Do it yourself Pumpout?

Eischman · 2026-07-08T10:35:31-0600

Okay, the public marina in Fish Creek, WI has raised prices once again and now it's like paying $6 for every gallon of pee water, (wish I lived in MI) has anyone come up with a way to pump it out themselves?
I have a septic system at home I can put it in just need a way to extract it.

Scott Danforth · 2026-07-08T11:17:16-0600

its safer to pay to pump out.

its unlawful to discharge any black water tank in the great lakes no mater what state you live in.

if you had a removable porta-potty, you could dump it yourself easily.

Sprig · 2026-07-08T11:38:27-0600

What??? Just pay the $$$. Dont mess with the poop. It’s just part of the boating expense. If you can’t afford that, sell the boat.

alldodge · 2026-07-08T16:04:42-0600

A large shopvac will suck it out

airshot · 2026-07-08T16:13:10-0600

alldodge said:
A large shopvac will suck it out

As long as I am not going to clean that out after !!! With all the new laws on human waste making it a hazardous material with special handling requirements, it us only going to get more expensive. Pay the big bucks or switch over to a small porta potty.

alldodge · 2026-07-08T16:18:48-0600

airshot said:
As long as I am not going to clean that out after !!! With all the new laws on human waste making it a hazardous material with special handling requirements, it us only going to get more expensive. Pay the big bucks or switch over to a small porta potty.

A question was asked and I answered it
If you go for a porta potty then you have the "same" issue just in a different container, so "what is your point"?

Stinnett21 · 2026-07-09T06:09:56-0600

Buy a dedicated shop vac and leave it sitting outside.

redneck joe · 2026-07-09T06:10:57-0600

alldodge said:
A question was asked and I answered it
If you go for a porta potty then you have the "same" issue just in a different container, so "what is your point"?

a portapotty does not need sucking out, has its own tank and he said he had a septic at the house. So transport and disposal are taken care of.

alldodge · 2026-07-09T06:38:24-0600

redneck joe said:
a portapotty does not need sucking out, has its own tank and he said he had a septic at the house. So transport and disposal are taken care of.

I guess you just like to bring up irrelevant info

redneck joe · 2026-07-09T07:20:47-0600

i guess i do?

airshot · 2026-07-09T09:28:18-0600

alldodge said:
A question was asked and I answered it
If you go for a porta potty then you have the "same" issue just in a different container, so "what is your point"?

That porta Potty can be dumped at any restroom by pouring it in the toilet rather than having to pump it out. Most people can carry the waste holding tank into a toilet or over to a dump outlet....no paying anyone to pump it out! That is my point.....

Pmt133 · 2026-07-09T09:33:45-0600

Today I learned not all pump out stations are free.

Scott Danforth · 2026-07-09T10:32:23-0600

Pmt133 said:
Today I learned not all pump out stations are free.

Most are when you buy fuel from their fuel docks, some are not.

Pmt133 · 2026-07-09T12:19:43-0600

Scott Danforth said:
Most are when you buy fuel from their fuel docks, some are not.

We have several public pump outs at transient slips around me that are no charge and maintained by the towns/county. Pump out boats are no charge as well. Obviously I'm paying taxes towards that but still... it's one nice perk I suppose.

airshot · 2026-07-09T13:58:33-0600

Pmt133 said:
We have several public pump outs at transient slips around me that are no charge and maintained by the towns/county. Pump out boats are no charge as well. Obviously I'm paying taxes towards that but still... it's one nice perk I suppose.

That is rare in my area, they have a fee for everything....take advantage if you can !

Stinnett21 · 2026-07-09T15:54:48-0600

I've never dealt with a porta potty but I have heard people with cuddy cabins say they drop the shop vac hose through the hatch and suck it out. I guess they think it's easier than pulling the porta potty.

matt167 · 2026-07-09T16:05:29-0600

As messy and stinky as it sounds ( it is ) a macerator pump is all you need. Friend of mine owns a septic and porta potty company and he has a trailer that he can hook to his truck with a small tank for porta’s and that’s all it is.

That said… eeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwww

Scott Danforth · 2026-07-09T16:22:51-0600

FWIW, I have a dometic porta potty. A single clip removes the upper tank, a single clip removes the sealed lower tank.

Bring it in the house, flip the discharge tube around, hold your breath, uncap and open the vent

While easy to empty, no way I would ruin a shop vac

Not to mention, 100 gallons of gas at the fuel dock is $488. An extra $36 to pump the crapper is almost irrelevant

nola mike · 2026-07-09T18:02:51-0600

Scott Danforth said:
Not to mention, 100 gallons of gas at the fuel dock is $488. An extra $36 to pump the crapper is almost irrelevant

$600 here

Pmt133 · 2026-07-09T18:03:27-0600

airshot said:
That is rare in my area, they have a fee for everything....take advantage if you can !

Yeah. Haven't paid for a pump out in 16 years. Just 60k in taxes.

Do it yourself Pumpout?

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