will be sufficient. The dockside pumpout is usually located near the fueling station or at the first point of your docks encountered on return to port.
Note: A pump out at your fueling area will increase your fuel sales as nearby residents with their own docks will usually fuel where they can pump out too, before returning to their docks.
2. Marina Size. To operate a central pump out system that covers a large number of slips on numerous docks requires a lot of plumbing. Shorter pipe runs mean quicker pump outs. Sometimes it is necessary to install more than one SaniSailor pump out system in the larger marinas. On occasion, a few smaller units are better than one, depending on the marina layout.
3. Piping Materials. Durability, initial cost, longevity, sizing, joints, turns, etc. There are many site-specific choices to be made. PVC or HDPE? Schedule 40 or 80? Elbows, wyes, or sweeps? Hydrant types and locations. This is all best left to the plumbing and pump out experts to recommend on a case by case.
4. System Location. Suction is KEY to a good pumpout system. Laws of Physics are tougher on vacuum than on pressure. This boils down to placing the units as close to the docks as possible. The discharge line to the sewer piping, septic, or holding tank can run uphill or long distances as the peristaltic SaniSailor pumps are positive displacement. What goes in – has to come out, and it is under pressure. Suction piping, however, is restricted by the total amount of vertical lift allowed by those pesky physics laws, and is further reduced by friction loss of the piping system.
5. System Operators. Who will be maintaining the pump? Will it be people that are used to the day to day handling? Or will it be someone that does it every once in a while?
On central pump out systems, there are certain actions that help keep your pump in optimal condition. While these are simple things for someone that pumps regularly, the once in a while Captain may allow the pump to suck in much more air. Or they may hang the hose in the water for cleaning (and suck up sand, shells and more). Or they could make so many other small mistakes that could cost you a significant amount of money.
Central pump out systems are for the well trained and experienced pumpers.
6. Hose Reel. Vortex is the answer.
We all know that hanging loops of suction hose accumulates vertical lift, so we know to lay it all out flat on the dock, or should have. The same is true with hose reels, each loop on the reel adds up to more lift.
EMP has patented the Vortex Hose Reel. You no longer have to unreel (then re-reel) all of the hose.
Hook up the Vortex hose reel to the hydrant, pull off the amount of hose you need to reach the fitting on the boat. Lay the Vortex back into the operating position, and pump away. By laying the reel back this way, the loops are now all horizontal. Hence, no lift. With this operation, your SaniSailor central pump out system is the most efficient it can be.
7. Options. You can choose many different options for your system. These options include: RF remote control, hand-held or cart mounted, stanchions with low-voltage push buttons, key lock, token acceptor, multiple units or larger single system, high volume or average, etc.
Are you looking for the best option possible for you? Get pump out experts to lay it out for your specific needs and wants!