On a Catalina 30, it is most often mounted under the port side sittee.
Luna, The Story of a Forgotten Catalina 30.
- Thread starter mikeracca
- Start date
That’s how it is on my ‘82 also, where the tank is a little downhill from the head. Uphill under the v-berth doesn’t sound very effective to me.
So I just bought your book today, it should be in my mailbox in a couple days. My toilet I can’t remember the brand off the top of my head but something like Joyco. It’s old, I don’t think as old as the boat but not new either. Also if you have not read the rest of my posts my boat has been left unattended since 2007.
I remember poking my head in the port settee when I first got inside the boat, but I can’t remember what was in there. I want to say there was no tank under there. I can’t seem to find a C30 tank on Catalina Direct so I will check for the brand you mentioned to me. Hopefully there will be something.
I can’t seem to find a C30 tank on Catalina Direct so I will check for the brand you mentioned to me.
The tank in your photo would be an excellent choice and is in a great location. It's clearly marked including mold # in your photo in post #59. If it's still sound, I'd keep it...if not, replace it with the identical tank.
The Ronco Plastic catalog is here Ronco Plastics marine Tanks You'll find the drawing for that tank in it. Not only do they make top quality tanks for a very reasonable price, they also install fittings in the sizes and locations specified by the customer when they make the tank.
Your toilet is Jabsco...Depending on its age and whether the current version will fit a base that old, you might get away with replacing only the pump.
--Peggie
The tank in your photo would be an excellent choice and is in a great location. It's clearly marked including mold # in your photo in post #59. If it's still sound, I'd keep it...if not, replace it with the identical tank.
The Ronco Plastic catalog is here Ronco Plastics marine Tanks You'll find the drawing for that tank in it. Not only do they make top quality tanks for a very reasonable price, they also install fittings in the sizes and locations specified by the customer when they make the tank.
Your toilet is Jabsco...Depending on its age and whether the current version will fit a base that old, you might get away with replacing only the pump.
--Peggie
Was on my '80 also. Under the V berth was typically a ~25 gal water tank. There's also often a water tank under the starboard settee. Water heater (if equipped) by the fuel tank under the companionway. All of the original tanks were thick poly tanks, not bladders.
Under the settee is where Catalina almost always puts holding tanks. As I said earlier, 25 gal is small for a water tank, so it would not be surprising if there's a second one somewhere.
This boat is an '81...federal marine sanitation laws were scheduled to become effective 1-1-80 but it took time for boat builders to figure out all the ins and outs of adding holding tanks and all the related plumbing to their boats, and what's more not a single state had even thought about enacting legislation to enforce the law until the late '80s and even into the '90s. So I'd be surprised if an '81 boat--which could actually been built in 1980 to be able to introduce it at boat shows--left Catalina with a holding tank installed. I wouldn't be surprised none was added until the '90s, which is when states actually began to get serious about enforcement...all of which would explain the bladder in a location that Catalina would never have put it...but IMO is the best place for a holding tank.
It would not be difficult to convert the 25 gal. tank to waste holding and buy a new water tank large enough to be worth the effort to fill it up. Check out the Ronco Plastics catalog to see what's available Ronco Plastics marine Tanks
Just sayin'....
--Peggie
This boat is an '81...federal marine sanitation laws were scheduled to become effective 1-1-80 but it took time for boat builders to figure out all the ins and outs of adding holding tanks and all the related plumbing to their boats, and what's more not a single state had even thought about enacting legislation to enforce the law until the late '80s and even into the '90s. So I'd be surprised if an '81 boat--which could actually been built in 1980 to be able to introduce it at boat shows--left Catalina with a holding tank installed. I wouldn't be surprised none was added until the '90s, which is when states actually began to get serious about enforcement...all of which would explain the bladder in a location that Catalina would never have put it...but IMO is the best place for a holding tank.
It would not be difficult to convert the 25 gal. tank to waste holding and buy a new water tank large enough to be worth the effort to fill it up. Check out the Ronco Plastics catalog to see what's available Ronco Plastics marine Tanks
Just sayin'....
--Peggie
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Peggie, I am curious why you consider under the v-berth to be better than under the settee? On my 1988 C30, the top of the v-berth water tank is considerably above the rim level of the head. The tank under the sittee is several inches lower than the rim of the head. I would think that was a good thing. My outlet hose is also only 3' long and to go to the bow tank would be a longer run.
