I have a new to me 1984 P303 and am in the process of replacing the orignal head system. The boat still has its original bladder holding tank in the compartment under the starboard settee. Though the tank is not leaking any fluid, it is emitting odors (hence the rebuild). I plan to replace it with a plastic model, probably from Ronco. Does anyone know which tank will best fit without having to cut the opening to the compartment? I can measure and try to order something, but thought I would first see if anyone has already been through this given the 100s of tank options. Thanks.
- Status
Been there
I have a new P303 to me also! She had NO holding tank... and it was a straight shot out. Both starboard bladders were hooked up in tandem for water. I was looking for a hard tank also... weighed the options and the cost... and for lack of time... put in a y-valve from Jabsco... seperated the bladders... (1 for waste and 1 for water) and away I went. I replaced all hoses that had anything to do with the head... smell is gone... and it was a straight shot out. Nothing leaks... so I am good to go for a while. I think the odor you are noticing are from the hoses. The area by the discharge under the starboard settee is not very big for a holdng tank. I have heard of another P303 owner that installed a hard tank under the V-berth. That seems like a great location... except you would have to change the direction on the head to holding tank... and get the discharge back thru the head to the thru-hull. Good luck with that project... Ronco is where you want to be. While your replacing hoses... I would suggest looking at the two discharges from the cockpit floor out thru the stern. Mine were badly deteriorated... good way to sink your new P303. I will probably change from a bladder to a hard tank the next time around. Let me know what you figure out.
I have a new P303 to me also! She had NO holding tank... and it was a straight shot out. Both starboard bladders were hooked up in tandem for water. I was looking for a hard tank also... weighed the options and the cost... and for lack of time... put in a y-valve from Jabsco... seperated the bladders... (1 for waste and 1 for water) and away I went. I replaced all hoses that had anything to do with the head... smell is gone... and it was a straight shot out. Nothing leaks... so I am good to go for a while. I think the odor you are noticing are from the hoses. The area by the discharge under the starboard settee is not very big for a holdng tank. I have heard of another P303 owner that installed a hard tank under the V-berth. That seems like a great location... except you would have to change the direction on the head to holding tank... and get the discharge back thru the head to the thru-hull. Good luck with that project... Ronco is where you want to be. While your replacing hoses... I would suggest looking at the two discharges from the cockpit floor out thru the stern. Mine were badly deteriorated... good way to sink your new P303. I will probably change from a bladder to a hard tank the next time around. Let me know what you figure out.
Ronco
I had the Ronco catalogue out... took a bunch of measurements... and that was as far as I got. The best advice I can give would be to fabricate a holding tank out of cardboard to the Ronco specs. and see if you can slide it in thru the hole in the settee. You are going to have to leave enough room on top so you can get your fittings in (vent, head in, deck pump out). You can install a T-half way up to the deck pump out and put in a macerator, feeding the line back down to the thru-hull. With my setup I can; pump directly out; to the holding tank; to the holding tank and macerate out; to the holding tank and out thru the deck fitting. I am very interested in how this all comes out for you. (No pun intended) Keep me posted on your progress/tank used please... and maybe some photos along the way. You might want to e-mail Dave Crowley, he has a new P303 to him also. He is further down in the Pearson posts. I don't know what his set-up is.
I had the Ronco catalogue out... took a bunch of measurements... and that was as far as I got. The best advice I can give would be to fabricate a holding tank out of cardboard to the Ronco specs. and see if you can slide it in thru the hole in the settee. You are going to have to leave enough room on top so you can get your fittings in (vent, head in, deck pump out). You can install a T-half way up to the deck pump out and put in a macerator, feeding the line back down to the thru-hull. With my setup I can; pump directly out; to the holding tank; to the holding tank and macerate out; to the holding tank and out thru the deck fitting. I am very interested in how this all comes out for you. (No pun intended) Keep me posted on your progress/tank used please... and maybe some photos along the way. You might want to e-mail Dave Crowley, he has a new P303 to him also. He is further down in the Pearson posts. I don't know what his set-up is.
