Holding tank vent filter?

[Ron Hughes]

:This post was originally sent as a tongue in cheek response to an e-mail I received from a friend. If you can decipher it, it does have what I consider a reasonably valuable message. I had fun writing it and I thought you all might enjoy reading it too! Ron "Where in the hell is the holding tank vent filter?". There are thosewho feel it is of extreme import to eliminate all of the vile and sociallyunacceptable odors, vapors, and unpleasantness associated with that lowlyvessel, the holding tank. It is the opinion of this author that HunterMarine felt(in complete opposition to this opinion) that they would like tokeep anything that might defile the air that ENTERS the lowly holding tankvent; OUT. In seeking to find the means to this end, in their infinitewisdom, Hunter left the screen in this fitting that was originally intendedto be a fuel tank vent. In my humble opinion, they specified and installedit for this purpose. With due respect to their lofty aspirations for thefunction of this fitting, alas, the final result of this decision wassomewhat below expectations. In the final analysis, the true function ofsaid fitting was to contain all of the solid matter that the owner of anygiven Hunter might pump out of his or her holding tank vent after it hadreached capacity, allowing it to solidify as it dried in the fullness oftime. This caused the vent line to become completely clogged causing theaforementioned owner to assume that the aforementioned holding tank was fullprematurely. This in turn, led to the unfortunate state of affairs that theaforementioned owner subsequently added to his or her list of things to"look into", the unfortunate task of: "figuring out why the holding tankseems to get full before it would seem to be time". After much wringing ofhands, machinations, difficulty, and other bothersome words, the final, andI mean FINAL action was taken by this astute owner: The tiny screen that wassecretively installed in this former fuel tank vent was plucked/pried outusing a small needle-like implement. Voila! The holding tank regained it'sformer glory as an un-noticed yet essential component of sailing pleasure!The thru-hull vent fitting in fact IS located just behind the electricalpanel on the exterior of the hull. Happy New Year! Ron

 

[Tim]

Same thing happened to me.

Better yet, the effluvium tend to find a vent of its own by flowing back into the toilet leading me to observe, yet again, just how little tolerance my guests tend to have for a minor wetting.Fixed with a screwdriver poked through the screen.

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

Love your logic, but...

The REAL reason Hunter--and every other boat builder--uses that thru-hull vent fitting with a screen in it is because it's cheaper to use the same thru-hull fitting everywhere than it is to use different kinds. It also eliminates any need for the person installing vent thru-hulls to think.You're on the right track, though, by taking out the screen. If you want to understand the principles which cause that to reduce odor, check out an article in the Head Mistress forum Reference Library called "Odor Control."Happy New Year!

 

[Ron Hughes]

Oh Peggie! "vent filter" is just for fun!!!!!!!!!

This was not intended as a serious post. Please re-read it as though you were intended to get a laugh or two!! A little New Year's fun please! That's the trouble with this medium, you can't tell very easily if someone is just having fun. Sorry if anyone else took it too seriously. Ron