Peggy Hall's recommendations: Holding Tank

[ybrad]

Greetings all-

Looking towards a Florida Keys trip after the Columbus Day Regatta which means it's time to ADD A HOLDING TANK to my 37C. (Electra-scan has been utilized since my ownership.)
Old tank has been removed. Peggy herself proclaimed it the best example of why not to use aluminum for a HT!

It's irregular shape and 14G capacity warrant a new design. Reading her book and form entries, I like her ideas and wanted some real world feedback regarding:
1.Outlet on top with a pickup tube (as opposed to a outlet at tank bottom)
2.Aerobic cross-ventilation with oversize vent lines (perhaps 1") port and starboard
3.Vent fitting t/h location at the forepeak
4.Recommended fluid level sensing system

Anyone try this krap, er stuff? Were the results good??

I'm leaning towards sacrificing the large sail locker in the middle of the v-berth to install a tank. Any other thoughts and ideas, good or bad?

There is a member who contacted me looking for dimensions of the old HT.
I finally have them! If anyone else is interested I'll post them. Let me know
Thanks

 

[Steve Dion]

My friend put a 20+ gallon tank under the v-berth to replace that small tank under the shower seat.

Ronco Plastics can probably help with their assortment of tanks. That is where he got his.

I would rejuvenate the Electrasan if it were me.

 

[jeepsailor]

When I replaced my aluminum tank, I went with a top pickup tube to help with keeping contents from sitting in hoses. I also replaced the vent line with an oversized one. I did not double/cross vent, didn't think of it. But I like the idea. Unfortunately, too late at this point.

I've stuck with KO (per Peggy) and have pretty good results. I always pump out myself (my feeling is that the dockhands didn't fill it, they shouldn't have to empty), but have had comments several times on how nice it is to be able to leave pump out connected and running while I can stick a hose in the vent line at the same time to flush. It guarantees my vent line is clear. I pump until close to empty, turn on the hose and start filling/rinsing and then let it run until it pumps close to clear. Shut off the hose until done.

Does the pickup tube leave a little at the bottom? Probably, but since I was able to double my tank size when I replaced, I'm still ahead of the game.

 

[med2463]

Greetings all-

Looking towards a Florida Keys trip after the Columbus Day Regatta which means it's time to ADD A HOLDING TANK to my 37C. (Electra-scan has been utilized since my ownership.)
Old tank has been removed. Peggy herself proclaimed it the best example of why not to use aluminum for a HT!

It's irregular shape and 14G capacity warrant a new design. Reading her book and form entries, I like her ideas and wanted some real world feedback regarding:
1.Outlet on top with a pickup tube (as opposed to a outlet at tank bottom)
2.Aerobic cross-ventilation with oversize vent lines (perhaps 1") port and starboard
3.Vent fitting t/h location at the forepeak
4.Recommended fluid level sensing system

Anyone try this krap, er stuff? Were the results good??

I'm leaning towards sacrificing the large sail locker in the middle of the v-berth to install a tank. Any other thoughts and ideas, good or bad?

There is a member who contacted me looking for dimensions of the old HT.
I finally have them! If anyone else is interested I'll post them. Let me know
Thanks

We also have a 37c and put a 20 gal tank under the v-berth. It isn't big enough so we are putting in a larger one before we go cruising this fall. My husband installed the tank and I can't help you with plumbing. A 20 gal tank lasts us 5 days, so when are moored at Marathon longer than that we have to pay $5 for an addl pumpout. Since you are going to the Keys, you might be interested in my dinghy to grocery store blog. http://dinghytogrocerystorewestfl.blogspot.com/

 

[BioAndy]

I recently reconfigured my waste holding tank and related plumbing on my 1976 Pearson 365. I was able to fit a 20 gal standard plastic tank without modifying existing locker, other than to glass in a mounting base. I used two dip-tubes for discharge to eliminate any Y-valve issues. One dip-tube for the deck pump-out and one for overboard discharge. I incorporated a Whale manual pump for the overboard discharge to keep things simple. I used the Sealand Dip Tube kit, but you can make up your own using PVC pipe and "Uniseal" slip fittings or "Press Fit Sealing Grommets" available thru McMaster-Carr industrial supply. Also increased vent to 1" Went with a SCAD-SOLO Tank Monitor with external sensor to monitor tank level - have yet to install the monitor so can't report performance of the guage yet. All fittings located at top of tank.

 

[BioAndy]

Waste holding tank

Some photos of waste holding tank, dip-tubes and top fittings.

 

[Bill1565]

We also have a 37c and put a 20 gal tank under the v-berth. It isn't big enough so we are putting in a larger one before we go cruising this fall. My husband installed the tank and I can't help you with plumbing. A 20 gal tank lasts us 5 days, so when are moored at Marathon longer than that we have to pay $5 for an addl pumpout. Since you are going to the Keys, you might be interested in my dinghy to grocery store blog. http://dinghytogrocerystorewestfl.blogspot.com/

We, like bio whatever have 2 top entry "dip tubes" and no y valve
they leave about 2" of stuff In the tank,cutting our 20 gallon tank to about 18 useable gallons. On the other Hand the tubing is dry and when there will be a problem all
The plumbing will be accessible

 

[ybrad]

'Tanks' all for the good input!

BioAndy, do you like the 1" vents, any apparent advantage? Where did you put the thru-hulls? Did you use clam shell vents?

The double pickup idea has seemed like the way to go. Glad to get some real world input.

Steve, roger the pref for the MSD. It is our normal processing. Somebody made the Keys a 'no discharge zone', hence the need for a secondary system.

maryd33950- nice blog, thanks!

More on this...my system was initially setup with industry input to put a y-valve in the MSD discharge line with 1 path overboard and the other for a holding tank. The reasoning was to send treated effluent to the HT to gain a little 'grace period' before it went anaerobic and added to the stink.
A problem with this approach showed up when the MSD macerator failed due to an electronic control problem. To keep running sewage thru it would greatly compound the problem (no macerator=unit clog).
My y-vale has been moved to immediately after the head discharge. One path is MSD, the other is HT.
Any thoughts/comments??

 

[BioAndy]

ybrad, I used a 1" thru-hull for the vent, per Peggy Hall's reccommendation. Enlarged the existing vent hole to accommodate the larger fitting. http://www.wakemakers.com/90-degree-composite-thru-hull.html located just below the toerail. Used existing 3/4" thru-hull for the raw water intake and existing 1.5" thru-hull for the direct discharge . So far, we're using fresh water from the shower head to flush, to help keep things "fresh".