Boat camping on the road...

J

JamesTXSD

Active member
We are still counting down the days... 38 until the big "outta here". As some of you know, we have been sailors and motorhomers for many years. Some of you have mentioned that you use your C-Dory for camping when on the road. I understand the sleeping, eating and cooking part... but what do you do with your gray water (from the sink and shower) when in a campground??? There is no holding tank for this, and no campground allows you to spill gray water out on the ground.

We recently joined the diesel pick-up crowd (LOVE it!), concerned that our Leisure Travel Class B would be strained pulling a CD-25. We plan to spend LOTS more time on the water than on land; still we'd appreciate any insight on handling this situation. Thanks in advance.

Best wishes,
Jim & Joan B.
 
Jim,
Don't have a shower in my 22- I use the campground shower. The sink I either don't use or jam a piece of hose in the outlet and run into a 5 gallon bucket on the ground. You probably have already heard this but check where your Wallas exhaust comes out and make sure it doesn't hit a bunk guide-on.
 
James, I had an old Yukon Delta Houseboat on a trailer that came with a hose fitting on the grey water drain. It also used the center (tri-hull) hull area as an accumulating area for grey water which was pumped out thru that hose fitting. I am wondering if one could friction fit a hose barp to hose thread nylon fitting into that grey water outlet. I am thinking of picking up my boat myself and, like you, trying to figure out how to stay in it while in transit from one body of water to another.

Also, I have seen ppl with pickup campers just set a 5 gallon bucket under the grey water outlet. John
 
James-

The easiest solution would be to find a tubing of just the right diameter so that you could just friction fit it into the outlet.

A second way would be to thread the inside bore of the through-hull outlet on the outside of the hull. Then simply screw in a threaded nipple with a tygon tubing or water hose clamped on the other end with a radiator style clamp. As I remember, the through hull has kind of a tapered bore, and might just be very easy to thread to, otherwise it could be drilled out to more of a cylindrical bore, if necessary, before threading. This will be a much more difficult process if the through hull is metal (!).

Any tubing could be either just long enough to reach the bucket, or to be taken to the sewer drain.

Unfortunately, any fitting would have to be removed before going into the water again, as it would get wiped off on the dock too easily because of it's protrusion outward.

For someone doing a lot of this "boaterhoming" one could go a step further: Place a "Y" under the sink outlet in the cabinet with two valves attached- one on the regular outlet side overboard, and the other connected to a tube leading through the cabin aft bulkhead (and downward) along the ridge line in the hull, around the gas tank, then down to the hull drain at the rear. Make the tube long enough that, with the plug removed, it will protrude out the through hull, then either into a bucket, or couple to another length of hose to the sewer intake at the RV park, etc. Admittedly, this is a bit overly complicated, but if one has problems implimenting the side drain option and spent a lot of time doing this type of camping, might be an easier solution in the long run.

(On Edit) Hope these ideas are adaptable to your 25. I have a 22 and can only visualize what I'm familiar with to make proposals.

Joe.
 
Discovery (a 25.5 TomCat) has the solution....he machined a fitting that hooks into the discharge outlet and hooks to a RV drain pipe.... so he can discharge at any dump site (they are usually available at roadside rests ...at least in California) I don't have a shower or holding tank on my 22' cruiser so I don't have that problem.... if we are on the road for any long period of time we usually stay in a motel every few days to get a shower and dump there... works just fine....really it just sounds like a problem...but it never has been....don't worry...everyone we have ever asked along the road has really been nice and accomidating.

Joel
SEA3PO
 
Our plan on the TC255 is to make a fitting to screw into the "sink" drain and into a blue tank we have left over from RV's with small holding tanks.
A bucket will work fine. We will use the shower in the campground. An RV airconditioner will be on the roof. On the 22 I just used a small hospital wash basin (the free kind you get when a patient) for dishes and then carried it to a bucket in the cockpit and thence to the dump fitting.

One could also fit a similar fitting for the shower if one was to use it, or a Y to a bucket.
 
