I am a new liveaboard owner of a 2000 Hunter 340. The holding tank and the diesel tank are secured by flimsy straps. It's not like the tanks are in deep recesses. Has anyone had one come completely loose? Should I do something preemptive?
Worried about my holding tank coming loose
- Thread starter MikeTheHunter
- Start date
Plastic tanks need to flex and expand. Careful how you strap them down.
Jim...
PS: Mine are fixed in place, and metal
Jim...
PS: Mine are fixed in place, and metal
It looks like it is sitting in a wood frame, and the strap keeps it in the frame...been sitting there for 21 years...
leave it alone.
Greg
leave it alone.
Greg
Yeah. I’m with if it’s not broken too bad, don’t fix it too much. If I were planning a blue water cruise, I might go ahead and put a second restraint on it. If the strap looks good, I’d leave it as is for coastal cruising.
Agree with Tally Ho, mostly. I would take a close look at the wooden frame to be certain that it is solid and fastened well. Otherwise your installation looks normal.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,387
Welcome Mike to SBO.
Living aboard in harbor, or along the coast is most often gentle on our boats.
Your Hunter was not intended to go out on the open ocean in Force 10 storms, climbing 30ft breaking waves where strapping the holding tank down would be a serious concern, behind many more.
In most cases when faced with the possibility of a severe storm condition, the skipper would pump a full holding tank overboard to lighten the load on his boat. After, of course, having emptied his own tank.
In your case, living off the grid aboard your boat your likely going to be ok.
On your new to you 20 something old boat, I would be focusing on the rigging, through hulls, motor, sails, and hull. Those are the critical issues that keep the water out and the boat moving.
Living aboard in harbor, or along the coast is most often gentle on our boats.
Your Hunter was not intended to go out on the open ocean in Force 10 storms, climbing 30ft breaking waves where strapping the holding tank down would be a serious concern, behind many more.
In most cases when faced with the possibility of a severe storm condition, the skipper would pump a full holding tank overboard to lighten the load on his boat. After, of course, having emptied his own tank.
In your case, living off the grid aboard your boat your likely going to be ok.
On your new to you 20 something old boat, I would be focusing on the rigging, through hulls, motor, sails, and hull. Those are the critical issues that keep the water out and the boat moving.
I disagree, Jim. Flexing and expanding leads to cracks. Water and waste weigh 8.333 lbs/gal. The best tanks have walls thick enough to support that much weight, but most off-the-shelf tanks sold in marine catalogs and stores have walls that are barely 1/4" thick. Tank mfrs strongly recommend that the tank walls be supported on all sides to PREVENT flexing.
--Peggie
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,387
Ok. My bad. Misunderstood. Sounded like you were living aboard to be off the grid. Not in “Off Grid”.
Either way it sounds life fun.
Thus, you made my point on this owner's tank.
If his Hold Tank is 50% full, in the Aft part of his boat near his Rudder Tube [white column on right side of picture]
Then the forces applied to the tank wall are MORE than just simple Weight/Mass of the contents.
In moderately High Seas, the tank walls will experience additional forces, MASS x Velocity of falling fluids inside.
This is called Momentum.
Thus, the reason most Tank mfrs want their Tanks supported, as you said.
His is not!
Jim...
PS:
Not true if using Salt water flushes + poop + Toilet Paper.
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You're splitting hairs over 2-3 ounces at most. Solid waste is 75% water, an entire roll of TP wouldn't add enough weight to notice.
--Peggie
--Peggie
I am being accurate, as you try to be also.
The value 8.333 lbs/gal is a Specific Gravity of pure Water at 70°F.
The Hold Tank contents is neither pure or just fresh water.
My Guess is ≈8.44 with Salt water flushing + more.
Bye...
Jim...
Anyway, thanks for the discussion. I have bought rolled-up yoga mats ($10 each from TJ Maxx) and inserted two on top. Same for the diesel tank. They apply light, distributed pressure down on the tank. I'll check if they're in place after a couple of sails. This is kind of a peace of mind thing. I tried.
Great idea with those mats!
You can even use your Yoga Mat, weather Deck side, for Sun Tanning.
Sail with confidence...
Jim...
You can even use your Yoga Mat, weather Deck side, for Sun Tanning.
Sail with confidence...
Jim...
My 1987 31' had both tanks supported the same way and it never came loose. The boat was raced on and across lake Michigan and never had any problems. probably in conditions it should not have been in like pounding into 50 knots of wind and 10 - 12 foot waves. I would be more concerned on things like the standing gear and Rudder. We broke 2 of them in the middle of lake Michigan electrolysis plays heck on steel especially if in salt water.