All good thoughts - I'm just trying to avoid taking the time to do a tank mock-up - would rather spend that time sailing or on other repairs. I'll certainly keep you posted and try to get some pictures as the project moves along. I plan to work on this one over the winter. I see you are in Maine - my wife and I grew up near Portsmouth, NH. I do miss the summers up there, but being down here it is great to be able to leave the boat in year round, particularly when we get those occasional 50 degree days in the middle of winter. As for the hoses, I've already replaced the cockpit drains, along with almost every other drain/thru hull hose on the boat. The great thing about our boat is that almost everything is original, so I don't have to deal with poorly planned/executed changes (it is a clean slate). Of course, the down side is that everything is original. And, I think you are right about the hoses being the primary source of the odor, but at the same time, I am more than a bit worried about the integrity of a 25 year old bladder holding tank. Congrats on your P303, I hope you are loving the boat as much as we are! Nathan
Nauta tank in a P-34
I put a 25 gallon Nauta flex tank in my P-34 seasons ago & am so far very happy with it. A little concerned with this month's testing in Practical Sailor that showed, in their tests, Nauta to be the least durable, but working great for me so far. I added a second vent as Peggy, the Queen of Nautical Plumbing, insists that a well ventilated tank does not require any additives to stay healthy. To fit the 25 gallon I had to take another settee compartment, so the starboard aft is the tank, and the starboard forward is hoses & valves so I can pump out off shore etc. Because we like to go distances, the 25 gallon is nice.
I put a 25 gallon Nauta flex tank in my P-34 seasons ago & am so far very happy with it. A little concerned with this month's testing in Practical Sailor that showed, in their tests, Nauta to be the least durable, but working great for me so far. I added a second vent as Peggy, the Queen of Nautical Plumbing, insists that a well ventilated tank does not require any additives to stay healthy. To fit the 25 gallon I had to take another settee compartment, so the starboard aft is the tank, and the starboard forward is hoses & valves so I can pump out off shore etc. Because we like to go distances, the 25 gallon is nice.
Ooops...
Where did you get the idea that I claim that a well ventilated tank doesn't require any tank product? 'Cuz that's not true. Only a system that aerates the tank contents can keep a tank odor free without the use of any tank products, but no matter how well a tank is ventilated--not be confused with aeration--it IS necessary to use a tank product to eliminate odor. It's also important to remember that just because you don't have any odor INSIDE the boat, it doesn't mean there isn't any odor out the tank vent...and bladders make it almost impossible to eliminate odor out the vent. Ronco Plastics is definitely your best source for a tank...not only do they have more than 400 shapes and sizes, over 100 of which are non-rectangular, but they install fittings in the sizes and locations specified by the customer when they make the tank...which means their drawings can be oriented ANY direction, 'cuz there is no top or bottom till the fittings go in, and you decide where they go. So rotate 'em, flip 'em end for end...you'll find one in the size range you want that'll fit the space where a tank should go. If you can't I'll bet I can if you want to email me (I'm in all the owner directories).
Where did you get the idea that I claim that a well ventilated tank doesn't require any tank product? 'Cuz that's not true. Only a system that aerates the tank contents can keep a tank odor free without the use of any tank products, but no matter how well a tank is ventilated--not be confused with aeration--it IS necessary to use a tank product to eliminate odor. It's also important to remember that just because you don't have any odor INSIDE the boat, it doesn't mean there isn't any odor out the tank vent...and bladders make it almost impossible to eliminate odor out the vent. Ronco Plastics is definitely your best source for a tank...not only do they have more than 400 shapes and sizes, over 100 of which are non-rectangular, but they install fittings in the sizes and locations specified by the customer when they make the tank...which means their drawings can be oriented ANY direction, 'cuz there is no top or bottom till the fittings go in, and you decide where they go. So rotate 'em, flip 'em end for end...you'll find one in the size range you want that'll fit the space where a tank should go. If you can't I'll bet I can if you want to email me (I'm in all the owner directories).
I also have purchased a 1985 303 and take delivery in two weeks. The boat has the origional bladder but I did not notice any odor during inspection. I will likely find out soon as I have to sail about 500 miles to get the boat home. Is it better to have a solid tank rather than a bladder? Charlie
Yes it is.
I would leave the bladder until it looks like it could become a problem. Why make projets for yourself. I am sure you will find many things to add to "The List". Keep us abreast of things if you put in a hard tank.
I would leave the bladder until it looks like it could become a problem. Why make projets for yourself. I am sure you will find many things to add to "The List". Keep us abreast of things if you put in a hard tank.
- Status