Holding Tank for a 27

[Jesse Hefter]

I am looking at purchasing a 1977 Catalina 27 that comes with a head but no holding tank. What is required to add one and is it a job for an average "tool" guy?

 

[Rob Rich]

Check with Peggie

Peggie Hall (aka the Head Mistress) has a section all about holding tanks, etc... I am pretty sure you will find your answer there. Lots of things to consider, but you'd be surprised what an average tool guy can do when he likes what he is doing.I have a C-27 with a tank already in it. The tank resides under the v-birth, and has a discharge and vent on the port side. I don't think it would be too bad of a project, and even if it is, its much better than the alternatives - straight shooting (flushing overboard) or holding it (not an option).Good Luck!Rob

 

[Peter]

Holding Tank

Putting in a holding tank is definitely something that you can do yourself. Definitely check out Peggies discussion area. Putting in a new holding tank is much easier than modifying someone else's setup - as I did.

 

[Joe Passanisi]

Just finished installining mine

I just finished installing mine. All you neeed to put it together is about ten feet of sewage hose a standard 9 gallon or 18 gallon holdong tank. (that will feet under the stbd quarter birth. I think mine measured 13"w X 10"H X 16 inches deep. Question for you do you have the outboard model or the inboard? If you have the in board you will need the shorter tank. I ran the sewage hose straight back to the storage hold under the stbd quarter birth. I ran the discharge line from the tank into the storage hold under the stbd sette. I hooked it up to a macerator pump and fed the discharge from the macerator to the overboard discharge valve. (through hull) I put a Y valve in between the macerator and the holding tank. I ran the white sewage hose up through the stbd quarter birth along the bulkhead and through the deck with the appropriate deck fitting. The way the system works is you pump the waste from the toilet into the top fitting on the tank. The tank fills. You can now go to the marina and suck it out through the deck fitting. Or when you are out 3 miles. Open the through hull valve, shift the y valves position and turn on the masserator and whalla the waste is ground and pumped out. I also installed a chemical treatment system ($30.00) in the suction line of the head so when you pump water into the head it turns blue and leaves no residue or smell. I also blocked the tank up with hard wood blocks to get it level or close to it. I then fiberglassed over the blocks to hold them in place. I also glassed one block on all for sides of the tank so the tank would not move side to side or front to back. I took an old piece of fire hose and made a strap going acrosss the top of the tank. Got it nice and tight and screwed it to on of the glassed in blocks of wood. So the tank would not bounce.The pump and Y valve are screwed to a piece of 3/4" plywood large enough to give them support and wide enough so that they touch the bulk heads and can't be moved side to side. It didn't take up much room at all. The wife is happy because she lost minimal storage space and she has a legal throne. You can buy everything from west marine. Total cost was $349.00 and about 8 hrs time. The macerator pump was $110.00 and the Waste hose was $90.00. Oh don't forget you will have to run your vent hose for the tank. Make sure the hose does not droop below the top of the tank. I drilled small holes in to the fiberglass rim where the access panels go under the cushions on the stbd quarter birth and sette. I then used wire ties (tie wraps) to secure the hoses out of the way. I got yhe idea from plans on the Catalina projects page. You can also check out the trailer sailor webb site. please excuse my spelling and typeing errors. I am rushing. Well good luck.Joe