I did upgrade my vent to the 1"ø hose you suggested and replaced my rusted-out stanchion vent with a solid stanchion. I no longer get air sucking past the jocker valve to keep up with the pump out.
As a point of info, my 1980 C-30's holding tank appeared to be factory - the hull number was written on it, the water tank, and the fuel tank. Mine appeared to have the 2nd water tank under the starboard settee and some prev owner removed it. (Plumbing was there and capped off)
Assuming that 25 gal tank is fresh water I'd leave it that way and put the holding tank under the port settee where it commonly is. Catalina Direct lists three possibilities (Ronco tanks as Peggie points out.)
Assuming that 25 gal tank is fresh water I'd leave it that way and put the holding tank under the port settee where it commonly is. Catalina Direct lists three possibilities (Ronco tanks as Peggie points out.)
Be sure to get it directly from Ronco...their prices are about half those of Catalina direct and most other retailers too. Plus they install fittings in the sizes and locations specified by the customer when they make the tank.
Hayden, I like to put holding tanks in the bow whenever possible because that allows the tank vent to run forward off the bow end of it to an open thru-hull about a foot below the toe rail. That guarantees a constant source of air into the tank any time the boat has her head into the wind--underway, on an anchor or mooring and even in the slip if even a light breeze is coming from the right direction. Splashing off a bow wake can't put enough water into the tank to notice...I recommend that blue water cruisers who won't be using the tank at sea put a shutoff valve in the vent line they can close in the event of weather that keeps the decks awash.
The uphill run need not be a problem...the top of the water tank doesn't look that high in his photo. Distance from the toilet can be, but can often be overcome by routing the toilet discharge hose to provide some help from gravity.
--Peggie
Ok so I need to find out if my boat even came with a black water tank to begin with. I found the valves, they can be accessed from a door in the head or from through the opening in the V berth. The white tank is indeed a water tank, it seems in good condition and there is no funny smells from it, but there is a bit of water left in it from 15 years ago.
I may be able to get to the boat later this week to check the port settee for a tank or signs of a tank. I know my starboard settee has a water tank in it.
@Peggie Hall HeadMistress , I checked out the tank number you gave me, and it looks like it would be the tank under the Vee, I would like to put the new tank under the settee as the factory would have done… if I need a tank that is. Do you know which number that is?
I may be able to get to the boat later this week to check the port settee for a tank or signs of a tank. I know my starboard settee has a water tank in it.
@Peggie Hall HeadMistress , I checked out the tank number you gave me, and it looks like it would be the tank under the Vee, I would like to put the new tank under the settee as the factory would have done… if I need a tank that is. Do you know which number that is?
You shouldn't have had to search for that mold number...it's clearly marked on the tank in your photo.
I suggest you ask Catalina for the mold # of the tank that fits in a settee on an '81 C-30. It's important that you give them the year 'cuz boat builders do make slight (and sometimes not-so-slight) changes in the hull designs of the same models over the years. What fits in the settee of the current C-30 may not fit in your boat. Don't order it from them...you'll pay a lot less if you order it directly from Ronco. Plus...because there's never been a holding tank in that location, depending on the location of the deck pumpout fitting and vent thru-hull, we may need to spec the fittings in locations that are different from where Catalina puts them.
--Peggie
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,206
It seems like this is an "Educated guess".
the only way to be sure is to examine the sizes of the hoses entering and exiting the tank. If at the end of last use the previous owner did a good cleaning job because they knew the boat was being set aside for a while the appearance could fool an inspector. The hose connections will tell the true story.
There are inlet hoses that connect to the deck. They should be labeled. A key clue as to where the hose is intended to go.
I don't know that the previous owner knew the boat would be left alone for 15 years. It looked as if he just parked it like he was going to be back in a week or so and then never came back. Thankfully the only food left onboard was in cans or non perishable. There are only 2 hoses going to the B-115 tank, a formerly clear hose going out to the port side, a yellow cap with a crack in it (hence the duct tape) and the fill hose that goes to the deck. No vent hose. The bladder in front of the B-115 has 3 hoses. One from the head, one to the deck fill and the last one I am guessing is the vent but I don't know where it goes... yet...
The formerly clear hose is most likely the vent line. It should be replaced with sanitation hose. You can use flex PVC #148 (the cheapest) for that.