OK, I am getting the hose into the sink outlet situation; our daughter had a pop-up camper a few years ago and that was the way that worked. Many campgrounds require you to have a rubber "do-nut" on the sewer connection, but I'm sure I could adapt something.

Another question for any CD-25 owners: where does the shower water drain? Does it go into the bilge to be pumped out? And where does that exit?

It's getting close enough now that Joan is asking me these questions about practical usage... thanks for making me look like I know this stuff! :wink

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Jim,

The shower on my 2003 CD-25 drains to a sealed sump box located below the port side cabinet opposite the head/shower and is pumped overboard from there, also to the port side.

Michael
 
Never thought of that much, since I don't use the campgrounds. I usually pull into a WalMart, or Flying J. The Flying J's you can get a shower for $5 and back on the road.
 
Hi Folks,

Here is an idea that may work. In my boat, I am not going to ever drain the sink overboard. I believe that gray water will also be outlawed by the "greenies" . also I don't like to put holes in my boat if I can help it.

What I do is have jug to receive the dirty water from the bottom of the sink.

What you can do is put a two-way valve just under the drain. If you are camping, run the drain water into a jug. If on the water, run it overboard.

Easiest way to do it.

Also remember that you can camp out in parking lots of all night restaurants and turnpike restaurants and gas stations. When I was camping, I use to do it, with no problem. Also all night supermarkets. You just have to pick your neighborhood. Walmart Parking lots are usually free, and everybody protects everybody. Just get permission.

You also might get the local police department emergency number. 911 is to slow. Just ring them up on your cell phone and tell them it is a 911 call, and tell them where you are. Good reason for the permission. Camp grounds are good for the extra services they provide, but are getting to costly.

Happy Camping,

Fred
 
Regarding camping in parking lots, etc: many communities do not allow camping other than in designated campgrounds (that means no Wal-Mart or other parking lots). We have logged over 250,000 miles in motorcoaches, and have used those parking lots sparingly. A campground isn't any more expensive than a marina (and often less). I won't stay in a rest area or a truck stop because of the noise (can't sleep when those trucks/refers are running all night long). We prefer peace, quiet, and some security. I have no problem with a quiet place to anchor vs a parking lot (somehow there seem to be fewer crazies out on the water... so far).

Our local Wal-Mart used to offer "one night" parking lot stays. The local campgrounds made such a fuss that they changed the city ordinace and that is not allowed now. As a long-time member of Family Motorcoach Association, we know that more and more communities are enacting such laws. Too bad, but some folks took advantage. Not really that much different from places in Florida that no longer allow boats to anchor out in city limits.

Thanks for all the suggestions... we just want to be good neighbors on the land as well as on the water.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
The only WalMart I'm aware of that will refuse an overnight stay is in Americus, Georgia (President Carter -- no transients).

WalMart -- a great place to stay -- a great place to shop (and yes I own stock). Just make sure you pull up at the back of the lot, with all the other campers.
 
I believe it was Phoenix that Wal Mart would not let us stay, but they sent us to the closest Indian casino and they let you stay.... However.... there are well lubricated ppl wandering around those Casino lots all night long. John
 
Walmart's hospitality may be laudable, but not without its problems.

FYI: A recent news piece on TV (can't remember location) reported the added burden on local law enforcement. They were getting calls -regularly- (often daily, sometimes several times daily) regarding behaviors (noise, drinking) and thefts (car prowling), and occassional robberies. Several customers said they no longer shopped there at night due to frequent problems in the parking lot.

Unfortunately, maybe there are valid reasons why camping is restricted in many urban locations.

Too bad; it's a great theory . . .

iggy
 
ffheap":gzy174jz said:
You also might get the local police department emergency number. 911 is to slow. Just ring them up on your cell phone and tell them it is a 911 call, and tell them where you are.
Fred
Click to expand...

