Passage 450 gets new holding tank

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Shawn Severn

We bit the bullet and replaced the holding tank for the rear starboard head last weekend. Thanks to Hunter, we had a new tank for the replacement. We had also been prepared by their customer service guys that it was going to be a difficult job. They were right. Boy were they right!!! Here are the basic steps if any one else has to do this job. Step 1 through 5 Clean the tank!!!!! (We only did steps 1 through 3 and payed for it later) Step 6 - Pay someone else to do the work - We did the project ourselves. I won't do that again! Step 7 - Remove floors. This will take most of the day because to get the floor out you need to take apart the seat for the navigation station. Step 8 - Cut bottom off the starboard out side wall. We needed to cut about 3 inches off the bottom to get the old tank out. We need another 1.5 inches to get the new tank in. The plastic tank is actually bigger than the aluminum tank. Step 9 - Take apart bulkhead wall. You will discover that the screws for the top of the wall are not accessible. The good news, we were able to get enough play in the wall to jimmy the tank out and in. Step 10 - Take out a bunch of screws around the tank. You will notice that there is no way to reach the screws under the head unless you cut more of the wall off or put a hole in the head floor. The head on this screw will also strip and you will cut your hand when the screwdriver comes off the head of the screw Step 11 - Rent grinder to grind off L-bracken frame from Aluminum tank. Be carefull not to grind off the toe of your shoe. You will also need a very sharp chissle because the grinder won't reach the last weld. Step 12 - Take pipes off tank - Just plain disgusting!! You will also discover that it is not possible to reach the input pipe and air hose without sacrificing more wall and skin. Step 13 - Remove wire chase. This is a piece of plastic that protects wiring. The tank ain't coming out until you get it out of the way. We found that a short bladed jig saw did the trick. Step 14 - Have wife pull bulkhead wall to one side until cracking noice is heard. She also has to pull the wiring out of the way. This takes three hands, two feet and some serious cussing. Step 15 - Husband pulls tank our of floor. The tank will get stuck. The remaining waste will flow out of the inlet and air vent holes. Don't bother stuffing stuff in them because then all you have is a wet wad of #$%^ covered stuff to fish out of the tank cavity when it falls out. Continue to cuss and pull tank until it comes out. You will know you have succeeded when the hole in the bottom takes more skill (right through the gloves so that I would not have to touch the #$%^). Step 16 - Pull back muscles when you lift the tank and cover legs, bed spread and wife with #$%^. Step 17 - Place tank in trash. I wanted to throw it overboard but got the stern look from the wife when I suggested deep sixing it! Step 18 - Put new tank in to hole. Wife assumes previous position. Husband jumps on tank. The new tank will not fit. Remove tank and sacrifice some more of the wall. Try again. Tanks goes in with load crash. The crash was the husband who was jumping on the tank. Step 19 - Appologise to the wife. Actually better, get showered and take wife to dinner anywhere she wants to go!! Don't sit too close to other patrons - one shower is not enough to get the #$%^ off! Step 20 - Repair damage. I just started this part. I will let you know how it goes!! Oh, I almost forgot - You will need to appologise to the wife several more times due to the large hole in the floor that will remain during the next week.
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Just say it. SHIT!

Shawn: Just think of it this way. You now have the personal satisfaction of doing it yourself.
 
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Rich Stidger

What, no photos??

Shawn, Sounds like a classic boat job gone bad. Sadly, it is the rule rather than the exception. You have my sympathy... Rich SYBARIS h40.5
 
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