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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Head & Holding Tank Treament

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Kas
Deckhand

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USA
16 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/09/2004 : 22:23:35

Hi All,

I replaced the Groco Model HF manual head in my boat and boy is it nice!!! The one that came with the boat has never worked since I had it, and this year (after the fiasco with the wing keel) the head was a major priority, especially for the missus.

Anyway, I also purchased West Marine's Head & Holding Tank Treatment and I have a few questions from folks who may also have a marine head. How much of this blue stuff do I put in the holding tank? It says put in 2 ounzes of blue stuff and 1 pint of water for every ten gallons of holding tank capacity. Does anyone know what capacity the holding tank is? My tank is located under the port settee (I have the traditional interior). Next, can I simply flush the appropriate amount of blue stuff down the toilet and flush it with water to account for the "1 pint" of water? I might have some difficulty if I have to put the blue stuff and the water directly into the holding tank because, if my memory is correct, I don't have an access hatch on the top of my waste holding tank.

Thanks ya'll,

Kelly
Adventurous #5553
1987 C25 SR/SK2WK

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 08/09/2004 : 22:52:21

I think the holding tank is about 15 gallons. I just flush the treatment with a little water and then do a freshwater flush behind to get all of it into the tank.

A holding tank treatment called "Odorlos" [sic?] has been highly touted by some posters here. I haven't tried it yet myself, but intend to do so based on the glowing recommendations.

Hope you're enjoying your boat, after your troubles you deserve it! Intend to do a wing keel conversion myself this winter.

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 08/09/2004 : 23:08:23

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ClamBeach
 
Hope you're enjoying your boat, after your troubles you deserve it! Intend to do a wing keel conversion myself this winter.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

ClamBeach - where will you have the work done? Or are you going to do it yourself? Have you located a boatyard with at least one worker who has experience in swing-to-wing conversion? I would hate to read about another botched keel conversion in this Forum. It's hard to believe that a boatyard would take on a job this big and expensive and apparently not even read the instructions from the Catalina factory on how to do the installation. Not enough bedding compound used, and installer didn't remove the bottom paint and gelcoat in the work area down to clean fiberglass matting?!?!? Did he really think that the epoxy was going to stick an 1800# chunk of lead to the bottom paint? Incredible!

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/10/2004 : 04:46:17

Incredible? No. Criminal.

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 08/10/2004 : 10:24:41

I plan on doing it myself... will probably even drive down to LA to pick up the keel.
My early vintage swinger just isn't worth enough money to justify the cost of having a yard do it. The cost is barely justifiable even If I do all the labor.

I have worked with heavy machinery and (in general) 'big stuff' like this a lot so I feel pretty comfortable handling and positioning something the size of a C25. I have a barn where I can hang the boat and will fabricate a keel dolly using 3 automotive floor jacks to allow accurate keel fitment.

I don't think there's any real rocket science here, as you've noted, probably 90% of the work goes into preparing the keel recess area to get a good bond. The rest of the job boils down to thoroughly testing the keel fitment, drilling 6 holes and mixing a bucket of epoxy. Then there's lots of elbow grease and a mess on the tail end of the job to fair things up.

It's just a real shame the guy who worked on Adventurous didn't have enough basic knowledge to prep the bottom for the epoxy.

Of course, the main element for getting this done is finding the time to fit it in. Heck, I haven't even got my summer chores done yet and autumn is fast approaching. I'm just completing a maintenance cycle on the boat while the other chores have gone waiting... I will splash it again this weekend so I can focus on preparing the ranch for Winter. Somehow I'd rather be 'Just messing around on boats' than stacking the firewood.

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RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 08/10/2004 : 12:59:05

I used the WM blue stuff and another brand for a while, but found they really didn't perform well. I'm sure all chemists will say that I'm destroying my plumbing, but for years I've been flushing a small splash of household ammonia once a day when the head gets heavy use -- it really seems to eliminate odor completely. Also, if the head has been unused for a couple weeks, the first thing I do when going aboard is flush new water into the line between the thru-hull and the head which can get pretty odorous from all the trapped, dying organisms in there.

I suppose the ammonia will speed up the deterioration of the valves in the head, but it's the original WC model and still functions, but the previous owner did a rebuild about 10 years ago.

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 08/10/2004 : 20:59:25

Kelly,

The highest authority, the one who "[url="http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detail.tpl?fno=400&group=327"]wrote the book[/url]", Peggie Hall, [url="http://www.sailboatowners.com/forums/menunew.tpl?fno=451"]Head Mistress[/url], would likely recommend Raritan "KO" holding tank deodorant (available through West Marine). I use it and am satisfied with the results. It's very important to understand what it does, and follow the directions carefully, or it won't work at all.

Whatever holding tank deodorant you use, I think they all get into the tank by being flushed. Be sure to read what Peggie has written about the importance of correct flushing technique. (Bet you didn't know there were so many wrong ways to do that!

)

-- Leon Sisson

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Kas
Deckhand

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USA
16 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2004 : 11:39:19

Leon...

She really did "write the book" on this subject. Thanks for the link, it was pretty interesting and I only found another grand worth of stuff I ABSOLUTELY MUST have for my boat! Such is life!!

Thanks you and everyone for all your help...

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