We are thinking of buying a 1987 Catalina C30 that only has a direct discharge for the head. Has anyone done a conversion over to a holding tank? Where can I find a kit and is it very difficult to do? Thanks
Conversion from direct discharge to holding tank
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Check - research past links on this website, as there are many threads already discussed on this topic. A soft, eurothane - or vinyl based holding tank bag is easist to install as it is flexible in the hold beween the head & hull area in the adjacent cabinet, or stowed under one of the setee bunks. The downside is if it gets punctured by something, you've got a real potential mess on your hands. Hard plastic tanks have more durability, but take up more room & can be difficult to install if they don't fit within the constraints of the cover boards - access openings under the bunks, etc. To be honest my 1980 C - 30 & my last boat, also a 1980 vintage also did not have a holding tank installed. I don't think it was commonly installed by boat builders until the mid 1980's era. Surprising that your boat doesn't have one - it may have removed or disconnected. O'l Skool Neil may be a good source of info - he used to work as a boat builder.
Thanks for the reply. I was looking for a quick answer here and I did notice after posting that there were a few threads discussing the issue. In the meantime, I have also done some research and found suppliers of holding tanks that fit in the port dinette settee. Just have to figure out where I would pass all the required plumbing. I don't think the issue will be a deal buster and we will go ahead with the purchase. We own a Pearson 26 right now but would really love to move up to the Catalina.
I don't think you'll regret buying a C-30 its a good solid boat & as many say a lot of boat for the money. But there are problematic areas to look for: compression fatigue -depression around the stepped mast at the cabin top. Look for a Catalina smile at the hull to keel joint, check the keel bolts for crevice deterioration / rusting in the bilge, check the chain plates & window frames for leaks. Use a mirror to check the underside of the oil pan for bad rusting, as bilge water always located under the engine can cause condensation corrosion. Check wiring for proper grounding, especially 110 outlets. Check through hull valves & stuffing box for leaks. Do a rigging inspection & check for deterioration of yours has wooden spreaders. My 1980 C-30 had held up pretty well for its age, but a survey is always helpful to know what your buying & can be used as a negotiation tool. I work as a building inspector & I still missed a few things on my boat, but it was a very good deal (9 k). Most surveyors don't even report on the engine condition - I hired a marine mechanic to perform a compression test on the diesel to confirm it was a runner. Good luck, Jeremy
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