Easy-Peesy-Holding Tank

[Bosun Higgs]

You need to be careful with the type of paper you use. Putting masses of double-strength papers down can give problems, better to use the lighter stuff designed for the job.

Paper is the obvious risk so dont put paper down the loo. Put it in a waste bin lined with a bin bag instead. I know that this doesnt sound good to those of us brought up with flush toilets but it does work well when you get over the initial dislike and it doesnt smell and there is no way in hell that your tank can block without paper going into it.

We did it for years on our cat once we had seen the idea on a Sunsail flotilla boat. It is a common way of operating in many countries.

 

[vyv_cox]

The diverter valve has a shutter valve, which comes across to block the outlet or tank pipes. The arm on this comes off the control shaft and the shutter-valve falls to the bottom of the assembly - at which point nothing works. It is repairable, but the task is unappetising, mine is heavily beefed up with glass/epoxy. I also carry a spare!

That's a problem I didn't have! The shutter has a groove for an O-ring to provide the seal, but as this is required to slide across the port to the various outlets, predictably it catches and falls out. The valve then fails to seal at all. I completely emptied and cleaned my tank at the town quay in Preveza, then closed off the port to the tank (I thought). A day later we hauled out to find the tank half full of seawater and sewage, because of the absence of the O-ring.

I carried several extra O-rings, two spare check valves (another poor design) and a complete unused diverter valve.

 

[vyv_cox]

There are many suppliers of tanks for the purpose, it's simply a matter of finding one that will fit. Off the top of my head, Vetus, U-ship, Force four, Mailspeed Marine, CAK, all sell them.

 

[ghostlymoron]

I agree totally - we don't put anything we haven't eaten down our toilet either on our boat in the Solent, which doesn't have a holding tank, or our one in Turkey, which does. Doesn't stop us using toilet paper though! Have never had a problem with blocked heads.

Neil

Do you eat turds then?

 

[V1701]

I'm looking to install a small holding tank to the bog.

My boat is mainly used for day-sails with the odd long weekend or weeks holiday and I tend to use marinas much of the time. So, the holding tank simply needs to have enough capacity for a couple of flushes at night and will normally be discharged to sea once out of the marina.

I've been doing a quick look around at the options available and came across the tank in the link below:

http://www.marinescene.co.uk/product/3923/plastimo-25-litre-mini-toilet-waste-kit

Questions:

Anyone used this type of tank? Any problems?

Given the low cost, compared to a custom tank, does this seem a good option?


Thanks,
David

Given how you use your boat have you considered replacing the sea toilet with a Porta Potti? You could have an electric flush one...

 

[macd]

modern technology, let me see, im thinking....... still thinking......... oh yeh thats rite a MACERATOR!!!!! Add that to your so called simple gravity fed holding tanks and you shall soon churn up the fancy andrex paper i put down my loo. NO BLOCKAGES THEN!

Why the shouting? OK, you like your set-up. It presumably works for you. So does mine for me. KISS. My nether regions.

 

[tel1]

Why the shouting? OK, you like your set-up. It presumably works for you. So does mine for me. KISS. My nether regions.

Just making sure u know what a macerator is!

 

[Chris_Robb]

Paper is the obvious risk so dont put paper down the loo. Put it in a waste bin lined with a bin bag instead. I know that this doesnt sound good to those of us brought up with flush toilets but it does work well when you get over the initial dislike and it doesnt smell and there is no way in hell that your tank can block without paper going into it.

We did it for years on our cat once we had seen the idea on a Sunsail flotilla boat. It is a common way of operating in many countries.

I normally buy the cheapest paper I can, and then put a sheet in a glassof water. If it goes to peices within a minute, I allow it to go down the heads, if it does not desolve easlily I get rid of it, as you cannot stop the girls putting vaste quantities down!

Still - I might put pedal bins in this year so that nothing goes down the heads... - But will they use it - I think not

 

[Tidewaiter2]

100 million hectares of paddy field cannot be wrong!

Paper is the obvious risk so dont put paper down the loo. Put it in a waste bin lined with a bin bag instead. I know that this doesnt sound good to those of us brought up with flush toilets but it does work well when you get over the initial dislike and it doesnt smell and there is no way in hell that your tank can block without paper going into it.

We did it for years on our cat once we had seen the idea on a Sunsail flotilla boat. It is a common way of operating in many countries.

Sainsbury's Basic loo rolls just melt away, cheap too. Work ok on our Jabsco.

Think the Greek method ok too, been there on a mates boat.
Thing is they burn their garbage, wonderful smell on an early morn run past the old quarry often used.

We in UK tend to use Landfill rather than incineration for all non recycling waste, including therefore our loo paper- not good- water table/ sources contamination with E coli et al.

Climate change not yet enough to warrent turning veg patch into paddy field, and manuring in traditional Chinese method.http://www.ybw.com/forums/images/icons/icon10.gif