--Peggie
By formerly clear, I was referring to it being rotted old feed lines to the sink in the head, and then to the sink in the galley. I can see where that hose goes, and I am not going to trust washing my hands or drinking from those tanks with those hoses. I will get better pics of what is under the Vee next time I head out to the boat.
Well today was a good day!
I got more cleaned up inside and out on Luna. First off I took a scraper to the hull and got it looking much better. I was able to also scrape the rudder a bit and clean off one side at least.
Just to compare how thick the marine growth is on the other side. Starboard side was the same.
I did a test scrub to one of the worst areas of the hull where the traveler lines are stored, it came out pretty good. I discovered I have the beige non skid areas, I always thought I was just solid white all the way through.
Here is the before…
And the after… this is a scrub brush with Simple Green and about 30 seconds or so of scrubbing.
Then I tackled the interior. I’m not going to bore you with all the details, but the interior is now presentable (minus the floors… they still need a good scrub!)
And my galley countertops are now clean. I plan on redoing the counter tops in white Formica, I’m not a huge fan of the 70’s era wood grain everywhere… my house is already done like that.
and lastly it was brought up earlier in this thread about my windows. Well tonight I confirmed they are all glass, so that is good! I figured they were as poly would have glazed over by now.
I got more cleaned up inside and out on Luna. First off I took a scraper to the hull and got it looking much better. I was able to also scrape the rudder a bit and clean off one side at least.
Just to compare how thick the marine growth is on the other side. Starboard side was the same.
I did a test scrub to one of the worst areas of the hull where the traveler lines are stored, it came out pretty good. I discovered I have the beige non skid areas, I always thought I was just solid white all the way through.
Here is the before…
And the after… this is a scrub brush with Simple Green and about 30 seconds or so of scrubbing.
Then I tackled the interior. I’m not going to bore you with all the details, but the interior is now presentable (minus the floors… they still need a good scrub!)
And my galley countertops are now clean. I plan on redoing the counter tops in white Formica, I’m not a huge fan of the 70’s era wood grain everywhere… my house is already done like that.
and lastly it was brought up earlier in this thread about my windows. Well tonight I confirmed they are all glass, so that is good! I figured they were as poly would have glazed over by now.
So this is for @Peggie Hall HeadMistress
Hi Peggie, I have been reading your book and have been learning quite a bit. We had talked about what hoses when to where so tonight I went hunting and found out some. The B-115 tank is fresh water, with the fill line in the top, an outlet at the bottom and the yellow cap is taped over a small vent hole.
You can see how badly discolored the inlet hose is, I’m not gonna drink from this any time soon.
Here is the other end of the fill hose, it leads right out to the fill port.
Now the crappy part…. I found where the hoses go to the black water bladder. The corrugated hose is the clean out, the yellow looking one is the vent and the nice looking white one goes to the toilet and the dump valves.
Nasty looking bladder
Hoses going through the hull.
Clean out going to the deck level.
Vent hose exiting through the side of the hull. The vertical hose is the fill for the tank under the settee.
So here are the valves under the head cabinet. I’m guessing the small hose is the grey water overboard, and yes I know my sink has no hose attached right now.
and lastly here are hoses going through the port settee (never had a tank under it) and the last pic is looking aft under the galley.
you can just make out the foot pump, and a few of the water lines going to the sink… again they are old and discolored and will be replaced.
Hi Peggie, I have been reading your book and have been learning quite a bit. We had talked about what hoses when to where so tonight I went hunting and found out some. The B-115 tank is fresh water, with the fill line in the top, an outlet at the bottom and the yellow cap is taped over a small vent hole.
You can see how badly discolored the inlet hose is, I’m not gonna drink from this any time soon.
Here is the other end of the fill hose, it leads right out to the fill port.
Now the crappy part…. I found where the hoses go to the black water bladder. The corrugated hose is the clean out, the yellow looking one is the vent and the nice looking white one goes to the toilet and the dump valves.
Nasty looking bladder
Hoses going through the hull.
Clean out going to the deck level.
Vent hose exiting through the side of the hull. The vertical hose is the fill for the tank under the settee.
So here are the valves under the head cabinet. I’m guessing the small hose is the grey water overboard, and yes I know my sink has no hose attached right now.
and lastly here are hoses going through the port settee (never had a tank under it) and the last pic is looking aft under the galley.
you can just make out the foot pump, and a few of the water lines going to the sink… again they are old and discolored and will be replaced.