Obviously there are some communities in the country that currently do not have "911", instead they still have seven digit phone numbers (which are "routed" into a dispatch center, so obviously it helps for a "traveler" to know that. (I believe San Juan County, Washington State is still that way). If "911" is the emergency number for where you are located then by all means (Definitely!) use that number as that gets you into the appropriate "dispatch center". If the calling party is having difficulty speaking (or "drops off the line") the calls are recorded and can be played back. Additionally, for the areas that have "enhanced 911" the dispatch center has your phone number and if calling from a "hard line" your location address. Dispatch centers are equipped with trained dispatchers that know how to appropriately route your call for a proper and expeditious response and may keep you "on the line" to assist you if needed (ie: provide "telephone CPR", obtain descriptions of "the bad guys", etc. likewise they are able keep the responding officers, medics, firefighters apprised of any changes in your situation.)
If you merely call a police department number, the person that answers the call may forward the call to a dispatch center because of "mandates" for the proper routing thereby delaying your response time further.
Additionally, if you call a police department or fire department directly
there may not be any one at that location (likewise don't drive to a police department or fire department expecting someone to be there) as they may be out of the station on other calls. A dispatcher will know this and then dispatch the closest unit available.

Guess how I know all this "stuff"? :wink

P.S. On a lighter although serious side we should be sure to say 9-1-1 not 9-11 as in reality some folks said they couldn't find the 11 (eleven) on their phone, so were unable to complete their emergency call.
 
On our current trip I have been thinking about the gray waste water: The best solution for the TC 255 seems to be to have a "Y" valve under the sink--and in the sump pump for the show--and if necessary a secondary pump--to pump the gray water into one of the blue tanks, which RV's use. This can be left on the ground under the trailer, or in the cockpit (we have a davit and hoist to on/off load heavy items.)--then the blue containers can be wheeled to a dump site or stored until you are at an RV dump.

We travel over 10,000 miles a year in an RV and usually stay at camp grounds--all different type of facilities avaialable. We have seen "Boat" campers at most all of them along the way. I don't think that "Walmarts" are a good solution--but Flying J's can be--as well as some rest stops. There are still parts of the country where you can just pull off the road into a National Forrest etc. and stay a night. Check out the RV Forums for ideas.
 
The Flying J's I stay at on the run west are I-20 Georgia/Alabama line (good), Shreveport (good WalMart if full), Fort Worth (OK), and the ones I avoid staying at are I-25 Cheyanne Wyoming, I-40 at Amarillo, and almost any on I-80 are to be avoided due to ingress/egress issues and heavy traffic. The Walmart at Amarillo is camper/truck/boat friendly, the one in Shreveport is as well but you must come in the back entrance as they have clearance bars up to keep the truckers out. I've stayed at WalMarts all along 287 without problems in various vehicles (boat too). When thinking of Flying J, remember Petro has the same setup (as does Williams), may have better parking, and has 24 hour food (and some of it is good).
 
I must have a different tolerance for quiet than some of you folks... we fuel up at Flying Js because their prices are (generally) competitive within an area, and they usually have an RV lane that allows bigger rigs without jockying with the 18 wheelers and the high flow diesel pumps. But, they are the noisiest places to try to spend a night... diesels and refers running all night long. When we have tried to stay there, there always seems to be a big-truck that pulls in next to us with something loud running throughout the night. Who can sleep through that? :disgust

Camping World and Wal-Mart are doable, but I still prefer the piece and quiet (and decent facilities) of a campground.
 
I have a 'good' set of very soft, very light, 30 dbc ear plugs. Work great, one size fits ALL rest stops, Walmarts, and Pilot/Flying J/Loves stations!
 
there always seems to be a big-truck that pulls in next to us with something loud running throughout the night. Who can sleep through that?
Click to expand...

After listening to jets and recips for 30+ years, all I can say is: What truck?

I'm usually traveling until 1-2 a.m. and most of that stuff is shut down by then. Parking with the RV's is good strategy in general to stay away from the trucks, but many will run their generators until 10 pm. The FJ's I outlined as unacceptable have smallish lots and there's no way to get away from the big rigs (especially Amarillo (Kingman Az another one).

Ditch.jpg
 
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