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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Mounting a Holding Tank

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dolivaw
Navigator

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USA
109 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/08/2011 : 09:09:59

I need some advice on securing a holding tank that's installed under the port settee. Whoever installed it located it as far forward as they could, making working on the plumbing extremely difficult. I'd like to move it as far aft as possible, but haven't figured out the best way to mount it in place.

RonH
'81 C-25 SR/FK/Trad #2470

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2011 : 13:02:27

You will most likely have to glass and/or epoxy some wood stringers inside the hull then strap it down on top with crate strapping. That's how my 1988 holding tank is secured under the v-berth.

Edited by - on

KeziCat
1st Mate

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USA
28 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2011 : 21:19:29

RonH

I just removed mine about a week ago. I took some convincing SWMBO to go to the bucket method but the trade is a heck of a lot more space for storing gear instead of storing...well, you know.

Anyway, as I recall the forward edge of the holding tank was about 10-12" behind the bulkhead. This allowed access to the inlet and pump out lines through the small hatch/window at the forward end of the port setee.

The tank was held firmly in place by glassed in stringer placed at the aft and port sides of the tank. It couldn't budge if we rolled the boat. It was a simple factory install but held the tank tight.

I tried at first with a plain hacksaw blade but soon brought out the angle grinder to speed the job up considerably. I cut the stringers, removed tha tank and smoothed the remaining glass buildup with the grinder. Big mess.

All the plumbing (1984) was tough to get out even after I removed the stringers and worked the tank aft. The larger hoses, I found to be steel wire reinforced. I gave up some blood on one of those meathooks.

The most difficult part was working the pump out line down from behind the head and through hull liner.

We'll probably go to a port-a-pottie soon. For now were glad to have the space as we are mostly day sailing.

Edited by - on

dolivaw
Navigator

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USA
109 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2011 : 00:16:33

That's along the lines I was thinking... Didn't want to get started until I was sure there wasn't a better way. Thanks folks. =)

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2011 : 04:48:08

Ron,

I'd tske the tank out completely and go with a port-o-potty. Lot less hassles.

Edited by - on

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2011 : 07:54:43

My factory installed tank is located as far aft as possible, under the port settee. It's easy to get to all the lines since there's plenty of room between the tank and bulkhead. While it's nice to have a fully functional marine head, (I just installed a new Jabsco Twist & Lock) all that space under the settee is used up by the marine head system. It would be nice to have a pump-able porta potty and that empty space for storage. Tough trade off though, as I sure do like the marine head.

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pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2011 : 09:04:28

To the point of recovering storage space from under settees...
On my '89 traditional interior my freshwater tank was under the aft starboard settee area. This is the bulkhead that kept it located in place, (looking from the forward area of the settee.

I took the bulkhead out with a Dremel and removed the freshwater tank. I was then able to place my stock table under the settee which allowed me to use the port main bulkhead for other things but kept the table on the boat.
I added a piano hinge to make the area easy to access.

Carpeted the bottom to make it a nicer storage area.

Edited by - pastmember on 07/09/2011 12:20:02

KeziCat
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
28 Posts

Response Posted - 07/10/2011 : 10:32:29

Very nice work Frank. Removing the freshwater tank is also on my to do list. Looks like the piano hinge is the way to go. I hadn't thought about adding carpet but it sure looks like a nice way to finish the space and minimize stuff rattling around in there. Thanks for posting the picks.

Edited by - on

dolivaw
Navigator

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USA
109 Posts

Response Posted - 07/10/2011 : 14:09:15

I'm not ready to remove either tank... I think that would probably put an end to my wife sailing. =)

I like that carpet idea though... I can think of a few places that would work.

Edited by - on

Firefly
Deckhand

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8 Posts

Response Posted - 07/10/2011 : 19:52:06

I am plumbing in a head into a traditional interior that has never had a head before. I made cardboard molds of the 17 and 18 gallon holing tanks offered on Catalina Direct to figure out which was the best size. I'm interested in where the tanks were located in boats that came with them originally and how the lines were run. Anyone have a diagram?

Edited by - on

glivs
Admiral

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USA
836 Posts

Response Posted - 07/11/2011 : 06:58:42

Our tank (factory install: ~14 gal ?) is located beneath the V-berth with the 3/4" (?) vent to the port deck. If I were starting from scratch I would follow Leon Sisson's install (search the archives back 2-3 yrs). His also is located in the bow but he used two 1" dia vent lines venting just below the rub rail on either side of the bow. Advantage is that it significantly increases the aeration of the tank to minimize odors which largely arise when O2 is limited. Also minimizes the length of the vent tubing.

Edited by - on

Lee Panza
Captain

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USA
468 Posts

Response Posted - 07/11/2011 : 18:55:14

Firefly (and anyone else thinking of adding a tank):

Check out the inventory of tank configurations available from Ronco Plastics. The factory-installed freshwater tank in my 1980 is a Ronco B129, located under the stbd. settee (but all the way forward, with the fittings out the aft end, unlike Frank's).

These are rotationally-molded polyethylene and will last - without problems - a lot longer than we will. Ronco has a wide variety of sizes and shapes, and they're made in the USA.

I haven't checked on purchasing directly from them, yet, although their website seems to indicate that they would sell to the public. They apparently distribute some of their line through Plastic-Mart, because the latter's catalog contains many of the same size/shape configurations, using the same model numbers, as appear in Ronco's catalog (although, surprisingly, at a little lower price than Ronco shows). Plastic-Mart only seems to include the conventional rectangular shapes, however; they don't seem to carry the irregular configurations that Ronco makes. Evidently Ronco has designed tanks for a lot of specific boat installations, so you could probably find one to fit reasonably closely anywhere in the boat. I'm thinking of installing their B183 under the forward dinette settee when I move my outboard over to the stbd. side.

Which brings up an important point. A tank full of water where there had been air (or relatively light "stuff" stored) will change the static equilibrium of your boat. I discovered that, now that I've replaced the relatively light 2-stroke outboard with a 95 lb. 9.8 HP 4-stroke, I have a lot more difficulty lining-up my swing keel with the trailer's narrow tray when my freshwater tank is empty; the boat lies at a noticeable angle in the water when the keel's up if the tank's empty. That's something to at least be aware of for anyone considering removing a tank, too.

Anyway, check out Ronco's line:

http://ronco-plastics.com/newRonco/categories.php?catID=1

Edited by - on

Firefly
Deckhand

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8 Posts

Response Posted - 07/12/2011 : 06:26:54

Thanks Lee and others,
I'll check out Ronco, I have the same water tank. I made cardboard molds of the 17 and 18 gal holding tanks seen on Catalina Direct. While they fit, they seem like more tank than I need. Any thoughts on capacity if I have a pump out station nearby? Also, does anyone have photos of where they ran the hoses through the bulkheads from the seacock to the head and from the head to the holding tank. I would also be interested in pictures or advice on placement of the vented loop, given that their is a molded plastic shelf behind where the head will sit.

Thanks

Edited by - on

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