Holding Tanks

winkali · July 17, 2007, 06:50:50 AM

G'day folks I'm a newbie from downunder. Just after some help about holding tanks. In my area it is a requirment under the regs to have an electric toilet with macerator. I am installing a TMC electric toilet and will have a choice of direct overboard or to a holding tank then out to a pumpout facility if available or overboard in legal waters. I want to use a manual pump from the holding tank to pump overboard. Has any one used a manual pump for this purpose and if so which one. I would appreciate any help.
George

By the way a great site
;D

CapnK · July 17, 2007, 10:20:06 AM

Welcome aboard winkali! I hope someone can help you find what you need. :)

It's interesting that they specify an *electric* toilet. I wonder what the reasoning behind that is... ???

Hope they make them in a low-draw model, too. ;)

AdriftAtSea · July 17, 2007, 02:05:54 PM

Winkali-

I just redid the head setup on my boat and use a manual Whale Mk V diaphragm pump to empty the holding tank. I've posted photos and diagrams on this thread..

I hope that helps.

winkali · July 17, 2007, 06:35:26 PM

Thanks very much adriftatsea. Does the whale pump handle the solids okay? Unfortunately Capnk in my part of the world Moreton Bay Queensland at the very least you must put waste through a macerator hense the electric toilet. It is the same for much of Queensland. Don't you love regulations.
George ;D

AdriftAtSea · July 17, 2007, 07:02:00 PM

Winkali–

I will find out shortly... it handled the bits of debris and other test materials that were in the holding tank, but I haven't tested it with the real McCoy yet... ;) From what I've been told, the pump I am using is able to handle small solids fairly well and is sold as a bilge/waste pump.

Dan

lions pride · April 21, 2009, 01:45:46 PM

I would like to know if there is a good collapsible tank for wast water storage. I think by using a collapsible tank there would be less noise and of course it would fit in odd shaped areas. thanks in advance ;D

AdriftAtSea · April 21, 2009, 02:00:24 PM

IMHO, you're generally better off with a rigid tank. The flexible waste bladder tanks are fairly expensive.

Amgine · April 22, 2009, 10:36:18 AM

If you've ever had the sad situation of being aboard a boat whose owner decided to skimp and not get sewage-grade hose for the head... The smell (and some of the chemistry) of human exhaust can and will permeate (percolate) right through 'waterproof' materials.

This is one of the jobs it's better to do right the first time. I'd be the proud owner of a much larger Finnish pilothouse except my partner didn't think I'd be able to fix the owner's screw up that had him selling his boat for at least $10k off what it was really worth.

s/v Faith · April 22, 2009, 10:55:15 AM

Have you considered a composting head?

Sunset · October 10, 2012, 07:43:00 PM

I haven't researched it yet but we are thinking about the tank-less system instead of the holding tank. It treats the waste mechanically and chemically then discharges it straight overboard. As I understand it the system is USCG approved, but may still be illegal in some areas, or just not right thing to do.

Has anyone got experience with this system? Or been anchored next to someone that was using it.

CharlieJ · October 10, 2012, 10:49:33 PM

Don't plan on going to the keys, particularly Marathon (Boot Key Harbor) or Dry Tortugas- BOTH are zero discharge, as are MANY other places.

Look HARD before you go that route.

Capt. Tony · October 10, 2012, 11:12:14 PM

Sunset, is the system you are talking about similar to the electrosan? I had once thought that would be the route to go but since then have given way to composting/urine diverting systems.
Not to hijack a thread, but, what is the current standing on 'composters' and USCG regs. in the keys?

s/v Faith · October 10, 2012, 11:57:00 PM

Quote from: Capt. Tony on October 10, 2012, 11:12:14 PM
Sunset, is the system you are talking about similar to the electrosan? I had once thought that would be the route to go but since then have given way to composting/urine diverting systems.
Not to hijack a thread, but, what is the current standing on 'composters' and USCG regs. in the keys?

Heard from a friend who has a natures head that he was fine IAW boot key. This is a place where folks normally have an issue if they are not being pumped out since the ASSumption is that they are discharging overboard.... Composters have been accepted anywhere folks are getting checked (as well they should).

WRT the OP, I would not consider a treatment type system unless you were only going to operate in a specific area where you know it would be acceptable. As others have said, it is not going to fly with authorities where 'zero discharge' is enforced.

Good threads here on some of the new composters, might take a look at them.

Good luck!

Sunset · October 11, 2012, 08:22:20 AM

I found a system that incorporates both. Very expensive but it would be nice. It has a 7.5 gallon holding tank for no discharge areas or you can unlock the discharge system and it's legal everywhere else. You wouldn't have to be 3 miles off shore. USCG approved, the waste is supposed to be well within the pollution limits of the US.
I believe in doing the right thing if at all possible. But sometimes I think boaters get a bad rap for a lot of the water issues. For example, I live near the Ohio River, we have a large city up river that every spring ends up dumping a million gallons of raw sewage in the river. Their system wont handle it all with heavy rains, so they just pay the fine every year because it's cheaper than upgrading their sewer system. That's not the right thing to do, but they do it year after year. I also bet they aren't the only big city that does this.

The only down sides I see to this tank combo is the price and I would rather have the tank a little larger.

As for the composting heads I keep getting conflicting view's from owner, users. I also have the suspicion that a lot of people dump their liquid tank overboard no matter where they are, but I'm also sure most don't.
I had a person tell me he would dump his liquid tank ( this is gross ) down his sink during the day, flush it with fresh water if he was in a crowded anchorage and no one but him new the difference. He even said he had dumped his composting head overboard at night with the out going tide.
I wish he hadn't told me this, because I'm sure I'm not the only one that's heard this story from him. That gives all of us a bad rap, land dwellers will walk away thinking were all like that.

Cruiser2B · May 25, 2013, 01:11:06 PM

I needed a new holding tank for my Alberg 30, keeping with the self help theme of my sailing I decided to build one. It was fairly easy and cost me about $110( I accounted for epoxy but only a guestimate on what I used). You can check it out on my blog

http://svsalacia.blogspot.com/2013/05/poop.html

CharlieJ · May 25, 2013, 01:16:39 PM

LOL- says page does not exist. I think Sailfar changed a word for you ;D

SalientAngle · May 25, 2013, 01:27:10 PM

Quote from: CharlieJ on May 25, 2013, 01:16:39 PM
LOL- says page does not exist. I think Sailfar changed a word for you ;D

Maybe I can help, :o try: http://goo.gl/T8fte

CharlieJ · May 25, 2013, 02:33:04 PM

:D

Yeah- I had found it. Was just amused. ;)

Travelnik · May 27, 2013, 11:14:47 PM

Good job! The holding tank looks good.

That's the way I'm planning to make one for my boat since it never came with one. I just need to decide where to put it.

News:

Holding Tanks

SalientAngle