Peggy (or anyone), I looked at a boat today that has just had its sanatation hose changed and had a new holding tank. When I looked at the tank it was a flexible, bladder type tank. I had never seen this (of course there is a lot of things I haven't seen!). is this OK? It was used on a vac u flush system (I doubt the system has any revelence to the tank), But this seemed strange? Is it OK? Thanks for any input - Oh yea, the tank was grey and seemed to be pretty heavy gauge. The guy that had changed the hoses and installed the tank seemed to know what he was doing on the other systems on the boat, but want another opion. Thanks Ed
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Not a good choice...
Obviously he hadn't read my book!
Bladders are ok for water and fuel, but not recommended for sewage holding. They have a short lifespan (only about 15 years), and because they're designed to hug the contents, it's almost impossible to maintain a bladder aerobically...so horrible odor out the vent every time the head is flushed is almost guaranteed. The only reason the owner prob'ly installed a bladder is because he wasn't aware of any reasonably priced sources for a tank that would fit the space...only the few rectangular shapes shown in the catalogs. He prob'ly used SeaLand hose too...no longer the best choice any more either. I wouldn't let it be a deal breaker...if you buy the boat, you can replace with with a TOP quality plastic tank for $200 or less.
Obviously he hadn't read my book!
Bladders are ok for water and fuel, but not recommended for sewage holding. They have a short lifespan (only about 15 years), and because they're designed to hug the contents, it's almost impossible to maintain a bladder aerobically...so horrible odor out the vent every time the head is flushed is almost guaranteed. The only reason the owner prob'ly installed a bladder is because he wasn't aware of any reasonably priced sources for a tank that would fit the space...only the few rectangular shapes shown in the catalogs. He prob'ly used SeaLand hose too...no longer the best choice any more either. I wouldn't let it be a deal breaker...if you buy the boat, you can replace with with a TOP quality plastic tank for $200 or less.Not sealand
Interesting enough, he said the old lines were sealand and he thought they were BAD, he replaced them with shields sanitation or a generic type of that brand at a cost of $8 a foot. Not sure if that is the right way to go. 15 years on the tank seems OK - but not the smell. Would change the tank, but not the lines if you think they are OK.
Interesting enough, he said the old lines were sealand and he thought they were BAD, he replaced them with shields sanitation or a generic type of that brand at a cost of $8 a foot. Not sure if that is the right way to go. 15 years on the tank seems OK - but not the smell. Would change the tank, but not the lines if you think they are OK.
I'd live it with till you have a problem...
One in every zillion bladder tanks somehow manages to remain odor-free. Shields hose is ok, no better or worse than SeaLand's new Odorsafe (if his previous was SeaLand's other hose, it's a lot better). You'll prob'ly get at least a couple of odor-free years out of it, maybe longer. And you might get lucky with the bladder. As I said, not a deal breaker...just make sure he didn't go with an UNvented bladder. That's ok for water and fuel, but CG regs require all WASTE tanks to be vented to the outside of the boat.
One in every zillion bladder tanks somehow manages to remain odor-free. Shields hose is ok, no better or worse than SeaLand's new Odorsafe (if his previous was SeaLand's other hose, it's a lot better). You'll prob'ly get at least a couple of odor-free years out of it, maybe longer. And you might get lucky with the bladder. As I said, not a deal breaker...just make sure he didn't go with an UNvented bladder. That's ok for water and fuel, but CG regs require all WASTE tanks to be vented to the outside of the boat.
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