Holding tank options on Hunter 27

[rtaylor82]

Well... A little info first: My holding tank (soft bladder) (this kind but with connections in different places http://www.twinsrecreation.com/fs139970.html ) sprung a leak last weekend. It seems to be seeping through a small crack on the side of the bladder very close to one of the hose connections. If I twist and pull on the hose connection I can barely see a trickle of fluid come out. Too much of a trickle as we (wife and I) had to clean up about 3 gallons of black water that had collected under one of the stern compartments.
Is it possible to repair the crack or should I just not even hassle with it? Has anyone found a solid tank that can be used on a 1990 hunter 27? The only access is through a small seat above. So all work has to be done hanging up side down....

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Not repairable...

Time for a new tank...NOT a bladder this time!

Your best source for a tank is Ronco Plastics (no relation to Ron Popeil and his pocket VegoFishermatic gadgets) Ronco Plastics They make TOP quality thick-walled water and waste tanks for a very reasonable price--that's even more reasonable if you order through the online store on this site--and have more than 400 shapes and sizes, over 100 of which are non-rectangular...and they install fittings in the sizes and locations specfied by the customer when they make the tank.

Depending on the make/model/age/condition of your toilet and hoses, it may be time to replace the whole system....in which case you might want to consider a self-contained system--an "MSD" portapotty that's fitted for pumpout and designed to be permanently installed. A 5-6 gallon model holds 50-60 flushes...you'd need at least a 30 gal tank to hold that many from a manual marine toilet. No plumbing needed except a vent line and pumpout hose--so no new holes in the boat...and -0- maintenance needed except for rinsing out the tank--which you can do with a bucket while it's being pumped out. And all for about $200--about what you'd spend just for a new tank or a new toilet.

Worth considering IMO...

 

[rtaylor82]

That's definitely worth considering. Do you know if they mount in a similar fashion or if they have replacements for my jabsco?

I looked into them earlier after seeing one of your posts in another thread. All the reviews I have found stated that they were flimsy, leaked, or were designed in such a fashion that the opening lever hit your legs etc... Have you found this to be the case at all? If not, do you recommend any in particular?

If I go that route (which I think I will have to because I'll never get a solid tank bigger than 2 gallons through the hatch), then can I use the same vents etc... for it? I also saw that some of them have a seperate fresh water tank for flushing. Would it be beneficial/possible to use the existing seacock for fresh water? Will it pull the water up? Seems like if I do that, then all I've really done is kept the same system but moved the holding tank to the head! Is that the route to go?

Thanks so much

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

I'm partial to the Thetford 365 MSD

And the 465 MSD even offers the "push button convenience" of an electric flush, powered by 6 AA batteries. The online store here has both. sbo.com plumbing (scroll to portapotties).

The reviews you've read had to have been written by people who bought cheap portable units from the camping department at Sears or Walmart...'cuz SeaLand and Thetford marine portapotties are VERY durable and reliable. They have flush reservoirs--that you fill by hand...they don't pump any water in.

I think you'll get a good idea about 'em if you go to Thetford site here http://www.thetford.com/HOME/PRODUCTS/PortableToilets/tabid/83/Default.aspx click on the 365 MSD and then download and read "parts" and "manuals" (they're both PDFs, btw).

If you're STILL confused, shoot me an EMAIL, NOT a PM (to do either one click on my name at the left of this post and follow instructions) and we can talk.

 

[Todd]

New Holding tank

Ryan,

Had the same issue last year with my 1990 Hunter 27. There is no way you are getting a decent size holding tank through the openings in the cockpit seat hatches. I cut a small door in the aft bulkhead behind the aft bunk and went in that way. It actually makes access to the batteries a lot easier than hanging down through the cockpit seat hatch and hoping someone is around to pull you out when you get stuck. I also replaced with a 12 gal Ronco tank and put in all new lines while I was in there as Peggy suggested. Send me a note if you want to discuss.

Todd

 

[rtaylor82]

Thanks all. Since I had just recently replaced the head (~$100) I decided that patching was the way to go. I used the patches that are for repairing boats of that same material. (Total cost was about $10 - Tear Repair Kit, Inflatable Type A (Hypalon and Other Surfaces)) All in all it was pretty painless. I also added silicone anywhere/everywhere that looked like a seem or crack. Finally, after hooking everything back up, I put a large clear plastic bag around it to act as an early warning system.
Todd, I think that is my end goal. I will be contacting you for details...

 

[David in Sandusky]

Porta-potty

We have the porta-potty solution on our 77 h27. It's plumbed for pump-out and vented. I can cofirm everything Peggy said. There was still available capacity after 4 days of use on our way back from the North Channel recently.

The seat is bigger and more comfortable than most boat toilets. With regular Odorlos dozing, there is no odor. The flush handle pulls out between my legs. And our unit is certainly durable. We think it's 33 years old!

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Is that bladder vented?

If it isn't you'll have to install a vent in it. 'Cuz although UNvented bladders are ok for water holding USCG regs require that all WASTE tanks be vented to the outside of the boat. That's because methane (which, btw, is odorless) is flammable and the other anaerobic gasses sewage can produce--hydrogen sulfide and sulfer dioxide--are not only stinky but toxic...even lethal in high enough concentration.

If your tank is an unvented bladder, venting it may also require installing a new thru-hull for the vent line. However, that's not the worst thing that could happen, 'cuz you'll need that thru-hull for any tank you finally install to replace the bladder.

Meanwhile...good luck with that patch. I've never heard of anyone trying to patch a waste bladder before, so I'll be very curious to know how well and how long the patch holds.

 

[Mike Turner]

Adding a Bladder Tank Vent

I did this last year on our Rob Roy yawl - the bladder holding tank wasn't vented at all. It gave me a good opportunity to clean out the bladder itself (not as bad as it sounds) as well as the locker underneath. The bladder was probably 25 years old but still was in pretty good shape since it was mounted below the cabin sole and so wasn't exposed to sunlight.

Putting in the vent fitting was pretty easy - just a hole to cut and then screw-in fittings. As Peggy says, I installed a regular vent fitting below the rail. Had to cut a few access holes through shelves/bulkheads to run the vent hose but no big deal. Overall the job took about a total of 4 hours spread over two days as I gave the 5200 around the rail vent, a full day to set up.

Mike Turner
Lazyjack 32 schooner "Mary'Lis"
Mobile Bay, Alabama