HELP, HELP, HELP... My worst nightmare has come true. I have a hole in my wonderful aluminum holding tank. Two Questions: 1) How do I get it out of the boat?? 2) Where can I get another Tank. Any recommendations on tank manufacturers/fabricators??
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We can supply the tank, but...
I'm afraid getting the old one out of the boat is your problem.
However, a few generic hints: pump out and rinse out very thoroughly with fresh water...doesn't matter if the water leaks a bit--that's the least of your problems. You're gonna have to put a new one in, so do enough careful surgery to not only remove the old one, but give yourself room to work when you install the new one. As long as you have to do this nasty job, replace all your hoses too (unless you've done it recently).... Wouldn't hurt to rebuild the toilet too if that hasn't been done in a while... Get ALL your sanitation sytem maintenance and repairs done...you're gonna have to do 'em all sooner or later anyway...now's as good a time as any to get the whole job out of the way. Cleaning up the spill after you've gotten the tank out (no point in doing it till you do): clean the area with a good detergent and water...do NOT use bleach or any other chemical product...it won't get rid of the odor. Instead, staturate the whole locker with K.O. (our holding tank treatment)...don't rinse...let it dry...and leave the locker open so as much fresh air as possible gets into it. All the odor will be gone for good. Give me a call tomorrow about a new tank...800-352-5630. I'll need the dimensions of the space as well as the dimensions of the tank--in case we don't have an exact replacement. Also make note of where the fittings are on your old tank...we'll need a drawing showing where the fittings are to go. If you're in a panic to get it by this weekend, it MAY be possible if you have everything together when you call.
I'm afraid getting the old one out of the boat is your problem.
However, a few generic hints: pump out and rinse out very thoroughly with fresh water...doesn't matter if the water leaks a bit--that's the least of your problems. You're gonna have to put a new one in, so do enough careful surgery to not only remove the old one, but give yourself room to work when you install the new one. As long as you have to do this nasty job, replace all your hoses too (unless you've done it recently).... Wouldn't hurt to rebuild the toilet too if that hasn't been done in a while... Get ALL your sanitation sytem maintenance and repairs done...you're gonna have to do 'em all sooner or later anyway...now's as good a time as any to get the whole job out of the way. Cleaning up the spill after you've gotten the tank out (no point in doing it till you do): clean the area with a good detergent and water...do NOT use bleach or any other chemical product...it won't get rid of the odor. Instead, staturate the whole locker with K.O. (our holding tank treatment)...don't rinse...let it dry...and leave the locker open so as much fresh air as possible gets into it. All the odor will be gone for good. Give me a call tomorrow about a new tank...800-352-5630. I'll need the dimensions of the space as well as the dimensions of the tank--in case we don't have an exact replacement. Also make note of where the fittings are on your old tank...we'll need a drawing showing where the fittings are to go. If you're in a panic to get it by this weekend, it MAY be possible if you have everything together when you call.Holding Tank Problems
We experienced a bad failure of a weld in our alumimum holding tank a couple of weeks ago. We had to have an access panel cut in from the aft cabin and remove the tank for rewelding. The tank is placed where effluent will enter the cabin as easily as go to the bilge, so it is a nasty problem. We were advised that aluminum is the wrong choice for human wastes and accompanying deodorizing agents. Also, the tank on the 35.5 is woefully inadequate for cruising on the great lakes at 13 gallons. There is room to nearly double the size tank, from PVC, with a custom fit, which we intend to do. I think Hunter made a poor choice on this one, ranking right up there with the decision to place the roller furling unit below decks. Otherwise the boat is great!
We experienced a bad failure of a weld in our alumimum holding tank a couple of weeks ago. We had to have an access panel cut in from the aft cabin and remove the tank for rewelding. The tank is placed where effluent will enter the cabin as easily as go to the bilge, so it is a nasty problem. We were advised that aluminum is the wrong choice for human wastes and accompanying deodorizing agents. Also, the tank on the 35.5 is woefully inadequate for cruising on the great lakes at 13 gallons. There is room to nearly double the size tank, from PVC, with a custom fit, which we intend to do. I think Hunter made a poor choice on this one, ranking right up there with the decision to place the roller furling unit below decks. Otherwise the boat is great!
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