Converting the bow water tank to a holding tank

[S/V Laelia]

When I bought Laelia, she had a type 1 MSD which is not legal for use in SF Bay marinas and in some other portions of the Bay. I installed a 15 gal holding tank under the starboard portion of the vee berth. It is not adequate for two people for more than a couple of days. I am considering converting the bow water tank (after disconnecting it from the fresh water plumbing  ). I Know some other 365s have done this and I wonder how it works out. Have there been problems with odors after a few years?

Thank you,
Ralph

[Leo]

I converted mine 2 or 3 years ago, work great.

[Randy]

Like Ralph, I too have a Lectrasan. OK for most of the Chesapeake, but would like option of a holding tank for parts of S. Florida. Can you give details on how you ran the plumbing?

Cheers,
Randy

[S/V Laelia]

Leo - thanks for the info. It is encouraging.

Randy - My Lectrasan was under the stbd side of the vee berth at the head of the berth. I pulled out the Lectrasan and put the holding tank in its place. I added a Y valve under the counter in the head. The valve is mounted on a block of wood epoxied to the hull.

I replaced all of the plumbing on the output side of the head. The pump-out fitting is in the deck, stbd side a little forward of the window for the head. The vent for the holding tank goes to a new thru hull a little above the waterline stbd a little fwd of the head of the vee berth.

The biggest hassle of the whole thing was cleaning up the old installation. The old plumbing was pretty much stopped up with "stuff." I couldn't figure out a way to drain the LectraSan before I pulled it out so I eased a heavy duty trash bag around it before I disconnected the plumbing and did my best to keep the unit level until it was off the boat. Rubber gloves, heavy duty trash bags and a post removal bilge scrub down with a bucket of water + clorox were all needed.

Be sure to install a vent hose of large enough diameter that the suction from the pump-out station doesn't collapse your holding tank. Mine appears to be 1/2"

Enjoy 

[Randy]

Thanks Ralph. Good info.

Leo, how did you run plumbing on the converted water tank?

Cheers,
Randy

[SVJourney]

Our bow tank was converted by the previous owner into a storage area by the simple expedient of cutting the top of the tank open.  I'm wondering if anyone has converted that tank into an aux fuel tank?  I could use the extra tankage for the South Pacific next year.  All I have to do is glass over the gaping holes and install tubing I think..... but I'm not sure if fiberglass would be good to hold fuel in.  Can anyone weigh in on this?

[Randy]

You would probably be best served with a fuel bladder stored and lashed on deck?

[ishmael]

I have been fighting going to a holding tank for years.  Lectrasan works great for most areas but definitely not the Keys.  Does anyone out there have experience with a composting head?  We are full time live aboard and I'm afraid it would keep up for the two of us full time.

Thanks,

[Jim S]

I have evaluated the several available composting toilets and tend to view the C-Head as the best for our purposes.  We have not decided to make the change yet, but this is my two cents.  http://www.c-head.com/

Jim

[Leo]

Conversion is pretty straight forward. I used the PVC pick up tubes from the 15 gal tank for the pump out to the deck. They are easy to make if needed.
Using a 3 way valve to the overboard discharge. Vented and installed an access port so I could make the connections for the PVC pickup tube.
Let me know if this makes sense or not. Maybe next week I can find time to take some photos, this working for a living is no fun at all this week.

Len