I recently acquired a '89 32-Vision, that had been unused for about 12 months. I find that the holding tank can only handle about 5 'flushes'(after pumpout) before expelling foul liquid from the air vent. I assume that the tank is located under the shower seat ... not too accessible. What is the rated capacity of the tank? Is there something i need to Know?
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Tank Woes
Keith, congradulations on your purchase. Once you fix the plumbing, I'm sure you will enjoy yours as much as we have for nearly 10 years. I believe the capasity is 12 gallons. Ours is located in the transom locker area. You need to make sure it is pumped dry. Make sure the air vent is not blocked; it could cause it not to evacuate fully. Also, would suggest you put hot water with detergent through the system a few times. Not sure if it helps, but will make you feel better. FYI : expect to replace it. When you do, you will have to cut the stainless strapping, slide it over and cut the tank several times to remove it. Your choices are to go to a Vetus or other quality bladder or to a smaller capasity poly tank, or multiple poly tanks linked in parallel. (The hatch opening does not permit a full size rigid tank.) The downside on the bladder is (supposedly) odor. Upside is installation is a breeze and 19 or 26 gallons for about $125. I have a tank watch for mine, so I will probably go with twin poly tanks plumbed parallel when I do mine in the next month. I'll do a HOW post on the job. I also replaced the water tank twice. It may be the additives in L.A. water, but it ate my first aluminum tank and a thick-walled custom aluminum replacement. Went with two Nauta flexible tanks a few years ago; greater capasity, too. Very satisfied. Good Luck, Rick Dinon
Keith, congradulations on your purchase. Once you fix the plumbing, I'm sure you will enjoy yours as much as we have for nearly 10 years. I believe the capasity is 12 gallons. Ours is located in the transom locker area. You need to make sure it is pumped dry. Make sure the air vent is not blocked; it could cause it not to evacuate fully. Also, would suggest you put hot water with detergent through the system a few times. Not sure if it helps, but will make you feel better. FYI : expect to replace it. When you do, you will have to cut the stainless strapping, slide it over and cut the tank several times to remove it. Your choices are to go to a Vetus or other quality bladder or to a smaller capasity poly tank, or multiple poly tanks linked in parallel. (The hatch opening does not permit a full size rigid tank.) The downside on the bladder is (supposedly) odor. Upside is installation is a breeze and 19 or 26 gallons for about $125. I have a tank watch for mine, so I will probably go with twin poly tanks plumbed parallel when I do mine in the next month. I'll do a HOW post on the job. I also replaced the water tank twice. It may be the additives in L.A. water, but it ate my first aluminum tank and a thick-walled custom aluminum replacement. Went with two Nauta flexible tanks a few years ago; greater capasity, too. Very satisfied. Good Luck, Rick Dinon
Rick, your only choices are NOT limited to...
..smaller capacity rigid tanks or bladders. There are many more choices in rigid poly tanks than the few rectangular shapes shown in the WM etc retail catalogs, including both rectangular and non-rectangular tanks. We distribute for several mfrs who among them have over 250 rectangular shapes and over 100 non-rectangular shapes. Hatch size does present a problem...but one that in MOST cases can be solved relatively easily by enlarging the hatch. And it's much better solution when it comes to holding tanks than linking tanks together...that works ok for water, but water tanks don't have to be pumped out, and that can create problems with linked tanks.
..smaller capacity rigid tanks or bladders. There are many more choices in rigid poly tanks than the few rectangular shapes shown in the WM etc retail catalogs, including both rectangular and non-rectangular tanks. We distribute for several mfrs who among them have over 250 rectangular shapes and over 100 non-rectangular shapes. Hatch size does present a problem...but one that in MOST cases can be solved relatively easily by enlarging the hatch. And it's much better solution when it comes to holding tanks than linking tanks together...that works ok for water, but water tanks don't have to be pumped out, and that can create problems with linked tanks.
Well, Shucks, Peggie...
