Holding Tank Fittings

[Jerryd]

Hi Peggy! I'm new to the list and currently replacing my Ronco holding tank in my Catalina 380. I;m confused what to use on the 1 1/2" barbed fittings where they thread in to the female tank fittings? The factory uses 5200. Ronco says the fittings should only be assembled dry with no tape or sealants as it can cause future problems Spears says to use their Blue 75 paste sealant. I think some of your old posts mention teflon tape. Its all very confusing!

The removal of the old tank was not a lot of fun, so I don't want to have to do it again. So I need to make sure In do everything correct the first time.

Additionally, I have about a 12" connecting pipe between the macerator "T" and the holding tank. I'm thinking a shutoff valve there would be a good thing to make it easier to service the pump it I ever have the need. Any suggestions?

Thanks
Jerry

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Welcome aboard the good ship sbo.com!

Don't even THINK of using 5200! The stuff should be banned for marine use IMO. I can't believe any competent boat builder would use it on tank fittings, 'cuz it's a glue, not a sealant.

And I dunno why Ronco insists that nothing should be used, 'cuz any fitting that's even a micromilimeter out of round can leak if it's not sealed.

Teflon tape or paste is the only thing to use for this application.

As for a shutoff valve, I'd use a thread-barb tank fitting that's also a shutoff valve if you can find one. If not, replace the tee with a y-valve.

 

[Jerryd]

Re: Welcome aboard the good ship sbo.com!

Thanks Peggy! From what I've read, Catalina has been using 5200 or something similar for a long time and that's what they suggested to me when I was there last week. One of the large yards here in town suggested 101. I guess teflon would be the safe route.

I'd rather use a shutoff valve between he tank and macerator if anyone else here has run across one that worked for them??

Jerry

 

[Stu Jackson]

I'd rather use a shutoff valve between he tank and macerator if anyone else here has run across one that worked for them?

Why bother adding the extra valve? If you need to fix the macerator sometime in the future, just pump out first.

Another reason is that the hose is not the easiest to work with, so you'd end up wrasslin' with two more connections and extra hose clamps and potential leak points. KISS.

 

[Jerryd]

Why bother adding the extra valve? If you need to fix the macerator sometime in the future, just pump out first.

Another reason is that the hose is not the easiest to work with, so you'd end up wrasslin' with two more connections and extra hose clamps and potential leak points. KISS.

The 380 macerator pump is Tee'd off vertically from the outflow of the holding tank about 1ft from the tank toward the bow and then the line runs about 2 more foot before it goes through the wall in to the v-berth hanging locker and then vertically to the deck pumpout fitting. That's roughly another 3' on hose that waste can accumulate in. Shutting it off before the tank would eliminate that. That's a bigger concern then ease of pump maintenance.
Jerry