I have just purchased a 1984 P303 and it does not have a holding tank or Y-valve. Or it use to and the previous owner converted to another water bladder. I have water and waste deck fittings and 2 bladders on the starboard side. Looking for suggestions to adding a holding tank. Not the least expensive... the best set-up. Thanks, Richard
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#303 holding tank
I am also seeking the best way to fit a holding tank to my 1985 P303. A previous owner fitted a small, unsuitable tank. A portable unit was satisfactory in my previous location, but not for the more extended cruising I am doing now. I haven't committed yet, but will probably move the water blader to the port side and add a suitable holding tank under the stbd seat. Also considering a Lectra-san solution. Did you get any good ideas?
I am also seeking the best way to fit a holding tank to my 1985 P303. A previous owner fitted a small, unsuitable tank. A portable unit was satisfactory in my previous location, but not for the more extended cruising I am doing now. I haven't committed yet, but will probably move the water blader to the port side and add a suitable holding tank under the stbd seat. Also considering a Lectra-san solution. Did you get any good ideas?
On my '85 303...
We have a 40 gallon water bladder on the starboard side and a 40 gallon (hard) holding tank underneath the v-berth. The holding tank location seems pretty good as the vent is straight and short while the plumbing run to the head is pretty straight forward too (not many bends and kinks and such.) However, we bought it in the fall and haven't had it out yet, so I guess we'll see how well these work in about 4 months.
Stimpy - I know the PO of my boat had two bladders and one was waste, before they did the new one in the bow. Dave s/v Wind Dreamer II
We have a 40 gallon water bladder on the starboard side and a 40 gallon (hard) holding tank underneath the v-berth. The holding tank location seems pretty good as the vent is straight and short while the plumbing run to the head is pretty straight forward too (not many bends and kinks and such.) However, we bought it in the fall and haven't had it out yet, so I guess we'll see how well these work in about 4 months.
Stimpy - I know the PO of my boat had two bladders and one was waste, before they did the new one in the bow. Dave s/v Wind Dreamer II303 tank
I have a 1983 303. Came with a nauta 14 gal bladder forward under the starbaord settee. A y valve allowed for direct discharge or into the tank and then out through the deck. No way to pump thetank overboard while offshore. I repalced the tank and put a T in the line up to the deck, epoxied a block to the side of the hull and mounted a pump there. Ran another line back to the discharge seacok. Now I can pump overboard from the tank when legal. Keep the seacock fixed shut in port. I use a cable tie through a hole in the handle and a cable tie though an eyehook. A lock would be beter. If you contact me offline I might be able to find some pictures of it.
I have a 1983 303. Came with a nauta 14 gal bladder forward under the starbaord settee. A y valve allowed for direct discharge or into the tank and then out through the deck. No way to pump thetank overboard while offshore. I repalced the tank and put a T in the line up to the deck, epoxied a block to the side of the hull and mounted a pump there. Ran another line back to the discharge seacok. Now I can pump overboard from the tank when legal. Keep the seacock fixed shut in port. I use a cable tie through a hole in the handle and a cable tie though an eyehook. A lock would be beter. If you contact me offline I might be able to find some pictures of it.
Holding Tank
New Bern... There is a good article in the magazine BoatWorks (Winter 2007). It basically puts the holding tank up high with a vent. I haven't looked into where that might be in the P303(could be an issue). The toilet gets changed over into some sort of device that creats suction. A lever hand pump gets mounted on the wall that macerates it before it goes up into the holding tank. From there... it is just gravity that takes it out through the hull... or pump out. Stimpy
New Bern... There is a good article in the magazine BoatWorks (Winter 2007). It basically puts the holding tank up high with a vent. I haven't looked into where that might be in the P303(could be an issue). The toilet gets changed over into some sort of device that creats suction. A lever hand pump gets mounted on the wall that macerates it before it goes up into the holding tank. From there... it is just gravity that takes it out through the hull... or pump out. Stimpy
84 P303 Holding Tank
Recently decided to replace original holding tank with the same. Found it on site: "ahoycaptain.com" for $208 US. I will also replace all hoses at the same time as they are original also. We replace Y-valve two years ago after it failed to seal properly. Use patience and plenty of ventilation for any head or holding tank job!
