holding tank discharging

[madbadger]

I am fitting a holding tank and am wondering whether I should fit it so it can only be pumped out at a station in the marina. I am travelling down to the med from the uk, are there pump out stations in marina's on the way and in the med?

Any insights appreciated, would make it simplier to fit as well.

 

[mikehibb]

Our set up has option of loo going to either holding tank or out into the oggin.
The holding tank also has options of either pump out or discharge to sea.
I would always want the option to discharge to sea as our marina does not have pump out facilties.
I think one of our regular forum members can offer more advice regarding full holding tanks he has an in depth knowledge of the subject.

 

[Ariadne]

Most Med marinas don't seem to have pump out facilities (well the ones I've been to), and if they do they know how to charge for them.

Make sure you can discharge to sea when you want/need to.

 

[NormanS]

I feel quite sorry for someone who has "In depth knowledge of holding tanks". It made my mind bogle.

 

[mikehibb]

I chose my words carefully. I am sure that he/she (there are a few with such knowledge actually) will elaborate when they post on this thread.

 

[quimby]

Yes! and best not to read them before eating,putting a picture to the words was not very pleasant, hope the odour from the bilges has now cleared. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[willtaylor]

A noble idea to only want to use pump out facilities. However, your cruising itineraries would become dominated by a need to find such facilities. That could produce unusual passages of several hundred miles in the Med!

It is very important to keep all options open; no less important to be 3 miles offshore when discharging to the sea.

Will

 

[wotayottie]

[ QUOTE ]
I am fitting a holding tank and am wondering whether I should fit it so it can only be pumped out at a station in the marina.

[/ QUOTE ]

No way - you'll be surprised how fast you fill it up so you need to be able to discharge into the sea if necessary. Where do you think you'll find a discharge facility in a Greek bay? Or even small harbour?

Best approach is to have a tank that can be syphoned out into the sea, with the syphon being primed by a diaphragm pump. Then adopt the flotilla appraoch of putting used bog paper into a bin not the bog - surprisingly it doesnt smell and is easy to dispose of. More to the point its impossible to block a toilet / tank with what goes through your body.

 

[Cliveshep]

Don't know what sort of set-up you are contemplating, for my old tub with a holding tank designed for ashore pump-out I went to Lee Sanitation and for £175 (admittedly 3 years ago) I bought a pump out kit, hose, pump on a stand etc, brilliant. Of course if you can arrange a discharge to sea or siphonic emptying terrific but I have no experience of those being mostly river-borne.

Lee Sanitation: http://www.leesan.com/

 

[Anonymous]

[ QUOTE ]
I am fitting a holding tank and am wondering whether I should fit it so it can only be pumped out at a station in the marina. I am travelling down to the med from the uk, are there pump out stations in marina's on the way and in the med?

Any insights appreciated, would make it simplier to fit as well.

[/ QUOTE ]

Go for a plastic tank. Tek Tanks have a good reputation and design to your needs.

I have done the trip down to the Med and been in the western Med (Gib to Rome) since 2005. I have never seen a working pump-out station or seen anyone using one. There probably are some....in Banus, maybe? Since buying my present yacht in 2004 I have never once used the deck pump-out. If you want to dispense with anything, don't bother with deck pump-out and retrofit if things change some time in the future.

 

[old_salt]

The formite referred to I think is "The Headmistress"
But has not posted on YBW for some considerable time now.
Maybe a search will bring up some of her /his past posts.
I do know this has been fully discussed before.
Sorry I don't have the know how to do an in depth search.
No pun intended.
May be some one will be along who can do it or explain how to.

 

[Tranona]

KISS rules! Only sensible system is a gravity tank with optional pump out facility, although pump out stations are rare. Simplest is to pump everything into a tank and shut it off when in port. You can have a diverter valve so that you can pump either to tank or overboard but not strictly necessary.

You will find good schematics on both the Tek Tanks and Lee Sanitation sites.