Do I need a holding tank ??

[aevans692]

Hi all

Was looking for some clarification on this , I have a small sadler 25 , and we were looking at taking her down to the med where we would leave her for a few years .. Now we haven't got a holding tank fitted , some people are saying that we need one , and others have advised that we don't as long as we dont pump out in marinas and such (common sense) .. and if I dont need a holding tank , how far before I do ? ..

Thought Id ask on hear for first hand advise .. Fitting a holding tank on such a small boat will inevitably take up much needed space ..

cheers all ..

 

[langstonelayabout]

Not sure about the legal position but having sailed in and around the Greek islands I'd say that a holding tank is pretty much essential.

Having a sea toilet that doesn't contain the effluent will be regarded as antisocial at the very least. People cruising the Med swim in the harbours and in very close proximity to yachts. In the same way as you don't want to swimming in theirs, they won't want to be swimming in yours.

Many in your position remove the sea toilet to use a porta-potti and empty it ashore (or offshore) at suitable facilities. If you don't wish to (or can't) fit a holding tank this could be a solution. Or a gravity holding tank could be a winter project. The likes of Tek-Tanks sell suitable tanks of different sizes that can be fitted.

I believe some toilet manufacturing companies also make small holding tanks that fit around the base of the toilet but their capacity is very small.

 

[vyv_cox]

I go along with what langstonelayabout has posted. There will be times when you spend several days in an anchorage with no option other than to pump overboard or to a tank.

I cannot recommend the wrap-around tank unless you enjoy stripping down the valves in them. We had endless problems with ours.

A friend with a smaller boat had a small tank made to fit high on the heads bulkhead. There has been a recent post on Sadler fb page describing such a tank on the heads bulkhead on the forecabin side.

 

[Resolution]

Definitely required down in SW Turkey, where we are meant to record on a blue card each time we are pumped out. I have been requested to produce my blue card for the coastguard , along with transit log etc.
Peter

 

[vyv_cox]

Should have said, unless going to Turkey dont bother with a pumpout fitting. We don't have one and I have never seen a station in 15 years in the Med.

 

[aevans692]

I had thought about not fitting a holding tank , but to carry a porta loo .. as this seems like a cheap option ?

On our boat , locker space is of the essence and fitting a tank would take up much needed space ..

 

[Irish Rover]

As already said having a tank is obligatory here in Turkey. Two heads on my boat and only one had a black tank when I bought it. I fitted a gravity pump out tank last year - Nuova Rade do a good range of sizes and very competitively priced. Adding a pump out fitting is not much extra work and apart from its intended use it can be very useful for rodding in the event of a blockage.

 

[aevans692]

yeah I doubt I would be visiting turkey tbh ..

 

[RupertW]

I had thought about not fitting a holding tank , but to carry a porta loo .. as this seems like a cheap option ?

On our boat , locker space is of the essence and fitting a tank would take up much needed space ..

A porta potti will do the job but with extra hassle and smells compared to a holding tank. I agree with the others that a holding tank is essential as you will be spending a lot of time floating around in a shared swimming pool unless you are in marinas the whole time (which would be a waste of being enjoying the Med). Should be up there with a decent fridge as two essentials I think.

 

[Irish Rover]

yeah I doubt I would be visiting turkey tbh ..

Apart from the fact you will be missing out on some of the best cruising in the Med it may well be a very convenient option to have depending on how things plan out in London over the next couple of days.