Enlarging the hatch(es) really isn't an option because the tank is in the transom area which is reached by two molded hatches on either side of the step platform that is a molded part of the deck. But, yes, having some creative choices for dimentions and shapes would be helpful and could result in suitable replacement capasity with one tank. So, how does someone get the available sizes? Web site, catalogue, call? And, I assume the problem with linked tanks is the evacuation and further assume that a Y valve in the evacuation line would be a ready solution if necessary. Your opinion?
Enlarging the hatch(es) really isn't an option because the tank is in the transom area which is reached by two molded hatches on either side of the step platform that is a molded part of the deck. But, yes, having some creative choices for dimentions and shapes would be helpful and could result in suitable replacement capasity with one tank. So, how does someone get the available sizes? Web site, catalogue, call? And, I assume the problem with linked tanks is the evacuation and further assume that a Y valve in the evacuation line would be a ready solution if necessary. Your opinion?
Call or e-mail for a tank catalog
You can reach me at 800-352-5630...or at peghall@att.net. One of our vendors makes OEM tanks for Hunter, another for Catalina...so in addition to the tanks in our catalog, we also can supply many identical replacement tanks. Enlarging molded hatches--or turning two small ones side by side into one big one--unless there's a passageway or opening an opening between the lockers--is a bit of PITA, but it's not impossible ...and isn't even (usually) difficult to do. Make sure you aren't getting into anything that would affect the structural integrity of the boat, of course, but otherwise, all that's necessary is cutting a larger hole, making a new larger hatch cover (teak or mahogany)...and installing a lip for it to sit on. It can definitely be worth the effort to make any space more useable for storing larger items....'cuz boat builders are often prone to putting two or three small hatches in (for instance) a settee that would be much more useful if it had just one or two bigger ones. Installing a y-valve to switch between tanks during pumpout isn't a good solution. If the tanks are connected, there'll be some in both tanks...the rate of flow between them will be far slower than the pumpout suction. Using a y-valve to switch between tanks when one is full isn't a good idea either...too much potential for an overflow in the first one. And besides, the fewer y-valves in the system, the fewer there are to break. Linked holding tanks just isn't a good idea. It's ok for fuel (though a little dicier to fill two linked fuel tanks without a spill) or water...you're just drawing down either one, and they manage to stay balanced. But since holding tanks start empty, and the contents include solids and paper as well as liquid, the potential for aggrevation, if not disaster, is greater than I'd want on my own boat...and I can't recommend doing anything I wouldn't do myself.
You can reach me at 800-352-5630...or at peghall@att.net. One of our vendors makes OEM tanks for Hunter, another for Catalina...so in addition to the tanks in our catalog, we also can supply many identical replacement tanks. Enlarging molded hatches--or turning two small ones side by side into one big one--unless there's a passageway or opening an opening between the lockers--is a bit of PITA, but it's not impossible ...and isn't even (usually) difficult to do. Make sure you aren't getting into anything that would affect the structural integrity of the boat, of course, but otherwise, all that's necessary is cutting a larger hole, making a new larger hatch cover (teak or mahogany)...and installing a lip for it to sit on. It can definitely be worth the effort to make any space more useable for storing larger items....'cuz boat builders are often prone to putting two or three small hatches in (for instance) a settee that would be much more useful if it had just one or two bigger ones. Installing a y-valve to switch between tanks during pumpout isn't a good solution. If the tanks are connected, there'll be some in both tanks...the rate of flow between them will be far slower than the pumpout suction. Using a y-valve to switch between tanks when one is full isn't a good idea either...too much potential for an overflow in the first one. And besides, the fewer y-valves in the system, the fewer there are to break. Linked holding tanks just isn't a good idea. It's ok for fuel (though a little dicier to fill two linked fuel tanks without a spill) or water...you're just drawing down either one, and they manage to stay balanced. But since holding tanks start empty, and the contents include solids and paper as well as liquid, the potential for aggrevation, if not disaster, is greater than I'd want on my own boat...and I can't recommend doing anything I wouldn't do myself.
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