Joelsanders

Thanks DaveI regard mine as for emergencies only too, hence yesterday being its first use in 3 years. I tried putting the cap on lightily but the pump action caused it to fly off every time. You've got me thinking about cutting a hole in the cap though and screwing it on tightly.

I'll try not to be graphic. 3 years ago, I spent a small fortune on a hand pump and never found the courage to use it. Yesterday morning, out of necessity, I used it for the first time. I moored up by an elsan point and pumped out into a 25 litre plastic container before decantering into the elsan. I did this 3 or 4 times until the job was finished. Ideally, it's a 2 person job though - one person operating the pump, whilst the other holds the exit hose steady (in my case, a wide, soft hose - roughly 7 feet long). I deliberately bought a shorter hose as - being a single boater - I knew that the longer, standard ones, intended for pumping out directly into the Elsan, would be less practical for me. Does anyone with experience of operating a hand pump single handedly in the way I have described have any tips on stopping the exit hose from flying out of the container during the pumping process? My 2 thoughts so far are (1) attaching a weight to the end (2) cutting the hose down to 4 ft so that I can hold it with one hand whilst pumping with the other. Next time I do this, my goals are to eliminate trauma and not to follow up with a trip to the launderette.

So sorry you went through this terrifying experience. I've been boating around 7 years and falling in is one of the few horrors I've yet to experience. Consequently, it' remains a big fear - as I imagine it is for many of us, especially Thise of us who live alone . I'm clumsy, not especially athletic / coordinated and I think about ithe possibility every time I step on board (especially if I'm double moored) or work a lock. Despite a few close calls, I often think the awareness / fear is what has kept me dry so far. Other than try to get out again and yelling lots, I don't have a strategy in place either. Well done on managing to cope as well as you did. Your experience is an important reminder of how dangerous boating can be.

I have a pump out and used blue for years. Recently, however, I was told by someone who knows more than I do that blue was better suited for cassettes and directed to a concentrated holding tank treatment called Odourlos. The label boasts "absolutely no holding tank odours". I've been using it for a few months now and can't dispute that claim. Whatever you use though, the recurring theme seems to be to stick with one thing. If I added blue now, i'm told it would kill the chemicals that make Odorlos work. Also does Blue actually break down the waste or just mask the smell? This stuff breaks it down

Final 'Angry Boater' shows of 2015 - this Wednesday & next on Shaftesbury Avenue 7.30 pm to 9.15 pm. Tickets: http://www.angryboater.com ..... a short film about the show:

.... and the one after, The show arrives in the heart of theatreland on Wed, Nov 18th, 25th & Dec 2nd. Showtime is 7.30 pm (doors 7 pm) at Bar Rumba, just around the corner from Piccadilly Circus Station. Tickets etc http://www.angryboater.com