Do you ever need to replace your holding tank

[Jim Fitch]

My boat is a 1990 Catalina 34 and over the last three or four years the head system has really started to stink up the boat. This spring I plan on replacing everything, but would it make any sense to replace the plastic holding tank? Do they ever permeate like the hoses and need to be replaced? I want to start "fresh" this year but I don't want to waste time and money if replacing the tank doesn't make any sense.I've read everything on replacing the hoses but nothing about the tank walls themselves as a source of odor.

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

If the tank was factory installed,

The odss that it has permeated are virtually nil. Ronco Plastics (who was our primary supplier for nearly 10 years) has made OEM tanks for Catalina for years...they're top quality, with walls that are at least 50% thicker than anything you'll find in the WM, B/US etc catalogs except SeaLand tanks. Unless someone has over-tightened a fitting when replacing hoses and cracked the tank, there's no reason to replace it.Btw...before you start this project, you might want to browse the articles in the Head Mistress forum Reference Library (on the forum home page). Among other bits of useful information, you'll find some helpful tips that make changing hoses a bit easier.

 

[Robert Dean]

A cracked tank

Peggy,The corner of my collector tank has cracked.It is either a product of the cold weather or just age.Is there any of the new glues or silcon that will seal this corner seam ??

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

Replacement is the only option, Dean

A crack in a plastic tank cannot be mended because nothing bonds permanently to polyethylene. A really good quality, thick-walled (at least 3/8") plastic tank shouldn't fail due to age OR cold for at leat 20-30 years. Check out Ronco Plastics for a replacement.