This may seem like a dumb question but how do I know when the holding tank on my 35.5 needs to be pumped out. There is no guage I can find . .this boat is a recent purchase and maybe I'm just not looking in the right place. Part two of this question is, what is the best location to install a Y Valve on the 35.5? Directly in back of the head, adjacent to the engine compartment there is a bilge hatch through which the head discharge hose runs enroute to the holding tank. There is enough room for a Y Valve and thru hull, but not enough room for a anti siphon loop, which I was told you need because this is below the water line. Any suggestions? Fred M s/v M Squared
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
Obviously, you need to be able to access
the y-valve fairly easily, which makes any location on the other side of a bulkhead somewhat undesirable. Without seeing your head...the best place for it may be in the vanity under the sink (however, if that's forward of your toilet, maybe not). And the seacock on the new thru-hull must also be readily accessible too...keep that in mind as you spec this out. You CAN get both the vented loop and the y-valve in, but the vented loop will have to be in the head compartment (so...it's ugly...but you have a boat, not a condo!): run the discharge hose from the toilet straight up--you can aim the discharge elbow any direction just by loosening the two screws--to the loops mounted on the bulkhead...then down to a 90 degree radius fitting that goes through the hatch in the bulkhead to the y-valve. Putting it there solves two problems: protects your below-waterline toilet from sea water incursion...and from backflow from the holding tank when you're heeled. As for knowing when the tank is full, you either get a very good feel for it in a hurry so you know when to pump out--'cuz overflowing the tank out the vent is definitely a no-no--or, install a gauge. I recommend the Snake River AcuGage...you can find all the specs for it on their website at http://www.snake-river.org and the online store here sells it at a VERY nice discount.
the y-valve fairly easily, which makes any location on the other side of a bulkhead somewhat undesirable. Without seeing your head...the best place for it may be in the vanity under the sink (however, if that's forward of your toilet, maybe not). And the seacock on the new thru-hull must also be readily accessible too...keep that in mind as you spec this out. You CAN get both the vented loop and the y-valve in, but the vented loop will have to be in the head compartment (so...it's ugly...but you have a boat, not a condo!): run the discharge hose from the toilet straight up--you can aim the discharge elbow any direction just by loosening the two screws--to the loops mounted on the bulkhead...then down to a 90 degree radius fitting that goes through the hatch in the bulkhead to the y-valve. Putting it there solves two problems: protects your below-waterline toilet from sea water incursion...and from backflow from the holding tank when you're heeled. As for knowing when the tank is full, you either get a very good feel for it in a hurry so you know when to pump out--'cuz overflowing the tank out the vent is definitely a no-no--or, install a gauge. I recommend the Snake River AcuGage...you can find all the specs for it on their website at http://www.snake-river.org and the online store here sells it at a VERY nice discount.
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Jim Rushing
35.5 Holding Tank
Fred, if your 35.5 hasn't had the holding tank replaced yet, it will be a 13 gallon aluminium tank. It will eventually leak along the welds. If it is the metal tank, you will need the sending unit from Snake River that goes in it. I have one and it works great. I got tried of seeing the yellow stain from the vent on the side of the hull. If you have an older 35.5, then the vent is under the helm seat. Think about that for a while. Any way, next month I am replacing mine with the largest plastic tank that I can put in there.
Fred, if your 35.5 hasn't had the holding tank replaced yet, it will be a 13 gallon aluminium tank. It will eventually leak along the welds. If it is the metal tank, you will need the sending unit from Snake River that goes in it. I have one and it works great. I got tried of seeing the yellow stain from the vent on the side of the hull. If you have an older 35.5, then the vent is under the helm seat. Think about that for a while. Any way, next month I am replacing mine with the largest plastic tank that I can put in there.
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Bill O'Donovan
You are correct
There is no guage and no easy way to tell, unless of course the commode won't flush because it's backed up. If it's a plastic tank, try shinging a flashlight onto the tank top by resting it in place with the light on. That should show you clearly (or opaquely) how full the tank is, eliminating (no pun intended) the need for a pesky guage.
There is no guage and no easy way to tell, unless of course the commode won't flush because it's backed up. If it's a plastic tank, try shinging a flashlight onto the tank top by resting it in place with the light on. That should show you clearly (or opaquely) how full the tank is, eliminating (no pun intended) the need for a pesky guage.
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AL S
Horribly low tech and prob wrong...
Peggy will yell at me, but I give the tank a couple of raps with my knuckles and listen to how hollow it sounds. If it doesn't sound hollow its time for a pump out. I'm sure I'm doing this wrong and I really need a $400.00 12 volt power (with solar power backup) gauge with screaming red flashing lights and sirens, but it seems to work for me. :^)
Peggy will yell at me, but I give the tank a couple of raps with my knuckles and listen to how hollow it sounds. If it doesn't sound hollow its time for a pump out. I'm sure I'm doing this wrong and I really need a $400.00 12 volt power (with solar power backup) gauge with screaming red flashing lights and sirens, but it seems to work for me. :^)
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
Any method that doesn't let the tank overflow
is fine with me, Al. Whether a gauge is the best answer depends upon where the tank is located and what kind of access you have to it. If all you have to do is open a hatch a look at the tank, you can prob'ly do without a gauge...but you have to pull the v-berth apart, or take a screwdriver to cabinetry to be able to see how much is in the tank, you're better off with a gauge. Regardles of what method you use, whether the tank is actually full or not isn't the only issue...you need to know BEFORE you leave the dock whether there's still enough room left in it to hold what's likely to go in it before you come back. That's why I don't like gauges that only let you know when the tank is full--unless you visually check the tank, you can't know whether the tank is only 1/4 full or there's only room left for one or two more flushes...and if you have to check visually see how full the tank is getting, there's not much point in spending the $50 it costs for a gauge that only lets you know it's full. Unless your ear is finely attuned to the sound of half full vs full, that may be the flaw in your approach, too.
is fine with me, Al. Whether a gauge is the best answer depends upon where the tank is located and what kind of access you have to it. If all you have to do is open a hatch a look at the tank, you can prob'ly do without a gauge...but you have to pull the v-berth apart, or take a screwdriver to cabinetry to be able to see how much is in the tank, you're better off with a gauge. Regardles of what method you use, whether the tank is actually full or not isn't the only issue...you need to know BEFORE you leave the dock whether there's still enough room left in it to hold what's likely to go in it before you come back. That's why I don't like gauges that only let you know when the tank is full--unless you visually check the tank, you can't know whether the tank is only 1/4 full or there's only room left for one or two more flushes...and if you have to check visually see how full the tank is getting, there's not much point in spending the $50 it costs for a gauge that only lets you know it's full. Unless your ear is finely attuned to the sound of half full vs full, that may be the flaw in your approach, too.
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