No holding tank

[Rick Johnston]

looking at purchasing a sailboat that the current owner lives aboard. The holding tank was removed and a Raritan crown head and lectra-san unit installed. What are the practical and legal issues involved. The boat is 1977, but the lectro-san unit is newer. We would like to sail to the Keys and the Bahamas. Are we looking at a mandatory reinstallation of a holding tank? ThanksRick Johnstonrsjohnston@earthlink.net

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

You'll need a tank in some parts of the Keys

But the Lectra/San is good everywhere else you want to go except for the occasional "no discharge" harbor or marina. So you definitely would NOT want to replace the Lectra/San with a holding tank, just add one, with a y-valve that allows you choose between going through the Lectra/San or to the tank. Since you'll use it only rarely and for short times, it doesn't have to be very large--10-15 gallons should be enough...a size that shouldn't be too hard to find space for. If you buy the boat, check out Ronco Plastics (link below)...they make TOP quality tanks and have more than 400 shapes and sizes to choose from, including over 100 that are non-rectangular...and for a VERY reasonable price, too.