Recently decided to replace original holding tank with the same. Found it on site: "ahoycaptain.com" for $208 US. I will also replace all hoses at the same time as they are original also. We replace Y-valve two years ago after it failed to seal properly. Use patience and plenty of ventilation for any head or holding tank job!
Stimpy, that pump on the wall is most likely the
pump for a Lavac marine toilet. http://www.lavac.com/ It doesn't macerate, it's either a manual or electric diaphragm pump. And there's no reason TO macerate waste before it goes into the tank...nor to macerate tank contents either. Solids are 75% water and are broken up by the toilet pump...and they dissolve very quickly in water. The tank installation described in the article is prob'ly the "K.I.S.S" system, first suggested by Charles Kanter about 10 years ago. All the waste goes into the tank...at sea the thru-hull is open to allow it pass through...in coastal waters, the seacock is closed. The tank can either be pumped out or dumped via gravity at sea. You can read all about it here: http://www.sailcopress.com/editorial%20MSD.htm I'm not a fan of this system...it's simple, but it's not unusual for the tank discharge line to become clogged with sludge. And, because the tank is above the toilet, there's always standing waste in the toilet discharge line as well as in the tank discharge line. As for tank material...the seamless rotomolded PE is the only recommended material for waste holding. No metal of any kind should ever be used to hold sewage, and bladders are also a bad choice...ok for water, but not for sewage because they have relatively short lifespans, are prone to blow out fittings are the first sign of a blocked tank vent, and--because they're designed to hug to the contents--it's almost impossible to eliminate odor out the vent every time the head is flushed. Unvented bladders cannot be used for waste holding...CG regs require that all tanks used to hold sewage or gray water must be vented to the outside of the boat. I suggest y'all check out Ronco Plastics http://www.ronco-plastics.com (no relation to the VegoMatic Ronco)...they make top quality rotomolded PE tanks, and have more than 400 shapes and sizes, over 100 of which are non-rectangular. And they install fittings in the sizes and locations specified by the customer when they make the tank. If you can't find one on their site that'll fit your space, the only other good choice is a welded plastic tanks...and there are a couple of mfrs who make good quality custom welded tanks for a reasonble price. As for how to install a system that'll be easy to maintain and odor free, y'all might want to check out the link below.
pump for a Lavac marine toilet. http://www.lavac.com/ It doesn't macerate, it's either a manual or electric diaphragm pump. And there's no reason TO macerate waste before it goes into the tank...nor to macerate tank contents either. Solids are 75% water and are broken up by the toilet pump...and they dissolve very quickly in water. The tank installation described in the article is prob'ly the "K.I.S.S" system, first suggested by Charles Kanter about 10 years ago. All the waste goes into the tank...at sea the thru-hull is open to allow it pass through...in coastal waters, the seacock is closed. The tank can either be pumped out or dumped via gravity at sea. You can read all about it here: http://www.sailcopress.com/editorial%20MSD.htm I'm not a fan of this system...it's simple, but it's not unusual for the tank discharge line to become clogged with sludge. And, because the tank is above the toilet, there's always standing waste in the toilet discharge line as well as in the tank discharge line. As for tank material...the seamless rotomolded PE is the only recommended material for waste holding. No metal of any kind should ever be used to hold sewage, and bladders are also a bad choice...ok for water, but not for sewage because they have relatively short lifespans, are prone to blow out fittings are the first sign of a blocked tank vent, and--because they're designed to hug to the contents--it's almost impossible to eliminate odor out the vent every time the head is flushed. Unvented bladders cannot be used for waste holding...CG regs require that all tanks used to hold sewage or gray water must be vented to the outside of the boat. I suggest y'all check out Ronco Plastics http://www.ronco-plastics.com (no relation to the VegoMatic Ronco)...they make top quality rotomolded PE tanks, and have more than 400 shapes and sizes, over 100 of which are non-rectangular. And they install fittings in the sizes and locations specified by the customer when they make the tank. If you can't find one on their site that'll fit your space, the only other good choice is a welded plastic tanks...and there are a couple of mfrs who make good quality custom welded tanks for a reasonble price. As for how to install a system that'll be easy to maintain and odor free, y'all might want to check out the link below.
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